Howard Berger

Leafs/Auston Are All Talk, No Action

TORONTO (Aug. 21) — Logically, there are only two factors that would induce Auston Matthews to sign a National Hockey League contract extension before next July: a) he cannot fathom dressing for any other team but the Toronto Maple Leafs.… Read More

COVID Killed The Radio Stars

TORONTO (Aug. 5) — There is no reasonable excuse for such a billion–dollar company as Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment to stay cheap with its broadcasting arm. This is a money machine that can easily ensure its four major teams… Read More

Murray Sustains Timely Ailment

TORONTO (July 27) — So, we wonder: How did it happen? How did goaltender Matt Murray, cleared by the medical staff of the Toronto Maple Leafs prior to the Stanley Cup playoff series against Florida, wind up on Long Term… Read More

The Leafs Are Still Soul–less

TORONTO (July 22) — It’s going to require a maverick… a general manager with gonads the size of medicine balls… an executive possessing unlimited belief and self–esteem… one that doesn’t give a flying fu** what others think and say about… Read More

The Ron MacLean Phenomenon

TORONTO (July 19) — I can tell you, without equivocation, that you’ll never meet a nicer, more cordial and pleasant backstabber than Ron MacLean. The first three adjectives are mine; the latter, a non–stop, prodigious and largely inexplicable sentiment amid… Read More

Karlsson to Leafs Still on the Table

TORONTO (July 15) — Details involving the Toronto Maple Leafs are forever sketchy as the club makes an exhaustive effort to conduct business away from the media spotlight. But, sources elsewhere paint the picture of a front office conflicted over… Read More

“Only Elliotte Friedman Is Safe”

TORONTO (July 8) — It was an alarming bit of speculation from a media source familiar to everyone in the Canadian sports television industry: “We may not recognize the Hockey Night In Canada panel next season,” claimed this person. “Based… Read More

The Faulty Maple Leafs Myth

TORONTO (July 6) — It’s out there for all to see. In chat rooms, pop–up websites and even the most–credible newspaper columns: Will members of the Toronto Maple Leafs Core–4 accept less money in their forthcoming contracts so the quartet… Read More

McCown Will Have A Long Recovery

TORONTO (July 2) — The legendary voice of Prime Time Sports has been silenced. For how long, we do not know. Bob McCown, 71, is resting in hospital after incurring two, maybe three, strokes since June 15, when his alarming… Read More

Keeping the Charade Alive

TORONTO (June 27) — To the surprise of absolutely no one, the National Hockey League’s most–apathetic and complacent franchise is “running it back” for an eighth consecutive disaster in the Stanley Cup playoffs. If you’re a fan of the Toronto… Read More

Comparisons Are Rather Insulting

TORONTO (June 22) — Tragically for the Maple Leafs and their long–suffering fans, Auston Matthews will become the highest–paid hockey player of all time… probably in the next few months. Unwittingly, yet unavoidably, this will doom the Leafs to playoff… Read More

Lazy Leafs Refuse to Learn

TORONTO (June 16) — It isn’t often that a part–time employee puts full–time employees to shame. As such, the Toronto Star should consider dropping former Leafs winger Nick Kypreos from its freelance–writing budget. With the notable exception of Dave Feschuk,… Read More

Remembering the Leafs Radio Years

TORONTO (June 12) — A few stories, on a quiet day, from my 17 years (1993–2010) covering the Maple Leafs as a reporter for The FAN–590, Canada’s first all–sports radio station. I trust you’ll enjoy a laugh or two: TURBULENCE … Read More

The Leafs Need Some Courage

TORONTO (June 9) — Someone in the ever–evolving managerial structure of the Maple Leafs needs to grow a set. Very quickly. Whether it’s general manager Brad Treliving; his newly named assistant, Shane Doan, or a person above the fray in… Read More

Why Treliving Needs His Own Coach

TORONTO (June 4) — The Maple Leafs are long overdue to start operating with an established pecking order. For too many years in the post–1967 era, head coaches have been inherited by Leaf general managers. Which is contradictory to functional… Read More