UPDATE (Aug. 25): Mitch Marner and the Leafs could be discussing a three–year bridge contract. Looking at $24–$28 million.
TORONTO (Aug. 24) — For some reason, the contract dance between Mitch Marner and the Toronto Maple Leafs is being misinterpreted… Read More
TORONTO (June 29) — Among the myriad issues that again restricted the Toronto Maple Leafs to one playoff round in April, the reliance on a single goalie ranks near the top. Which is hardly a new subject — in this… Read More
“… and the sign said the words of the prophets are written on the subway walls…and tenement halls… and whispered through the sound… of silence.”
— Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, 1965
TORONTO (May 22) — If not for… Read More
TORONTO (Apr. 24) — Well, if anything, the Toronto Maple Leafs have the cleanest lockers in the National Hockey League. How could there be a speck of dust anywhere after partaking in the post–elimination exercise for 51 consecutive years? Tomorrow… Read More
TORONTO (Mar. 26) — Whether the Toronto Maple Leafs demolish a team with no defensive posture (Florida), or get demolished by the best regular–season club in more than a generation (Tampa Bay), it is elementary for another two weeks. Until… Read More
TORONTO (Feb. 16) — That dream match–up between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs is beginning to look more like a fantasy. As expected.
Squarely to blame are the Leafs… Read More
TORONTO (Feb. 13) — With less than 12 days until the National Hockey League trade deadline, fans of the Maple Leafs wonder if rookie general manager Kyle Dubas will make another revision to his strong club.
There are whispers that… Read More
TORONTO (Jan. 21) — To hammer–and–tong on the Maple Leafs right now would be piling on… and lack creativity. Rarely is it a challenge to kick someone — or something — when it’s down. So, we’ll begin this blog by… Read More
TORONTO (Jan. 19) — If you’re a distressed follower of the Maple Leafs, try not to worry yourself into malaise over the 3–6–0 tailspin since Dec. 29. Or, the 1–5–0 recession on home ice. For a couple of important reasons:… Read More
TORONTO (Jan. 6) — Pending the outcome, it could be a blessing or a curse that largely impacts the Maple Leafs this season. By tomorrow night (Monday), Frederik Andersen will have accrued 15 consecutive days of rest in the middle… Read More
TORONTO (Dec. 22) — For whatever it’s worth (and I think many would agree), my criteria for the James Norris Memorial Trophy in today’s National Hockey League is a defenseman capable of putting up a minimum 60 points… and a… Read More
TORONTO (Nov. 12) — How many times can we put a different spin on the same likelihood? Let us count.
1 Toronto’s three–player nucleus beyond the coming season will be Tavares, Matthews and Marner.
2 The Nylander contract stalemate… is… Read More
TORONTO (Sep. 2) — For as long as I can remember, dating to my grade–school years, there have been magazines that preview the National Hockey League. In the mid–to–late 1960’s, my dad brought home these items — whereupon I would… Read More
TORONTO (Aug. 11) — For so many years in the post–1967 (or expansion) era of the National Hockey League, it was unthinkable that the Toronto Maple Leafs would be acres ahead of the Montreal Canadiens.
Fans of both clubs are… Read More
TORONTO (Aug. 6) — William Nylander emphasized last week he is out for a “long–term” deal coming off entry–level salary restriction, rather than a shorter “bridge” contract. If I were Kyle Dubas, general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, I… Read More
TORONTO (June 25) — This is one man’s opinion and I have some difficulty sharing it.
But, the one man — an amateur scout in the National Hockey League — has been around so long, he remembers watching John Tavares… Read More
TORONTO (May 21) — Thinking logically, one would have to assume that any overture the Maple Leafs are considering for John Tavares — should he opt to leave the New York Islanders as an unrestricted free agent this summer —… Read More
TORONTO (Apr. 17) — The consensus around town is that the “real” Maple Leafs showed up for Monday night’s third game of the playoffs against Boston. We shall see. Game 4 will provide a clearer indication.
What I saw at… Read More
Pelley Should Run The Leafs
Ballard to Matthews — No Change
Leafs and Auston Have to Separate
Marner’s Tantrum Was Too Late
A Win For The Best Fans In Hockey
Imagine the MLSE Revenge Tour
Only Three More Years, Folks
MLSE Is Buried In Horsesh** Calls
Car 34, Where Are You?
It’s Win — or Choke — For the Leafs
The Panthers Aren’t Likely Scared
Bowen, Ralph Can Blame Themselves
Stolarz Will Keep Leafs Competitive
“We Have All Been Here Before…”
24 Hours to Relax For Leafs Nation
Another Absurd Call By Rogers/Bell
A Leafs Legend Is Emerging. Quickly.
Truly, What’s At Stake For The Leafs?
Leafs–Senators Shouldn’t Be Close
Round 2 An Absolute Must For Leafs
Sorry… I’m Still Not Buying It
Autocracy to Prevail at Sportsnet
The “MAGA” King of Toronto Sport
The Leafs Cannot Act Impulsively
Leafs Owners Have No Mercy
Is Matthews “C”–ing The Light?
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