The Leafs Goaltending Conundrum

TORONTO (July 10) — The best and worst of the Toronto Maple Leafs during the Kyle Dubas era has involved the most–critical position of any hockey club: goaltender. It was a topic bantered about by Bryan Hayes, Dave Feschuk (Toronto … Read More

What Are The Leafs Thinking Now?

TORONTO (July 8) — We all listened, incredulously, when Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan insisted after the first–round playoff collapse against Montreal that his team, without changing in any meaningful way, would “get this done.” The assumption (or vague guarantee)… Read More

John: A truly remarkable person

TORONTO (July 5) — This is the most important blog I’ve ever written. It’s the story of a man named John. Not just any John, but a 57–year–old man of such remarkable character, courage and spirituality that I can barely… Read More

The Elaborate Leafs Season Tickets

TORONTO (July 3) — Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, under the ownership triumvirate of Bell Canada, Rogers Communications and Larry Tanenbaum, has never been accused of parsimony. As it relates to the hockey department, there are grave concerns over having… Read More

“Muskoka” Element is Back

TORONTO (June 30) — It’s almost as if the Leafs are making moves to deliberately aggravate their fans. Bad enough that Brendan Shanahan and Kyle Dubas haughtily dismissed the shameful opening–round collapse against Montreal, telling the world nothing about the… Read More

CFL/Argos in my Blood — Part 1

TORONTO (June 29) — I wrote a blog here on Father’s Day that struck a chord. As I knew it would, particularly among sports fans in Toronto. It recounted how my father, Irv, took me to my first Maple Leafs… Read More

How Did They Not Win The Cup?

TORONTO (June 26) — I will watch hockey for the rest of my life and fail to understand how it happened. Just as I remember sitting in the basement of my next–door neighbor on the afternoon of Apr. 18, 1971… Read More

Why The Killer Matters So Much

***TODAY’S BLOG IS DECICATED TO MY COURAGEOUS FRIEND, JOHN BROWN, WHOSE COMPANY, INSITEFUL SOLUTIONS, HOSTS THIS WEBSITE. JOHN IS BATTLING RECURRENT CANCER… AND, THE CANCER IS FINALLY WINNING. NOWHERE WILL YOU ENCOUNTER A MORE–INSPIRING PERSON. GOD WILL BE WITH YOU,… Read More

The God of Les Glorieux

TORONTO (June 24) — The Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup on Tuesday night in Las Vegas. The Habs weren’t presented the trophy after their 4–1 dismantling of the Golden Knights at T–Mobile Arena. But, trust me, they won the… Read More

Raised on the Leafs and Argos

TORONTO (June 20) — You can blame Dad. All that nonsense I spewed over the airwaves from 1988 to 2011 and the rather critical eye with which I view your favorite hockey team, today, in my blog… it’s his fault.… Read More

Leafs Can Still Retain Hyman

TORONTO (June 19) — Every media dispatch implies that he’s gone. Even Elliotte Friedman, the world’s No. 1 hockey insider, claims the Toronto Maple Leafs will lose Zach Hyman as an unrestricted free agent. So, why even write this blog,… Read More

Answering The Fundamental Question

TORONTO (June 18) — I’ve been asked by several blog readers why I seem particularly down on the Toronto Maple Leafs right now. It’s a fair question, though the concept of being “up” or “down” on a sports team connotes… Read More

Spread The Joyous News

TORONTO (June 16) — This is a classic example of how the Toronto Maple Leafs know they can get away with anything… at any time. Leading off the Leafs page, late today, on the chat forum H–F Boards is the… Read More

Tavares Signing Destroyed The Leafs

TORONTO (June 14) — This blog intends no disrespect toward one of most–dignified players in the modern history of the Toronto Maple Leafs. And, we are delighted that he quickly recovered from the horrific collision with Corey Perry’s knee–pad in… Read More

Maple Leafs Lucky To Be Idle

TORONTO (June 12) — One can barely imagine the frenzy and euphoria in these parts if the Maple Leafs, not the Montreal Canadiens, were about to tangle with the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup semifinals. And, the sheepish… Read More

Avery All Class — As Usual

TORONTO (June 10) — Though he could play the game decently, ex–National Hockey League forward Sean Avery is among the most–profane, distasteful figures in the sport’s history. His shameless, nauseating insults and put–downs are too numerous to waste time listing… Read More

Is It Fate… Or Mystique?

TORONTO (June 7) — Have you noticed that when something whacky happens in the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Montreal Canadiens often wade triumphantly through the muck? Or, much more impressively than anticipated? It could be materializing again this spring with… Read More

Leafs Should Go Hard For Seth Jones

TORONTO (June 6) — Warning: This blog is an hypothesis… until the inert Brendan Shanahan acknowledges that sitting idly leads to another brick wall at playoff time. But, let’s proceed, nonetheless. Though I’m not advocating the Toronto Maple Leafs throw… Read More