Sheldon Keefe’s Finest Hour

TORONTO (Mar. 31) — Interesting, isn’t it, that the best performances by the Toronto Maple Leafs under their past two coaches came against the club’s long–time nemesis, the Boston Bruins? For Mike Babcock, it was Game 5 of the 2019… Read More

The Leaf “Hater’s” Handbook

TORONTO (Mar. 29) — From my perspective (maybe you share it, maybe you don’t), here’s what the Toronto Maple Leafs have accomplished in the past three games: Edged a lottery team (New Jersey) playing on back–to–back nights; lost to the… Read More

Can M & M Take the Necessary Step?

TORONTO (Mar. 26) — There’s a chance that Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner could combine, this season, for the most points by any pair of forwards in the history of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The record of 210 belongs to… Read More

Galley Should Be With Cuthbert

TORONTO (Mar. 24) — Between 1986 and 2006, Hockey Night In Canada presented nationwide viewers the best play caller and color analyst in the business. Bob Cole and Harry Neale could not be matched north of the border. Given that… Read More

There’s Still Hope For The Leafs

TORONTO (Mar. 22) — I am pondering again today the “window of opportunity” for the Toronto Maple Leafs to capture their first National Hockey League title since 1967. It’s a valid, if highly subjective, argument in these parts and it… Read More

Did Kyle Make A Lethal Mistake?

TORONTO (Mar. 21) — A bromide in professional sport decries that “the best trade is often the one not made.” Is it possible that Kyle Dubas, general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, could regret a best trade he “should… Read More

Giordano Has The Wrong Equipment

TORONTO (Mar. 20) — The Maple Leafs made a prudent acquisition from Seattle today in veteran defenseman Mark Giordano. Though on the back nine of his career, he’ll provide the club some of what it lost with Jake Muzzin on… Read More

It Comes Down to the Sunshine State

TORONTO (Mar. 19) — As a kid growing up in the early 1970’s, Florida was a far away place my parents visited each year in February. It was home to Don Shula, Larry Csonka, Nick Buoniconti and the best football… Read More

“Let’s Allow The Paint To Dry”

THIS BLOG IS DEDICATED TO SPORTSNET BLUE JAYS HOST JAMIE CAMPBELL. MAY HE FIGHT AND PREVAIL. TORONTO (Mar. 17) — Once upon a time, there was a scorching Maple Leafs prospect named Justin Pogge. Born in Fort McMurray, Alta. on… Read More

“Good” Suspension For Matthews

TORONTO (Mar. 14) — At long last, the God of Leafs Nation showed some bite. Yeah, it cost him two games, but the pushback by Auston Matthews against Rasmus Dahlin of Buffalo on Sunday could be money in the bank… Read More

How Can It Be Two Years Already?

TORONTO (Mar. 12) — It all began the night before, when word surfaced that the National Basketball Association had suspended play after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for the new virus, COVID–19, that was beginning to frighten the… Read More

News Man… Or Public Relations Flak?

TORONTO (Mar. 11) — During many of my years covering the Toronto Maple Leafs as a reporter for The FAN–590, Kevin McGran held the same role with the Toronto Star. Today, McGran still covers the Leafs for the Star. On… Read More

“Howard, You’re 100 Percent Wrong!”

TORONTO (Mar. 10) — The email arrived early this morning in response to my blog posted here yesterday (https://bit.ly/3sW52lK), reiterating that the flat, $81.5 million salary cap will preclude all of John Tavares, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, Morgan Rielly and… Read More

At Last, the Truth Is Emerging

TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston reports that… with the Maple Leafs up against the salary cap already, any [trade] deadline deal will require a contract to move off their books in order to bring one in. TORONTO (Mar. 9) —… Read More

Keefe Has No Goaltending Plan

TORONTO (Mar. 7) — Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe is figuratively throwing darts with the most–important aspect of his team. It may not be his fault that neither of the club’s goalies, Jack Campbell nor Petr Mrazek, are performing at… Read More

No One’s Worried About Anything

TORONTO (Mar. 5) — It began with Elliotte Friedman’s assessment of Kyle Dubas: “I don’t think he is afraid to make a big move. I also don’t think he is going to go out there and think, ‘If we don’t… Read More

Hang In There With Smilin’ Jack

TORONTO (Mar. 2) — Call me stupid. Call me stubborn. Heck, I’m calling myself stupid and stubborn. But, I maintain there is much about the goaltending swagger of Jack Campbell that will enable him to emerge from this horrendous, second–half… Read More

Matthews Love–Fest Hits New Heights

TORONTO (Feb. 26) — Auston Matthews had a good game against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday and the media man–crush here in town went nuclear. With two goals, Matthews became the National Hockey League’s scoring leader and front–runner for his… Read More