John Tavares

Imagine the Leafs Altering DNA… x2

TORONTO (June 17) — This, from a hockey voice in Miami: “Most people think [Leafs general manager] Brad Treliving will pursue either Sam Bennett or Brad Marchand in free agency. From what I’m hearing, don’t be surprised if the Leafs… Read More

MLSE Is Buried In Horsesh** Calls

TORONTO (May 12) — The Maple Leafs had better win the Stanley Cup this year. Only a championship, for the first time in 58 springs, could justify one of the most–egregious decisions in modern franchise history: Ripping the captain’s ‘C’… Read More

Car 34, Where Are You?

TORONTO (May 10) — So long as the Toronto Maple Leafs were winning, there was no concern over Auston Matthews being the highest–paid “defensive center” in the Stanley Cup playoffs. As noted, Friday, on the always friendly Hockey Night In … Read More

Stolarz Will Keep Leafs Competitive

TORONTO (May 3) — It was 32 years ago, at Maple Leaf Gardens, that Doug Gilmour scored his legendary overtime goal against St. Louis. May 3, 1993. You’ve probably seen it a hundred times — the diminutive Gilmour with the… Read More

“We Have All Been Here Before…”

Should the Senators rout the Leafs on Tuesday (say, 5–1, which has happened repeatedly to good teams early in the playoffs), all hell will break loose. — my blog after Game 4 TORONTO (Apr. 30) — I had the precise… Read More

24 Hours to Relax For Leafs Nation

TORONTO (Apr. 28) — At no point, and deservedly so, in the Core–4 era have the Maple Leafs been granted a full playoff mulligan. Until Saturday night, that is, when a defeat in overtime at the Canadian Tire Centre in… Read More

Truly, What’s At Stake For The Leafs?

TORONTO (Apr. 19) — It’s a question that no person in the Leafs-owned media will ask aloud (or in print). What happens amid the Doomsday scenario: another first–round playoff defeat in the Core–4 era? This time against an opponent that… Read More

Sorry… I’m Still Not Buying It

TORONTO (Apr. 5) — In the “credit where credit is due” category, the Maple Leafs are rather fortunate they outlasted the Florida Panthers on Wednesday night at Scotiabank Arena. While there was joyous media celebration over the narrow and equivocal… Read More

The Leafs Cannot Act Impulsively

TORONTO (Mar. 24) — If you are Brendan Shanahan and Brad Treliving, how can you not wait until after the playoffs to determine your strategy with Mitch Marner and John Tavares? What would happen, for example, if both players re–signed… Read More

Chalk Up No. 52 and Move On

TORONTO (Feb. 19) — There is only one strategy that Kyle Dubas can deploy in order to salvage the 2019–20 schedule for the Toronto Maple Leafs: start looking toward 2020–21. And, do it without heed to Monday’s National Hockey League… Read More

Leafs Won’t Gamble at Trade Deadline

TORONTO (Jan. 31) — It’s an old, timeworn cliche, but the Toronto Maple Leafs had a couple of “must–win” games after the All–Star break and they smartly prevailed with road victories in Nashville and Dallas. This was effective work by… Read More

Should Leafs Nation Be Satisfied?

TORONTO (Jan. 24) — Though it may seem unlikely, let’s assume the Maple Leafs accrue enough points in their final 33 games to finish third in the Atlantic Division, thereby securing one of the three allocated playoff berths. It would… Read More

Will It Ever Be The Leafs’ Year?

TORONTO (Jan. 14) — For a brief moment last Wednesday, and despite all of the challenges encountered so far this season, I felt that maybe karma was on the side of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Trailing the Winnipeg Jets, 3–2,… Read More

Keefe Is A Remarkable Story

TORONTO (Jan. 3) — Yup, I was wrong. I doubt that I’ll completely reverse my opinion of mid–term coaching changes, but the Toronto Maple Leafs pulled off a dandy maneuver on Nov. 20 when Sheldon Keefe replaced Mike Babcock. It’s… Read More

Guess What? Freddy’s Already Tired

TORONTO (Dec. 23) — Rejoice, if you wish, in another sloppy win, as the Maple Leafs need every point available. But, ignore, at your peril, the tell–tale sign between the pipes, where Frederik Andersen is already beginning to wear down.… Read More

What Took So Long?

TORONTO (Dec. 21) — Frankly, I’m surprised no one has posed the following questions: With the Maple Leafs an impressive 9–4–0 in 13 games under Sheldon Keefe, why did Brendan Shanahan wait until Nov. 20 to authorize the dismissal of… Read More

The Leafs Are Absolute Darlings

TORONTO (Nov. 26) — As a heterosexual male, I had never felt the urge to kiss another man. Until yesterday, when I read the impassioned offer of remorse from Maple Leafs forward Alex Kerfoot in the wake of his two–game… Read More

The Easy Way… The Only Way

TORONTO (Nov. 21) — Predictably, the text arrived within minutes. “I was off by three games. Sue me.” Oh, how I wish I could introduce to you the National Hockey League employee that told me, Aug. 11 (blog here — … Read More