2011/2012 Season

The Forbidden Word

Collapse [ kuh–laps ]: to fall or cave in; crumble suddenly… to break down; come to nothing; fail. TORONTO (Apr. 25) — So, here we are again, precisely one year and eleven months later. Your Toronto Maple Leafs, after the… Read More

The Leafs Are Becoming Maulers

TORONTO (Apr. 23) — Let us begin with some words of playoff caution: 2017: Maple Leafs led the Washington Capitals 2–1 after Game 3. 2019: Maple Leafs led the Boston Bruins 2–1 after Game 3. 2021: Maple Leafs led the… Read More

Odd Timing For Raptors Change

TORONTO (Apr. 22) — Let’s assume, without first–hand knowledge, that the Toronto Raptors knew long before Friday they were going to fire coach Nick Nurse. The decision caught no one by surprise; it had been “in the air” even before… Read More

Hedman Injury A Series Changer

TORONTO (Apr. 21) — The best coach in the National Hockey League over the past decade told a fib for the ages on Thursday night. “Playing without Victor Hedman had nothing to do with this loss,” said Jon Cooper —… Read More

Leafs Newspaper War No More

TORONTO (Apr. 17) — It is sad and rather inexplicable. The Toronto Sun, so long the go–to newspaper for sports coverage in our city, has thrown in the towel. Neither a hockey beat–writer nor a columnist will be on site… Read More

Can TV Still Indulge Brian Burke?

TORONTO (Apr. 15) — You’ve got to think that Brian Burke, at nearly 68 years of age, has grown fed up with the inevitable hiring–and–firing cycle of professional hockey. This is a man with a Stanley Cup ring as architect… Read More

Can Leafs Doff Their “Choke” Label?

TORONTO (Apr. 14) — Once more, there is virtually nothing about the 82–game regular season that portends an abrupt playoff exit by the Toronto Maple Leafs. And, once more, the Maple Leafs have to exorcize the demons accumulated during the… Read More

A Shocking Prediction (Sigh)

TORONTO (Apr. 6) — Leading off the playoff prediction game for your Toronto Maple Leafs was the club’s No. 1 media addict. Flag–waver Luke Fox of Sportsnet.ca laid it on thick in his Tuesday mailbag column. When asked for his… Read More

Thoughtless Decision By The Leafs

TORONTO (Apr. 3) — The Toronto Maple Leafs got what they deserved on Sunday night. Their loyal fans? Not so much. It is hardly advisable to throw away a game on the cusp of the Stanley Cup playoffs, as the… Read More

Bobcat Open To A Prime Time Return

TORONTO (Mar. 30) — At some point, Rogers Communications and Sportsnet will get around to letting us know their plans for the coveted and important time–slot being vacated by Tim Micallef on Apr. 11, as Tim & Friends goes… Read More

Be “Knies” to Matthew

TORONTO (Mar. 29) — At some point before the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Maple Leafs will obtain the signature of Matthew Knies (pronounced “nize”) on a standard player’s contract. God help the young man once that occurs. For weeks now,… Read More

Craig Is Usually on the Button

TORONTO (Mar. 25) — TSN refers to Craig Button as its “director of scouting”, a throwback from his years (1988–2004) as a National Hockey League bird–dog and executive, which included a stint (2000–03) as general manager of the Calgary Flames.… Read More

Marner/Gilmour Analogy Premature

TORONTO (Mar. 23) — For those, like myself, who remember it clearly, there is no way to rationalize that 30 years have flown by since Doug Gilmour authored the greatest individual season in Toronto Maple Leafs history. The passage of… Read More

No Net Controversy With The Leafs

TORONTO (Mar. 21) — Here in the land of the Blue and White, there are forever questions (and nicknames) between the pipes. In the spring of 2023, it is very simple: Can Unknown Ilya and Melancholy Matt take the club… Read More

How Can Bobby Orr Be 75?

TORONTO (Mar. 18) — During his Hall–of–Fame career (1970–85), spent mostly as captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Darryl Sittler encountered many of the preeminent players in the second half–century of the National Hockey League — Gordie Howe, Jean Beliveau,… Read More

Finally, A Blunt Leafs Assessment

TORONTO (Mar. 16) — I am not particularly familiar with Sonny Sachdeva of Sportsnet.ca. Clearly, it’s been my loss… and I promise to pay more attention. His Linkedin bio describes him as… a writer based in Toronto with a decade … Read More

Be Nice and You’ll Last Forever

TORONTO (Mar. 13) — As far as the Maple Leafs are concerned, there cannot be a nicer guy in the local media than Chris Johnston. In fact, Chris is just nice, period — whether he’s writing a column in the… Read More

The Auston Matthews Hype Machine

TORONTO (Mar. 10) — My ol’ pal, Nick Kypreos, has immeasurably improved the decorous Toronto Star sports section with his bi–weekly column on the Maple Leafs. Whichever executive made the decision to bring him aboard should receive a bonus. But,… Read More