NHL

Leafs Owners Have No Mercy

TORONTO (Mar. 18) — The answer is short and simple: As long as this is allowed to happen, it will continue. Unabated and unchallenged. Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment has its season ticket patrons by the short and curlies. And,… Read More

Brad Treliving Made His Moves, But…

TORONTO (Mar. 7) — If Scott Laughton and Brandon Carlo are the final marble slabs of the Maple Leafs, Michaelangelo could have stopped at David’s waist. The part everyone stares at in Florence would be missing. Not that Brad Treliving’s… Read More

Abraham, Bobby and Wayne

TORONTO (Feb. 24) — Whenever my time comes, I will take with me two remarkable badges of honor: I got to know Bobby Orr and Wayne Gretzky by name. Not bad for a small media muffin in a large bakery.… Read More

Are You Ready For “Prime” Time?

TORONTO (Feb. 17) — This blog has nothing to do with the groundbreaking radio show I produced in its first three years — executed, without parallel, by Bob McCown from 1989 to 2019. Prime Time Sports is relegated to history,… Read More

Imagining The Unimaginable

TORONTO (Feb. 13) — That was quite some tumult Mitch Marner induced at the Bell Centre on Wednesday night; its euphoric tentacles penetrating all corners of the nation. Not in ten National Hockey League seasons has Marvelous Mitch contributed such… Read More

Remembering Paul Morris: 1938–2025

TORONTO (Feb. 11) — It’s a moment I’ll never forget. Even if occurring nearly 54 years ago. Maple Leaf Gardens was filled to near–capacity for a game between the Leafs and Montreal Canadiens alumni (or “oldtimers”, as they were known… Read More

The Notorious No. 63 in Leafs Blue?

TORONTO (Feb. 10) — It would be the rough equivalent of Benjamin Netanyahu inviting Kim Jong Un to moderate peace talks in the Middle East. Or, Donald Trump having the Bidens and Clintons to the White House for a casual… Read More

Everything In Leafs Land Is Fine

TORONTO (Feb. 4) — Justin Bourne of Sportsnet wrote on Monday that “Morgan Rielly is going nowhere [via trade].” I don’t imagine the TV/website personality spent a sleepless night coming up with that bulletin. He knows his favorite team better… Read More

Morgan Rielly Needs a Change

TORONTO (Jan. 30) — He would sleep on a bed of nails before quitting on the Maple Leafs. But, still, it’s time. Morgan Rielly has accomplished all he can in blue and white. Certainly, in Toronto blue and white. Were… Read More

If the Leafs Had Been Perfect…

TORONTO (Jan. 25) — Nothing in professional sport is more amusing than hindsight. And, hindsight may never be quite so amusing as in the blog you have started right here; right now. Or, nearly as bizarre. Were the Toronto Maple… Read More

Justin Bourne of a Different Time

TORONTO (Jan. 18) — Let me begin with a disclaimer: I like Justin Bourne. He has a wonderful TV presence and works especially well with my old pal, Nick Kypreos. Real Kyper & Bourne is good television on Sportsnet, up… Read More

Everyone is Missing the Mark — Again

TORONTO (Jan. 15) — Here we go. Groundhog Day. As always at this time of year, fans and media implore the Maple Leafs to add “depth pieces” prior to the National Hockey League trade deadline. Nothing too risky. Just nibble… Read More

30 Years Ago: How It All Started

TORONTO (Jan. 11) — It was a shot in the dark that landed bullseye. An idea so preposterous that it must have resulted from paralyzing fatigue. Even if, unwittingly, it became the genesis of my career path in sports radio.… Read More

The Leafs Are Chronically Soft

TORONTO (Dec. 23) — Forget the consecutive home losses to the New York Islanders and Winnipeg before the Christmas break in the National Hockey League. I’m still back in Buffalo, last Friday night, when the Toronto Maple Leafs doubled the… Read More

Would Management Show Some Gall?

TORONTO (Nov. 27) — It’s often been said that teams in the National Hockey League determine what they have, and what they need, by the American Thanksgiving. Or… by tomorrow. At which time the Toronto Maple Leafs could sit atop… 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

Would He? Could He?

TORONTO (Feb. 16) — Chuckle, if you wish. Belly–laugh, even. But, understand that this scenario comes from a person with more than three decades of hockey media experience in Los Angeles. Everyone in the sports–writing (broadcasting?) business knows him (her?).… Read More

Campbell Joins The Horde

TORONTO (Feb. 6) — In case you lost count, 20 or 30 years ago, Jack Campbell is the 70th man to play goal for the Maple Leafs since May 2, 1967, when the club last won the Stanley Cup (over… Read More