Toronto Maple Leafs

It Was King Edward’s Call — Totally

TORONTO (Feb. 19) — Let’s be clear: No professional athlete is worth the riches being sought by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Neither is Guerrero worth to the Blue Jays what the slugger is evidently asking of Rogers Communications — a salary… 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

It’s Getting Closer… Every Day

TORONTO (Feb. 8) — Darryl Sittler. Doug Gilmour. Auston Matthews. The Toronto Maple Leafs have been around since 1926; the franchise, previously known as the Arenas and St. Patricks, since 1917. Only three players in 108 years have struck for… 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

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

My Pal Dave Was Half–Right

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

There’s No Real Mystery

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

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

Leafs Are Embracing Insanity

TORONTO (Feb. 4) — First, let’s try to not lose our minds over one game… as ghastly as the third–period collapse against Florida seemed. If the Leafs can plummet from third place in the Atlantic Division to beyond playoff contention… 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

Leafs Always Looking Long–Term

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

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