TORONTO (May 22) — There’s no need to search for a hockey executive to replace Brendan Shanahan as president of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The club’s parent company, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, has the perfect candidate under its roof.… Read More
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
TORONTO (Apr. 23) — Brad Treliving will not win general manager–of–the–year in the National Hockey League (the nod likely going to Kevin Cheveldayoff of Winnipeg or Chris Patrick of Washington). Were there an award, however, for best acquisition–of–the–year, Toronto’s… Read More
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
TORONTO (Apr. 12) — A Maple Leafs anniversary passed on Friday without acknowledgement or fanfare: Brendan Shanahan marked 11 years as president of the hockey club. You’ll excuse local scribes and pundits if they didn’t laud the occasion as intended,… Read More
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
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
TORONTO (Mar. 3) — It’s an annual rite of passage for hockey in this city; largely forgotten by the ensuing year.
First, the general manager–of–the–day calls media together so he can set the trade–deadline bar as shallow as possible. Check.… Read More
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
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
TORONTO (Feb. 14) — It’s been an unusual sporting week here in town. The Toronto Raptors lost a basketball game. The Canadian Football League Argonauts found a quarterback. And, Toronto Blue Jays catcher Reese McGuire was allegedly spotted “exercising” his… Read More
TORONTO (Feb. 10) — Having completed two–thirds of the regular season, it appears as if the Toronto Maple Leafs are cloaked in something inexplicable. How can a team bloated with such outlandish skill remain on the fringe of Stanley Cup… Read More
TORONTO (Feb. 2) — They are, without question, the most–coveted items in my large collection of sports memorabilia. Having lived here in Toronto all my life (I turn 61 on Monday) — watching the Leafs as a fan and reporter… Read More
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
TORONTO (Jan. 28) — In 1972, the Houghton–Mifflin publishing company in Boston released an autobiography of George Allen, veteran coach of the Washington Redskins, entitled THE FUTURE IS NOW. Today, any author could write a book about the Toronto Maple… Read More
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
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
TORONTO (Jan. 11) — Should he remain injury–free throughout the National Hockey League schedule, Auston Matthews is a good bet to establish a Toronto Maple Leafs record for most goals in one season. Rick Vaive has held the mark —… 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