TORONTO (Mar. 10) — There are a number of seminal dates in the history of the Toronto Maple Leafs, but Apr. 11, 2014 is fast–rising in prominence. It was the day Brendan Shanahan became president of the hockey club.
The… Read More
TORONTO (Mar. 8) — Yes, the salary cap is about to rise exponentially in the National Hockey League.
But, no, the Maple Leafs did not offer the Carolina Hurricanes their immediate prospect and draft pool to obtain forward Mikko Rantanen… Read More
TORONTO (Mar. 7) — If Scott Laughton and Brandon Carlo are the final marble slabs of the Maple Leafs, Michaelangelo could have stopped at David’s waist. The part everyone stares at in Florence would be missing.
Not that Brad Treliving’s… Read More
TORONTO (Mar. 3) — It’s an annual rite of passage for hockey in this city; largely forgotten by the ensuing year.
First, the general manager–of–the–day calls media together so he can set the trade–deadline bar as shallow as possible. Check.… Read More
TORONTO (Feb. 24) — Whenever my time comes, I will take with me two remarkable badges of honor: I got to know Bobby Orr and Wayne Gretzky by name. Not bad for a small media muffin in a large bakery.… Read More
TORONTO (Feb. 21) — This was happenstance you rarely see. Teammates in the National Hockey League; rivals in the most–hyped international shinny fracas since the “golden goal” that won the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Auston Matthews trapped in no–man’s land, between… Read More
TORONTO (Feb. 19) — Let’s be clear: No professional athlete is worth the riches being sought by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Neither is Guerrero worth to the Blue Jays what the slugger is evidently asking of Rogers Communications — a salary… Read More
TORONTO (Feb. 17) — This blog has nothing to do with the groundbreaking radio show I produced in its first three years — executed, without parallel, by Bob McCown from 1989 to 2019. Prime Time Sports is relegated to history,… Read More
TORONTO (Feb. 15) — In the Millennium of Overkill, tonight’s 4Nations encounter between Canada and the United States is being touted as the “best hockey game of all time.” Particularly among the millennials on television who aren’t even old enough… Read More
TORONTO (Feb. 13) — That was quite some tumult Mitch Marner induced at the Bell Centre on Wednesday night; its euphoric tentacles penetrating all corners of the nation. Not in ten National Hockey League seasons has Marvelous Mitch contributed such… Read More
TORONTO (Feb. 11) — It’s a moment I’ll never forget. Even if occurring nearly 54 years ago. Maple Leaf Gardens was filled to near–capacity for a game between the Leafs and Montreal Canadiens alumni (or “oldtimers”, as they were known… Read More
TORONTO (Feb. 10) — It would be the rough equivalent of Benjamin Netanyahu inviting Kim Jong Un to moderate peace talks in the Middle East. Or, Donald Trump having the Bidens and Clintons to the White House for a casual… Read More
TORONTO (Feb. 8) — Darryl Sittler. Doug Gilmour. Auston Matthews.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have been around since 1926; the franchise, previously known as the Arenas and St. Patricks, since 1917. Only three players in 108 years have struck for… Read More
TORONTO (Feb. 4) — Justin Bourne of Sportsnet wrote on Monday that “Morgan Rielly is going nowhere [via trade].” I don’t imagine the TV/website personality spent a sleepless night coming up with that bulletin. He knows his favorite team better… Read More
TORONTO (Jan. 30) — He would sleep on a bed of nails before quitting on the Maple Leafs.
But, still, it’s time.
Morgan Rielly has accomplished all he can in blue and white. Certainly, in Toronto blue and white. Were… Read More
TORONTO (Jan. 25) — Nothing in professional sport is more amusing than hindsight. And, hindsight may never be quite so amusing as in the blog you have started right here; right now. Or, nearly as bizarre. Were the Toronto Maple… Read More
TORONTO (Jan. 18) — Let me begin with a disclaimer: I like Justin Bourne. He has a wonderful TV presence and works especially well with my old pal, Nick Kypreos. Real Kyper & Bourne is good television on Sportsnet, up… Read More
TORONTO (Jan. 15) — Here we go. Groundhog Day. As always at this time of year, fans and media implore the Maple Leafs to add “depth pieces” prior to the National Hockey League trade deadline. Nothing too risky. Just nibble… Read More
Really, This Is Shanahan’s Mess
Why It’s Over For Mitch and the Leafs
Brad Treliving Made His Moves, But…
Expect Leafs, as Usual, to go Small
Abraham, Bobby and Wayne
What’s Next For Auston and Mitch
It Was King Edward’s Call — Totally
Are You Ready For “Prime” Time?
Recency Bias Shaping Canada vs. USA
Imagining The Unimaginable
Remembering Paul Morris: 1938–2025
The Notorious No. 63 in Leafs Blue?
It’s Getting Closer… Every Day
Everything In Leafs Land Is Fine
Morgan Rielly Needs a Change
If the Leafs Had Been Perfect…
Justin Bourne of a Different Time
Everyone is Missing the Mark — Again
30 Years Ago: How It All Started
Why Can’t The Leafs Be Honest?
The Blue Jays Appear To Be Doomed
Travel Tales With The Leafs: All True
The Leafs Are Chronically Soft
Are We Being Seduced Again?
The Philadelphia Hotel Caper
My Time With The Big Irishman
The Marner Condundrum Escalates
Would Marner Waive For The Apple?
Would Management Show Some Gall?
Is Anyone Going To Say It?
It Was Berube’s Finest Moment
Argos Came Back From The Dead
We Live In A Pathetic Newspaper Era
I’ve been wrong about Dinwiddie
The Leafs Are Great — Today