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. 9) — Through much of the 1980’s, a haunting refrain could be heard with respect to the pitiable Toronto Maple Leafs: The club would never win anything of consequence until Harold Ballard died.
Once that event occurred —… 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 (July 9) — This is a purely hypothetical exercise, for it appears — and to their detriment — that the Toronto Maple Leafs are not involved in trade talks with the Ottawa Senators for Erik Karlsson.
Nowhere else on… Read More
TORONTO (July 6) — For as long as anyone can remember; but, specifically, in the age of Internet and social media, the Toronto Maple Leafs have possessed as rabid and unconditionally–loyal a fan–base as any in professional sport. How do… Read More
TORONTO (July 3) — So, we wonder, even more curiously: What did Mike Babcock discuss with Auston Matthews during their post–playoff summit in Arizona? You remember: Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet claiming, after the Maple Leafs were bounced from the opening… Read More
TORONTO (July 1) — You really cannot ask more from a team in the National Hockey League during the off–season than signing the best unrestricted free agent on the market. Which is exactly what the Toronto Maple Leafs did Sunday… Read More
TORONTO (June 29) — Isn’t it deliciously coincidental that the home of the Maple Leafs, on the very day that John Tavares could choose to ply his trade on Bay St., changes title from an airline to a bank?
Yes… 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 (June 16) — A cynic would contend it is thoroughly emblematic of this city that our three “least–fashionable” sports teams have won championships in the past 6½ months. No disrespect to the Argonauts, Toronto F.C. or the Marlies, but… Read More
TORONTO (Apr. 26) — This is not to invoke the blame game. And, yes, hindsight is an incomparable ally. But, in the end — when the fat lady approached the microphone in this record–breaking season — the Toronto Maple Leafs’… Read More
TORONTO (Mar. 13) — If I were a betting man, I’d say that John Tavares will re–up with the New York Islanders and spend his prime National Hockey League years playing out of a new arena at Belmont Park Racetrack.… Read More
TORONTO (Mar. 4) — There is no attempt here to jump on a bandwagon with the Maple Leafs in their first minor funk since mid–January (0–2–1 on a four–game road trip that concludes Monday night in Buffalo). This is still… Read More
TORONTO (Feb. 24) — A prediction here as it pertains to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Monday’s National Hockey League trade deadline (and one that won’t likely stun readers): General manager Lou Lamoriello will make a medium–level acquisition, at best,… Read More
TORONTO (Feb. 21) — According to a long–time Western Conference scout with whom I check every year at this juncture, the Toronto Maple Leafs will bolster their blue line before Monday’s National Hockey League trade deadline. “Based on the rumblings… Read More
TORONTO (Feb. 17) — As the Toronto Maple Leafs soar through the most stellar and meaningful hockey at this juncture of a season in 25 years, there remains the urge from within to allay expectation. To fundamentally minimize a remarkable,… Read More
TORONTO (Feb. 3) — I received a largely unexpected call on Friday from a long–time media contact in Ottawa. A person with whom I had routinely made acquiescence in the press box at the Canadian Tire Centre (and elsewhere around… Read More
TORONTO (Jan. 24) — The Maple Leafs play the Blackhawks tonight in Chicago, which may not be a good thing. The last Toronto victory at the United Center was so long ago, I covered it for The FAN–590. That would… Read More
Are We Being Seduced Again?
The Philadelphia Hotel Caper
My Time With The Big Irishman
The Marner Condundrum Escalates
Would Marner Waive For The Apple?
Would Management Show Some Gall?
Is Anyone Going To Say It?
It Was Berube’s Finest Moment
Argos Came Back From The Dead
We Live In A Pathetic Newspaper Era
I’ve been wrong about Dinwiddie
The Leafs Are Great — Today
Bizarre Football Day At The CNE
The Leafs Look Bored — Already
Watch, Admire… and Remember
My Father And Sports
Maybe The Veteran Stuff Will Help
When Your Hero Is No More
Bobcat, Wilbur and the Trial Balloon
It’s Impossible To Predict The Leafs
Toronto Sun Closes Leaf Comments
Dinwiddie Loses Game For The Argos
God Help Fans Of The Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs Are Drug–Addicted
Craig and the Core–4: Hmmm…
How Does Life Go On?
Are The Penguins Pursuing Marner?
They Ambushed The Staff at CHML-900
What About Those Jerseys, Keith?
CFL Command Centre Needs Overhaul
Marner Is Going Nowhere
How Much More Can Be Expected?
There’s No Hope For the Blue Jays
How close we came to Zapruder–2