The Bing Man's Home of the Leafs

Leafs update

2010-12-23T21:36:00.002-08:00

The Leafs totally suck. There's your update.

a letter to Brian Burke

2010-06-01T12:05:00.000-07:00

I found this on a Leafs fan site and I think it summed up how I feel about the Leafs, generally. I could easily sign my name to this:

Dear Mr. Burke,

You have done a very interesting, yet quality job since joining the Toronto Maple Leafs' organization.

As a fan, on behalf of all Maple Leafs fans, I would like to thank you for your contributions.

However, there are still many things that we want to see. Most notably is a top line centre.

As you know, the Leafs have needed a top line centre since Mats Sundin left for Vancouver.

Even though Phil (Kessel) scored 30 goals in just 70 games last season, I think he can exceed those stats with a better playmaker by his side.

Speaking of a top line centre, how about trade bait.

Who would you use to help reel a team into giving us a performer who could play with Kessel?

How about Tomas Kaberle?

I know that you don't want to entertain that idea. But there is that window in which you can trade him during the draft. Would you consider taking advantage of that?

What about Luke Schenn?

I've heard about Schenn being on the trading block. Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing him go.

After a strong rookie season, he seemed to struggle more than expected last year. It does, however, appear that you could still get very good value for the young defenseman.

As I am sure you know, having won a Stanley Cup, teams aren't just built around trades.

With that being said, how do you plan on tackling free agency this offseason?

There are many potential "Brian Burke type players" out there in free agency this summer.

One of those guys is David Clarkson.

Personally, I've wanted Clarkson on the team for a while now. So have many other die hard Leafs fans. Clarkson, a Toronto native, is a very hard worker. He'd fit in great with the Leafs organization.

As we all know, the Maple Leafs are the richest team in the league.

Unfortunately, that's mostly due to large companies buying tickets for company functions, as a way of impressing clients, etc. This drags down the amount of true fans at home games.

That must be one of the reasons why the Air Canada Centre never seems to be so loud, and definitely not as loud as the Bell Centre in Montreal.

If you watch a Montreal game, which I know you have watched many of, you should be able to see that more than 97 percent of the attendees are true, full-out Habs fans. They cheer loudly, they wave their towels, and they are into the game from start to finish.

Hopefully, Mr. Burke, you can bring the Maple Leafs back to their greatness of the mid 1900's.

I am really curious to see if Burke is able to get an offensive weapon to play with Kessel, even if that involves trading Kaberle (a player I've always loved). The Kabby rumours are swirling and I'll be keeping my ear to the ground and my eye on the interwebs...

Mendes on lowering the bar OR why the Leafs of the early 1990s accomplished much!

2010-05-26T09:13:00.000-07:00

Here is a good article from Sportsnet's Ian Mendes on the difficulty Canadian teams experience after they go deep in the playoffs, including the usual dropping off in the standings subsequently (Calgary '04, Edmonton '06, for example). He then goes on to (rightly) laud the Leafs squads of 1993 and 1994 for their deep back-to-back runs, which in hindsight is an impressive accomplishment indeed!

the playoffs, Puck Daddy, and why Dennis Wideman needs double-runners

2010-05-08T08:04:00.000-07:00

I have not had the time to post anything about this year's playoffs, though I've been following them more closely than I have in years, perhaps because of my (false) belief that the Canucks had built a team capable of going deep. It's been a fascinating post-season so far, from the magic of the Habs to all the complaints about the refereeing to the the disaster of the Vancouver Canucks (last night's 7-4 loss to Chicago was pathetic). Let's hope Canada's two remaining teams can keep fighting and move on into the conference semi-finals. At this point, Montreal is looking by far the more likely bet than the Canucks. They're playing disciplined, team-oriented hockey and getting outstanding goaltending from Jaroslav Halak. I think the Pens-Habs series has the potential to go the distance! If the Canucks can even push their series with the Hawks to six games I'd be shocked. We'll see what happens!

I've been loving reading Yahoo Sports' Puck Daddy blog, which my Kiwi friend Hamish started reading--he is learning to love our great game and he finds this blog a change from the 'here's who won and why' recap-based writing that fills the majority of the sports pages. Puck Daddy is funny and has a lot of hockey 'human interest' stories--I've been finding it a great read!

Also, I don't know how I missed this one the first time around, but Dennis Wideman's shootout attempt is one of the funniest hockey highlights I've ever watched. I've literally replayed the thing 50 times over the past few days and I've laughed my head off every time. I showed it to my wife and she laughed pretty hard as well! I love the way the announcer says "yahoo!" at the 9 second mark of the video--hysterical!

The Hart

2010-04-12T12:17:00.001-07:00

I know that this is a Leafs blog, but since the Leafs are out on the golf course for the next few months, I will be posting on other hockey-related matters. And so, I must agree with Elliotte Friedman's assessment that Henrik Sedin should win the Hart trophy this year (along with the Art Ross!). As Friedman pointed out, Henrik helped carry the team when his brother was injured, the entire defensive core seemed to be injured, and when Luongo was being less-than-Luongo at various points during the season. Besides, I often root for the underdog and to me Sedin is definitely the underdog this year. I definitely do not want to see that showboating, 'me-first', baboon arse-faced yeti Ovechkin get it, not do I want Crosby to get it (as much as I like him) as they've shared it between them for the last three years.

Henrik raked in 112 points, including the most assists in the league, and broke Pavel Bure's team record of 110 points in a season. He quietly went about his business in hockey-mad Vancouver and did it with grace, class, and humility. If Henrik doesn't get it, I hope it goes to someone like Bryzgalov or Miller. That's my two cents...

hasn't been enough time lately

2010-03-31T21:40:00.000-07:00

I've been reasonably busy lately and there hasn't been either the time nor all that much to gripe about when it comes to the Leafs. They're winning a lot more games than they're losing and trying to play the spoiler since there's no way that they're going to make the playoffs--that's now a half-decade of ineptitude leading to no playoff hockey, for those of you keeping count. I bet the morons at MLSE are missing those gate receipts!

I think the only annoying thing about the Leafs winning ways (other than the fact that they're coming months too late!) is that they can't manage to get the job done in regulation time, so they're always handing the other team at least a point. Oh well, I can't expect too much...

Nik Antropov mathematically eliminated his old team from the playoffs with his winning goal for Atlanta the other night. Ah, the irony...

the 2010 trade deadline: reaction

2010-03-14T17:20:00.000-07:00

Well, the trade deadline came and went with all the regular accompanying hoopla and ridiculous quantities of media coverage. For the Leafs, it was pretty anticlimactic, all things considered. The biggest 'surprise' was the trade of Alexi Ponikarovsky to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Luca Caputi and Martin Skoula (who was immediately dealt to the Devils), though it wasn't actually a surprise. I think the deals for Lee Stempniak and Joey MacDonald were both solid as we picked up draft picks (later rounds, mind you) and a couple of defencemen in the deals. Obviously the Leafs got their far bigger deals done weeks earlier in the major trades with the Flames and the Ducks so the deadline felt like a bit of 'dusting and tidying up' compared to the 'spring clean' that happened with the acquisitions made through the Calgary and Anaheim trades on January 31.

My verdict: Good business done by Brian Burke before this year's trade deadline. We're now the youngest team in the NHL and that can really only be seen as a positive. The Blue & White had even won three games in a row until today's 4-1 loss to the Islanders in Long Island, which is unheard of for the 2009-2010 Maple Leafs!

the stretch run

2010-03-03T10:55:00.000-08:00

The Leafs are now in the homestretch as they race toward the golf course and working on their handicaps. The boys came back from the Olympic break with a whimper (as expected) courtesy of a 5-1 drubbing by the Carolina Hurricanes at the ACC last night, allowing five straight goals before John Mitchell finally got one back for the Blue & White. Our record now stands at a sparkling 19-32-11, 49 points, which is good enough for last in the Eastern Conference and second-to-last in the NHL (the lowly Oilers have 44 points). Being a Leafs fan is excruciating.

Stay tuned for my post-trade deadline thoughts...

an ode to Harold Ballard

2010-02-12T07:14:00.001-08:00

I am in the process of reading Al Strachan's Why The Leafs Suck And How They Can Be Fixed and this quote about Harold Ballard made me laugh pretty hard:

If we were to go through every mistake that Ballard made, every impropriety that he committed, every insult to the long-suffering fans that he inflicted, this book would make War and Peace look like a Post-It note.

Well said, Al, well said. More of my thoughts on this book to come...

getting Giggy with it!

2010-02-08T16:27:00.004-08:00

Two games and two shutouts for Giguere! I'm not getting any false hope, but that is an encouraging sign for the Leafs--certainly a HUGE improvement on the lacklustre Finn that just exited in the trade that brought J.S.G. to Toronto! Let's see what happens tonight against the mighty Sharks...

Brutal!

2010-02-06T08:20:00.002-08:00

On Tuesday night the Leafs shut out the Devils 3-0 in Giguere, Phaneuf, and Sjostrom's first game as Leafs--they were awarded the 3 Stars for the night. Then last night the Leafs gave up three goals in the last three minutes of the game to lose 4-3!! Geeeeeeezzzzz! This team makes me want to tear my hair out sometimes!

That is all.

weighing on the Phaneuf/Giguere trades

2010-02-01T20:32:00.004-08:00

I have been asked enough times for my opinion on the latest blockbuster Leafs and so I thought I should take some time to enlighten my readers on what I think of Burke's Bombshell...

Firstly, anyone who thinks that Burke is a straight-up moron for making these trades doesn't know their arse from their face. At first I felt very neutral about these trades, not thinking they were brilliant, but not thinking they were poor either. However, the more I read about them and think about them as a long-time fan who both loves the team and understands their traditionally myopic decision-making, the more this deal looks extremely advantageous to the Leafs. True, Phaneuf is a gamble, but what did the Leafs really give up to get him? Not much. Stajan is too soft and totally inconsistent (though admittedly has decent hands around the net); Mayers is a journeyman and was nothing more than a gap-filling body; Hagman is gifted, but like Stajan, is inconsistent (and is a UFA at the end of this season); and White is a solid player, but not really improving enough and is never going to be winning a Norris. Phaneuf, on the other hand, has the potential to be an elite defenseman if he can...well, learn to play defence. He makes some horrific defensive mistakes, but with the right coaching, I think he could really come around. The question is: will he be able to adjust to playing in the fishbowl that is Toronto? And if the rumours of a bad attitude are true, can he put that behind him and learn to be a good teammate? Time will tell. But he does have the potential to be a building block for the future of the franchise. Fredrik Sjostrom is a decent player and a good penalty killer and Keith Aulie is a good defensive prospect who excelled at the World Juniors in 2009, bring a strong physical presence on the blueline--it doesn't hurt that the kid is 6'6" and over 200 lbs!!!

The Giguere trade is essentially genius as far as I'm concerned. Rumours are that Toskala was uncoachable and didn't listen to anyone, plus he is too small. His GAA and save percentage stats were pitiful--ANYTHING is going to be an improvement on him. Good riddance. Neither the franchise nor us fans have any real faith or confidence in him. Giguere is reunited with his old goaltending coach (whom he supposedly credits for his success in the NHL) as well as Burke, who was his GM in Anaheim. Our goaltending duo of Giguere and Gustavsson is far stronger than it was, thankfully. As for Blake, nicely done by Brian Burke to rid the Leafs of that large (totally useless) contract--Blake is not a Leafs player and can't handle the pressure of Toronto. He may have wheels and be gifted, but he's not gritty enough and, as one pundit pointed out, most of his best skating happens around the boards, not in the key places like IN FRONT OF THE NET!

Burke got the better of Sutter on this trade (much like Cliff Fletcher over Doug Risebrough all those years ago, which brought Dougie Gilmour to the Leafs and made us respectable for awhile!) and though he gave away some of our primary scoring, what this does is free up more room for Tyler Bozak, Christian Hanson, and other prospects (Nazem Kadri!!!!) to make the big club. If these guys pan out and management doesn't fall into the trap of making typically stupid 'Leafs deals', the future may actually look bright for Toronto. I think we can kiss the playoffs goodbye for this year, but let's keep looking forward and building toward the future. However, I don't think Burke is done yet...

the perfect graphic

2010-01-23T16:47:00.001-08:00

Is that not perfect or what???

so hot...then dead cold

2010-01-17T13:27:00.000-08:00

I don't know how you go from shutting out a team that's on a roll lately on Thursday night (i.e the Flyers) and then get humiliated 6-1 the next night (i.e. the Capitals). And that is with the same goaltender in the net!! I really don't get this team, but I have to agree with a recent comment I heard: they're just not very good. Nothing surprises me about this year's Leafs team anymore--I've grown used to the pathetic displays and then the (very) rare moments of brilliance. However, they are far more 'crap' than they are 'awesome', and that's the sad truth.

This is a highly appropriate expression for you to be making, Vesa, based on your overall performance as a Leaf...

frustrations

2010-01-10T12:56:00.001-08:00

I may have to cut off all contact with MapleLeafs.com because I'm getting pretty tired of the crap they peddle non-stop. I am enough of a realist to understand that it's their job to make the Leafs look good, but if I have to hear them sugarcoat one more loss, I'm going to scream. It seems every game is a 'valiant comeback' whether they lose 6-2 or a 3-2 nail biter. It doesn't change the fact that they lost, very likely gave up the first goal (and likely went down 2-0, their magic deficit!), and were defensively sloppy. Why this team feels the need to dig itself into a hole in order to play its best hockey is beyond me!

End of rant.

P.S. I am no closer to wearing any of my Leafs gear. I have not put on any of my t-shirts, jerseys, or hats for a considerable amount of time now...

P.P.S. What the HECK is with that penalty kill?? What crap!

what 2010 will bring

2010-01-01T21:52:00.000-08:00

I have no idea what to expect from the Leafs this year as they are the most Jekyll and Hyde team in the NHL, as far as I'm concerned. The one commitment I have made and from which I will not stray is that I will not don any of my Leafs gear and until they are a .500 hockey team--as it stands this second they are four games off of that pace if I am generous and do not count overtime losses. If that were the case, they are presently 13 games off of .500, yet only five points out of a playoff spot! Crazy!

The Leafs have racked up a few impressive wins lately, including knocking off the Penguins a few days back, yet they come into Edmonton and look disinterested. Right now, I would love to know the answers to the following questions: Will the Leafs ever score the first goal in a game?? Will Colton Orr ever not be a penalty-taking knob? What will happen to Matt Stajan and Alexei Ponikarovsky (both are UFAs at the end of this season)? Will Toskala play well enough to be decent trade bait (yes, we should trade him)? So much yet to be determined...

This new decade begins with a bit of promise, though it's hard not to be skeptical when you have had to endure what Leafs fans have had to swallow for so many years. Only time will tell if the Kessel trade turns out to be a winner, whether Nazem Kadri fulfills his potential, and whether The Monster really does turn out to be the goaltender of the future given time to develop and adjust to the NHL (there have been glimmers of brilliance, yes?)

Let's hope they play well enough in the next while for me to pull my jerseys out of the closet and be somewhat to be a Leafs fan.

Burke after one year

2009-11-30T09:42:00.001-08:00

Yesterday marked the one-year anniversary of the beginning of 'the Burke era' in Toronto and it's been a mixed bag so far, in my opinion. I must take off my hat to Matt Burt of TSN.ca for this balanced assessment of the past year and what the future potentially holds.

Obviously, the Leafs have been complete crap this year so far and though I was not expecting them to be amazing, I definitely expected more than a 6-11-7 record, leaving them 29th in the NHL. My biggest disappointments so far have been the play of Komisarek (a.k.a. the man who's residential address should be changed to 'The Penalty Box') and Beauchemin, both of whom have been atrocious more often than not. I'm also in disbelief at how often the Leafs have given up the first goal in a game and how that first goal often occurs before the game is five minutes old. Goaltending has been spotty at best, though The Monster has shown flashes of outright brilliance. Toskala has looked pretty shaky and has given up some incredibly soft goals, however he has not been helped out by the porous defence--of all areas of the team, I was expecting the D to be the strongest, but it has often been a disaster as well. And who is putting pucks in the net? Phil Kessel has been excellent since he came back from injury (11 points in 12 games) although I'm still not convinced he's worth what the Buds game up for him, though some fans and pundits would disagree with me. Nikolas Hagman has been another surprise and has played very well, one of the few bright spots for the Leafs--this kid has some real skill. However, these two can't do it all on their own! Do we have a Jason Blake in the house or does he have a severe case of Invisible Man Syndrome?

I realize I get pretty grouchy when I talk about the Leafs but I do figure Leafs Nation deserved a bit more than we have received from this team thus far this season. However, let's evaluate again come March and see whether things have improved at all. I sure hope so because it has been even more embarrassing than it usually is to be a Leafs fan lately and the jokes are getting old!

nothing to say

2009-10-25T11:19:00.002-07:00

I literally do not have the words to talk about the Leafs these days. We're last in the NHL, have played eight games and lost them all, and have one point. One point. Florida, who is directly above us in the standings, has five. I am shutting this blog down until there is something that is actually worth writing about because this team is pathetic.

the worst in 90 years...

2009-10-12T21:33:00.001-07:00

Worst start to a season, that is. With our dismal 7-2 loss to the Rangers tonight the Leafs are off to a 0-4-1 start, are 30th in the NHL standings, are last in goals against, and are frankly just completely sucking. I actually thought this season I'd be able to hold my head up proudly and say that I supported a team with some guts, but instead I want to bury my head in the sand and pretend that I'd never fallen in love with the Blue & White. Our goaltending is shambles, our defense is poor, and there isn't a damn player who can score a bloody goal!!!! We were utterly walked on by the Rangers tonight and it was 100% deserved! Something has to change and fast! My first suggestion would be to bench Toskala and find a goalie who can stand up to some shots (Jonas Gustavsson, I'm looking at you!) and then perhaps look to the Marlies for some inspiration (Bozak, Christian Hanson, anybody?).

This team has been an embarrassment so far...

We'll see what happens tomorrow when they face the Avs at the ACC...

0-2-1

2009-10-07T09:58:00.001-07:00

Well, so far it has been a less than auspicious beginning to the Leafs' season. We've lost all three games and have given up 12 goals--only the mighty Vancouver Canucks have given up more with 13. Opening night was easily the best we've played, losing in overtime to the Habs. In the second game, the Caps had us down 6-1 until we pulled it together enough in the third period to score three more and make it a far more respectable 6-4. And last night in the Battle of Ontario we played some sloppy defense and lost 2-1, though admittedly we pressed well in the third period and Komisarek would have had a goal, but his blistering slapshot caromed off both posts behind Pascal Leclaire. I must applaud Jonas "The Monster" Gustavasson because he looked very strong in the net and I really can't blame him too much for how he was beat by Daniel Alfredsson on the penalty shot (oh, thanks for that Luke Schenn!).

Wilson called out his team in the media after the game, saying that "they stunk" and that he is going to be skating them hard on Wednesday morning.

I hope to see some improvement boys...

Kessel, Kadri, and the start of the season

2009-10-01T10:43:00.000-07:00

Well, I've had a number of people pestering me to weigh in on the Kessel trade since I've been pretty mum about it (on the blog at least) and so here goes. I think Kessel is a very good player and there is a part of me that is excited for him to be a Leaf. However, I don't think that he's "two firsts and a second" good and I admit that I'm a bit choked with Burke over this trade. What Burke is banking on is that the Leafs are going to do far better this year and next year (which they very well may) and thus those two first rounders will be late draft choices. However, as much as I think the Leafs will be a better team this year (and if the pre-season is any indication, they will!), will they be a top ten team? I highly doubt it. Thus, I think Burke has traded away a big chunk of the future in order to get an injury-prone forward who won't play until November and who has been known to disappear when the pressure is on. And in the NHL, the Toronto hockey market is the definition of pressure. This move screams "we're going to make the playoffs come hell or high water" and, to me, contradicts all of his talk about the slow building of the team and thinking long-term rather than short-term. However, I hope Kessel proves me wrong and I'll be pulling for him, even if I am not a big fan of the trade.

On the opposite side of the coin, I think it was wise of Burke/Wilson to send Nazem Kadri back to junior for more experience, ice time, and strengthening. He had a great camp and his future in Toronto looks bright (provided they don't trade him away). He's wily, quick, has great hands, is a fantastic skater, and has some pretty sweet moves (based on his shootout goal against Pittsburgh). I look forward to seeing him up with the big club in the next couple of years!

As for what this season holds, it's tough to tell. The Leafs had a great pre-season, The Monster and Toskala both looked good, and even thinking about the defensive corps gives me bruises! The question mark is going to be whether we're going to be able to fill the net or not. The addition of Kessel should help that, but is there any guarantee that he's going to stay healthy?

Some predictions: Will the Leafs make the playoffs? Yes. Will they be the eighth seed? No. Will Phil Kessel stay healthy? No. Will the Leafs spend a lot of time in the penalty box? Heck yes.

I'm looking forward to the season opener against the Habs tonight...

pre-season thoughts thus far

2009-09-23T10:45:00.000-07:00

I don't have a lot to say about the pre-season thus far other than that I am impressed with how the team has looked/played. The Buds have won the majority of their games and, in many cases, have looked pretty convincing doing it. Nazim Kadri looks like he has the makings of a very good NHL player, but I think he should be sent back to junior to develop more before they bring him up to the pressure-filled fishbowl that is the Toronto hockey market.

being a Leafs fan

2009-09-13T12:08:00.003-07:00

I take a lot of stick for a number of different things (including my profession), but not for anything as much as being a Toronto Maple Leafs fan. Admittedly, because the Leafs are the biggest punchline in the NHL (and don't think I won't admit it, because I often do) this is deserved. However, I know that if I were to suddenly switch allegiances after all these years as a result of how badly they stink, I'd hear about it even more. I have a number of friends who are Canuck fans and who always tell me that the Canucks are a "real" team (see note below). The thing is, my body would really pay the price if I switched allegiances and became a hard-core Vancouver fan--Canucks supporters have really really bad knee and leg problems from jumping on and off the bandwagon so many times...

My connection to the Leafs is pretty much down to one person. His real first name is Norman, but he goes by a shortened form of his middle name (William): Bill. He is also known as my father. My dad has always loved the Leafs and he passed on that love to me, a love that grew in my teens to what it is now at age 30. Because I didn't live with my father, the Leafs are a real bonding thing for us and thus a team on which I am still not willing to fully give up. My dad and I are real Leafs fans, not the pie-in-the-sky, uncritical type that a lot of so-called fans are. As Dave Feschuk and Michael Grange point out in their brilliant new book Leafs AbomiNation, the problem is that Leafs fans don't love their team too much, they love them too little. They are willing to settle for whatever mediocre crap is thrown on the ice season after season and treat the players like heroes just because they wear the Blue & White. My father and I do not really fit that mold and we would be the first people to lambast the Leafs' torturously poor decision making in the post-1967 era. Many a phone call have we shared where my father and I have derided the team and there have been times where they've been so bad (pretty constantly) that we've essentially ignored them and focused on other sporting loves (I am a passionate Liverpool FC supporter and thus have another club to focus on that is far more successful while my father loves the CFL's Hamilton Tiger Cats and the Toronto Blue Jays). My dad remembers 1967, remembers when the Leafs were great. I know the stories and have studied the history: from Barilko to Baun, Keon to Sittler, from the agony of "the Ballard Years" to the corporate B.S. of the MLSE era, I know all about it. Which brings us to the concept of loyalty...

I love you Dave Keon:

There is something to be said for loyalty, though I consider my/our loyalty to be "loyalty with discernment". I am willing to admit to being a Leafs fan, will sport my jersey or t-shirt, but I refuse to make excuses to others for a team that has missed the playoffs for the last four years, has made incredibly bad trade decisions (you readers don't have three hours to hear the post-67 list--it would make you cry), rewarded mediocrity with ridiculous contracts (Brian McCabe??? Lord helps us, he had a good one-timer and that's IT), drafted like Helen Keller, and generally put profits ahead of winning (are you listening, Richard Peddie!?), just to mention a few symptoms of general malaise. Garbage management (i.e. John Ferguson Jr.???), poor scouting, bad ownership, blind fans, and a number of other factors have contributed to making the team the laughingstock it is today; I, for one, would love to see it end because it's tiring. However, there is a glimmer of hope...

Say what you will about Brian Burke, but love him or hate him, he knows how to get results and he has a long-term vision for the team, something the organization has lacked for....well, a hell of a long time. The Leafs are starting to scout far better, draft better, and not trade away picks under the Burke regime. Is he perfect? No, not at all and he will probably make mistakes in the fishbowl that is the Toronto hockey market. However, he knows the symptoms of what Feschuk and Grange call 'Blue & White Disease', as does his hardass coach Ron Wilson, and I don't see this malady continuing--in fact, the vaccine is being continually developed. I am so pleased they picked up Jonas Gustavsson ("The Monster") to challenge Vesa Toskala ("The Tepid Finn") for the top goaltending job, hopefully shoring up what Burke calls 'hockey's most important position'. Nazim Kadri looks like he could be a very good NHLer if he continues to develop, and Burke's other additions make him look very smart and savvy, including the scouting and signing of college players such as Tyler Bozak and Christian Hanson. Add Francois Beauchemin, Colton Orr, and Mike Komisarek (to name but a few) and no other team is going to want play the Leafs this season for fear of being steamrolled! I hope the message Burke is sending is "Enough of the no-trade clauses and cushy treatment. If you want a spot on this team, you earn it through your play!" We'll see what the 2009-10 season brings...

I love the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey club and the reason I am still a fan is because of a yearning to see respectability and glory returned to what was once a proud franchise with a tradition of winning. Conn Smythe would roll over in his grave if he knew what the Buds had become since their last Cup in 1967 (FYI, the Blackhawks have been waiting even longer for a Cup, their last win being 1961 when Mikita and Hull were their big guns!). For me and my father, it's about seeing some dignity and a winning tradition restored to a franchise that he remembers and I dream about. My father and I don't care about profit margins, corporate sponsorship, good branding or any of that crap. Like the real fans we want to see winning, a team that has guts, passion, and a never-say-die attitude rather than the whiny, spoiled, Muskoka Five-type attitude prevalent of late, where you love being a Leaf because of the social perks and treatment by myopic fans who do not care enough about seeing the Cup return to the Leafs. And if it happens in my lifetime, a Cup win for the Leafs will make it all that much sweeter because I will have stuck it out rather than giving up. I hope my dad gets to see it too!

* To my friends who are Canucks fans: Your team is by far my favourite team in the league outside of the Leafs; I always sincerely hope for their best and love to see them succeed. However, please stop comparing the Leafs and Canucks based on playoff performance (the most common comparison you bring up): if you examine the stats, the Canucks have really had little better playoff success than the Leafs in the the last 20 years or so, not withstanding the miracle run in 1994. In the last two decades the Leafs have made it to the Conference Finals four times and Vancouver has made it...once, where they beat the Leafs in five games. Yes, in general, the Canuckleheads have had more success in the regular season, but what counts is how you do when you're not playing for a salary anymore. And based on that measure we've shown more stones than you have in the last couple of decades, in my humble opinion. We've missed the playoffs for four straight years now, a fact you never stop reminding me of, but funnily, so did YOU between 1996 and 2000 (not to mention 2005-06 and 2007-08). Have your teams been better than the Leafs in general? Absolutely. Do you have some of the most hot and cold fans in professional sports? Heck, yes. Have you wilted like violets in the playoffs? Yup. Is the Luongo-Sedins axis getting it done for you? Not in a million years and it's not looking likely in the future either, despite Luongo's long-term deal. So, please cut the mockery, because when it comes to playoff performance comparisons, you don't have a leg to stand on. End of rant. Bing Man out.

what you've been waiting for: weighing in on the draft and more

2009-07-24T12:34:00.002-07:00

I've been chastised for not posting my thoughts on the Leafs' first round draft pick, Nazem Kadri, as well as the team's other pre-season moves and so I am taking the time to quickly do so now.

The first think I'd like to say is that I like Kadri and what he can bring to the team the more I read about him. He's quick, offensively-minded, has great hands, is a wickedly fast skater and is especially impressive in his ability to find the net shorthanded. As a London Knight, he finished second in team scoring behind John Tavares with 78 points--not too shabby. If I wished one thing about Kadri, it's that he was a bit bigger (at 6'0, 167 pounds, he's not that physically imposing), however he is still just a kid and will beef up as he gets older. Interestingly, he was ranked 11th at midterm by NHL Central Scouting and his final rank was 15th, however he ended up going 7th overall. Kadri turns 19 in October and I'm curious as to whether he will be able to crack the Leafs lineup this coming season or whether he'll be back with the Knights.

Burke has definitely toughened the team up with his signings in the off-season (Komisarek, Beauchemin, Orr, Exelby, etc.), but I am not seeing much offensive power in the lineup outside of Jason Blake (who isn't getting any younger!), though new acquisition Rickard Wallin may help with that. I am also hoping that John Mitchell will step up even more this year after a good season with the Buds last season--he has potential to be a good second or third line forward with the team, much like he was last year.

Goaltending is going to be interesting for the team--Vesa Toskala has a more-than-ample challenger in Jonas "the Monster" Gustavsson and I am curious to see whether the Finn is displaced from the number one position! At least, no matter what happens, we should have a highly competent backup 'tender, which has been lacking for a good long time.

Our GM has done a good job this off-season and our team is not going to be one that is easily intimidated. Heck, I think that they are going to be a difficult team to play and more difficult still to push around, which is encouraging. That being said, however, who is going to put the pucks in the net? This is my main concern as the 2009-10 seaspm approaches. Does Burkie have a few more tricks up his sleeve?

We shall see...

coming soon...

2009-07-06T22:33:00.002-07:00

My thoughts on the draft as well as some other Leafs-related issues are being formulated and will be on their way soon! Watch this space...

Who should we draft? Ulmer has the goods...

2009-05-21T09:28:00.000-07:00

My favourite Leafs blogger, the venerable Mike Ulmer, believes that he has the inside track on who the Leafs should draft provided that Burke can't trade up to get Tavares or Hedman. I did a bit of digging about this kid and I must admit, Ulmer is right: he looks pretty dang good!

Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson has the look of an future star already and with any luck the Leafs could potentially score him in the draft, depending on whether than can trade up or, if they cannot, what the needs are of the teams ahead of them in the draft order. And he's only 17!! Scouts say he is NHL-ready or pretty close to it already!

Canada's best hope for the future

2009-05-13T14:09:00.000-07:00

As much as my Leaf-hating friends might hate it, Eric Duhatschek stated in today's Globe & Mail that recent events leave "the rebuilding Toronto Maple Leafs with potentially the best chance of any Canadian team to get back in the winner's circle within a reasonable time frame." Based on his reasoning, I find it hard to disagree with this statement. It all depends on what Burkie is able to do over the summer, but if you give him and Nonis time and resources, Toronto is going to have a very good team on the ice, provided MLSE (read: Richard Peddie) does not get in the way!

I feel bad for the Canucks and their fans, but that was a Class A meltdown versus the Blackhawks in the second round and Luongo was roundly outplayed by Khabibulin, to most people's surprise/chagrin. And Canada continues to wait for their Cup--16 years and counting...

The "Who's Better, Crosby or Ovechkin?" argument

2009-05-12T13:30:00.001-07:00

I have been following the Crosby-Ovechkin saga quite a lot and just finished reading this article about the rivalry, so I thought I'd throw my two cents worth into the mix. I think Ovechkin is the more dangerous of the two on a nightly basis and can seemingly score at will; however, given the choice to have either of them on my team, I'd choose Crosby every time and the biggest reason is his demeanor. I like the way Sid the Kid conducts himself and I think that Ovechkin is a showboat, something I have never liked in my athletes--let your feats on the field/ice do the talking, not your celebrations and your mouth.

My wife says "you like Crosby because you know he's a nice guy who helps out with the Timbits." I love the logic there...

Tonight is Game 7 between the Pittsburgh and Washington and I'm really hoping for the Pens as I'd love to see Crosby and Staal, two players I really admire, win a Cup at a young age.

Mike Ulmer on recent draft history

2009-05-01T11:22:00.003-07:00

My favourite Leafs blogger, Mike Ulmer, recalls JFJ's draft legacy as we prepare for this year's draft on June 26 and 27 in Montreal--lots of speculation in Leafs Nation about what's going to happen this year in the draft! It turns out JFJ didn't do that bad of a job for us, thought the Raycroft for Rask deal was an absolute stinker (admittedly, at the time I was happy about it, hoping that he would regain the form he had with Boston in his rookie year!). I am having to content myself with watching the Canucks in the playoffs and I'm dreaming of a time when the Leafs are great again--Burke could be the man to make us a contender and I've got a lot of faith in him and his abilities.

Burke gets aggressive

2009-04-15T12:05:00.000-07:00

As a Leafs fan, Burke's signings of of top U.S. college prospects Christian Hanson and Tyler Bozak is a really big step in the right direction for the franchise. And according to this article, he is also aggressively pursuing a chance to move up in the draft and according to TMLfans.ca, he wants Tavares. Considering that we finished 12th in the Eastern Conference for the second straight season and haven't seen playoff hockey since 2004, some changes definitely need to be made; I believe that the Burke-Wilson combo is the right combination to make those changes. There were huge improvements this year and the team was far more fun to watch than it has been in a few years.

The only real concern I have is that both Burke and Wilson are backing Toskala to be the number 1 again next year. He will really have to bounce back from this season if that is to be the case because the Leafs had the worst GAA in the entire league this year. Let's be praying for an off-season miracle!

positive rumours

2009-04-13T08:04:00.000-07:00

I was pretty happy to hear these rumours regarding potential signings by Brian Burke. Glad to see that my boy is being proactive and not courting geriatrics like his predecessor, John Ferguson Jr., was consistently doing. It feels like Burke actually has a plan, which is a rare thing for us members of Leaf Nation--we're pretty used to there being no planning or thought put into how to run the team. This is a step in the right direction, for sure!

A goaltending worst

2009-04-09T15:48:00.002-07:00

This, from Ulmer's blog, explains a lot of the Leafs' failures this season: goaltending. Read the article and it becomes obvious, brief as it is, that the Leafs were not going to be in the playoff race come April. I hope one of these days the team finally find a star 'tender because it will certainly help go a long way to making us a reasonable playoff contender again.

the real honest look

2009-03-25T12:53:00.001-07:00

This post on Leaf blogger Mike Ulmer's page is a pretty darn good assessment of the great job that Ron Wilson has done with the team since taking the reins from Paul Maurice. There is no sugar-coating with Ulmer (thankfully), but some optimism and a really thorough assessment of what Wilson has had to work with and what he's done with that raw material. I must congratulate Wilson for actually getting some good and entertaining hockey out of this Toronto team this year--it's been easily the most entertaining Leafs team in at least a decade, if not more. They often stink and the defence and goaltending has been mostly atrocious, but they are a lot more enjoyable to watch than the Muskoka Five-era teams! Building toward the future...

the trade deadline: the Bingleafs assessment

2009-03-02T11:30:00.001-08:00

Well, Wednesday's trade deadline has come and gone with some fairly significant activity from the Leafs. The following are my thoughts on what the Leafs did and what the staff here at the blog think of the moves:

1. Nik Antropov to the Rangers for a second round pick: this is a good move, for the most part, but I am sure I heard Burke state that he would take no less than a first round pick for Antropov awhile back, though I could be imagining things. However, if that is the case, I am a bit disappointed that he allowed Big Nik to go for just a second round pick. The flip side is that he is fragile and totally injury-prone and if the goal is to be building toward the future, he was going to have to go as Burke establishes the new regime and overhauls all the crap that the idiotic JFJ/Peddie diad put in place. So, overall, a good deal for the Leafs.

2. Dominic Moore to Buffalo for a second round pick. This is a good deal, for sure--Moore is having a career year and thus his stock was a lot higher than it was in the past. In addition, he wanted far too much money in his contract renegotiations with the Leafs ($2.7-3m a year?? Who does he think he is??), especially for a journeyman forward who had previously put up no more than 18 points in a year in the NHL. Burke was smart to get a reasonable draft pick for him and not be lured into spending such a ridiculous amount of money to keep him--there are a number of other players out there who can do the same things that Moore does for a lower salary.

3. Gerber et. al. Well, we'll see how this works out--Gerber is known as a heartbreaker who's brilliant one moment and terrible the next. His first game for the Leafs was brilliant as he got within 39 seconds of a shutout against Washington. With Toskala out, Gerber looks to be the number one with Joseph as his backup. I have no opinion on the other names we picked up on Deadline Day and I don't know if they're really be factors.

So, there you have it, the Bingleafs assessment. It'll be interesting to see how the rest of the season pans out...

calling it like it is

2009-02-20T11:55:00.001-08:00

As Mapleleafs.com notes, Burke and Wilson don't suger coat it...

Burke drops hints

2009-02-19T07:13:00.003-08:00

GM Brian Burke was in little-L London, my former home, for a speaking engagement yesterday and dropped a few hints about the future of the franchise. The March 4 trade deadline is looming...

What is there to say, really?

2009-02-13T11:42:00.001-08:00

The Leafs, unsurprisingly, have shown their true colours and are the mediocre team that they were predicted to be from the get-go. They are five games under .500, fourth in their division, 11th in the Eastern Conference and they have a grocery list of issues plaguing them, including pretty poor goaltending. They started out strong(er) at the beginning, but the wheels starting coming off before the All-Star break.

I haven't been blogging much about the team first and foremost because I have been so crazy busy over the past month and I have not really had time to follow them or my other love, Liverpool FC, all that closely. In addition, there has been little to laud but much to complain about and I don't want to spend all my blogging time moaning and whining about how crap the team has been. What I have learned: Vesa Toskala is too inconsistent to be a number one goaltender, the team almost always gives up the first goal, they can't hold a lead to save their lives, and I hope they do not make the playoffs because we need more draft picks! A positive: Luke Schenn is panning out to be a top-rate defenceman and, if he continues on this trajetory, one of the future stars of the game and a player to lead Toronto into the future.

I want to see what Burke is going to do before the trade deadline. I think he's going to be a seller and the experts at TSN agree with me. I do have hope for the future, but it's going to take a lot of work.

Look for a lot more posting in the next little while...

Leafs sagging

2009-01-09T13:53:00.001-08:00

Well, the Buds got their sorry arses handed to them last night against their age-old rivals the Habs, 6-2, which continues their sorry slide in January. I don't know what the heck Brian Burke was thinking trading a sixth-round draft pick for Brad May and thinking that we as fans are going to think that is okay (though this rosy assessment seems to make it look like this is a genius move)!

The real problem for the Leafs is lack of consistency, especially with the defence and goaltending. Toskala is incredibly patchy, sometimes a stone wall, others a sieve. Mike Ulmer handily outlined the Leafs' issues with consistency recently and hit the nail right on the head, as far as I'm concerned!

I am glad that Luke Schenn has returned from injury and has been selected to play in the NHL (travesty of a) Young Stars game. And I am equally disdainful of Grabovski getting a three-game suspension for abusing an official during the Leafs-Habs tilt last night. Also, congrats to Tomas Kaberle for his selection as an alternate for the All-Star game!

I will end by saying that the Leafs must stop giving up the first goal in every game. In 25 or 26 games this season (I believe), the Leafs have surrendered the first goal to the opposing team; this is a trend that needs to end.

It will be interesting to see what happens around the trade deadline...

why I love Ron Wilson

2008-12-30T09:00:00.000-08:00

Here is a great interview with Ron Wilson, by Leafs writer/blogger Mike Ulmer, where he talks about his first 100 days on the job as Toronto's head coach. I truly think that we have one of the five best head coaches in the NHL and that he is a big part of why the Leafs have managed to do as "well" as they have.

Brian Burke: the pros and cons

2008-12-28T15:21:00.003-08:00

T.O. Sports online had a great article on Brian Burke, from a few weeks back, that I have been meaning to post--enjoy!

Pogge to start

2008-12-22T16:02:00.001-08:00

Supposedly Vesa Toskala suffered a groin injury in Saturday's game against the Penguins and thus Justin Pogge was called up from the Marlies-- he will be making his NHL debut tonight in Atlanta against the Thrashers. Looking forward to listening to the game on AM640!

squashing the Pens

2008-12-22T14:44:00.000-08:00

The Leafs 7-3 thrashing of Sidney Crosby and the Penguins was one of the single most impressive games of the season thus far. The Leafs had seven different goal scorers and absolutely dominated Pittsburgh from the outset. The Buds had 40 shots on net, while allowing only 23 by the Penguins. Toskala called it "one of the easiest games I've had with the Leafs", as he made 20 saves en route to the victory. For me, what made it extra sweet was that it happened in Pittsburgh. Highly satisfying!

After what was easily one of their worst efforts of the season in their previous game against Boston, the Leafs played well together and looked like a well-oiled machine out on the ice. Malkin looked pretty foolish on the defensive end for most of the night, getting stripped of the puck in front of his own net, which led to an easy goal for Niklas Hagman and then again giving the puck away to Ponikarovsky who converted said giveaway into a goal with a wicked wrist shot off the inside fo the post. At one point, Vesa Toskala made an unbelievably acrobatic pad save on what looked like a sure goal for Miroslav Satan. A great effort all around by Toronto, who will look to keep things rolling as they play the Atlanta Thrashers tonight in Atlanta.

some changes

2008-12-17T15:08:00.003-08:00

Hello loyal Bingleafs blog readers! I just wanted to notify you that I won't be blogging on a game-by-game basis anymore because I don't have the time, nor do I get to watch the games very often because I do not have cable. However, if there is particularly noteworthy game, then I will make sure to post on it. But, from now on there will be synopses of games and posts regarding significant events in Leafs Nation: management issues, Brian Burke, trades, injuries, making fun of the Ottawa Senators and those sorts of things. GO LEAFS!

30 games in: the Bingleafs summary assessment

2008-12-17T13:57:00.002-08:00

Games: 30. Record: 12-12-6. Points: 30. Fourth in the Northeast Division and 11th in the Eastern Conference. That's how it stands for the Leafs as they head toward the All-Star break at the end of January. I admit that the team is far more fun to watch and plays with more grit and heart than I expected--many of this season's losses have come in shootouts or have been lost by very slim margins. That being said, it's painfully obvious that the team needs to improve in a number of areas, of which I will highlight but a few:

1. First periods. The Leafs have been pretty poor in the first period of games, giving up 38 goals (the second period hasn't been much better: 37). I'd say there's room for improvement there.

2. The shootout. the Leafs are 2-6 in shootouts this year, both wins coming against New Jersey. The Buds need to find a way to win if pushed all the way to the "skills competition". If you convert a few more of those shootout losses into wins? You're looking at a significantly different record.

3. Road games. Toronto has a losing record on the road and thus they need to learn to steal a few more away from the ACC. Funnily enough, last season it was at home where the team struggled mightily. Make up your mind, boys!

Rather than just pointing out some areas where improvement is necessary, here are some areas of real strength:

1. Speed. This team can skate with the best of them and tend to control the tempo of play in a game. Other than Antropove, there really isn't a slow skater on the squad and even Big Nik has seemingly improved.

2. Third periods. The Leafs have allowed the least amount of goals against of any team in the NHL in the third period this season with 20. Now, if they can just manage to actually get more leads earlier in games...

3. Grit and passion. This is not a team that rests on its laurels too often, especially when compared with Muskoka Five-era teams of yore! Players fight hard, play strong in the corners, and aren't afraid to take the body, which is good to see.

Considering we are in a rebuilding year and weren't expected to do much of anything, I am impressed with this 2008-09 Toronto Maple Leafs team.

Bingleafs Grade: B

the genius of Richard Peddie

2008-12-01T15:53:00.003-08:00

The following is a small snippet from the official press conference announcing Brian Burke as the new President and GM of the Leafs, where Richard Peddie thanks Cliff Fletcher:

"On behalf of the entire Toronto Maple Leafs organization, I would like to thank Cliff for his contribution and commitment and contribution to the team over the last 11 months"

What's obvious to me is that Cliff must have made a substantial contribution for Richard to mention it not once, but twice in the same sentence. That's our CEO! Nice work, Mr. Peddie!

the Burke era begins!

2008-11-30T11:31:00.001-08:00

A nice job was done by Toronto last night as they handily defeated the Flyers 4-2 at the ACC, to win the first game of the Brian Burke era and snap a six-game winless streak (including that ugly loss to Atlanta, which I declined to write about). This was easily one of the best efforts of the season thus far by the Buds as they looked strong throughout the game. Toskala was excellent (in fact, at times, completely magnificent) in the victory, robbing the Flyers a number of times, including an incredibly save at the side of the net on a Philly powerplay that had my mouth dropping open (sorry 'bout that Simon Gagne!). The Leafs handed the Flyers their first loss in regulation time in three weeks.

A bone to pick: though he scored a lovely goal from the point with that rocket shot of his near the end of the game, the Kubina error that led to the first Philadelphia goal was, in a word, pathetic. He took a lame-duck swipe at it and then got completely outskated, which led to a goal that never should have happened. That was pure laziness and one of the ugliest plays I've seen from a Leafs player this year. Pick it up Pavel!

it looks like the eagle has landed

2008-11-28T13:40:00.000-08:00

It appears that Brian Burke has signed a 6-year, $18 million deal to be President and General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, something that I am very happy about. It's about time that we had a full-time, permanent GM who actually knows something about hockey (Yes, I am talking to you JFJ and Richard Peddie) and I have firmly believed that Burke was the right man for the job for a long time. I think that the union of head coach Ron Wilson and Burke will be a very smooth one, as they were college roommates at Providence, and will lead to a very fruitful relationship as they try to right the Good Ship Maple Leaf and make the team a contender again. I couldn't have chosen two better men for the job if I myself was in charge rather than those tools at Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment. A word of warning to Mr. Burke: this is a whole different kettle of fish than what you were given when you took over the reins in Anaheim--we don't have a Perry or a Getzlaf, so be wise, draft well, and remember your very own words: "people need to evaluate with a calendar, not a stopwatch."

Good luck, big guy.

keep the losses coming boys...

2008-11-18T20:07:00.000-08:00

The Leafs lost another game last night, this time to the division-leading Boston Bruins, despite once again rallying to get within one goal. Michael Ryder scored the winner for Boston to make it 3-2. Reports state that Vesa Toskala was a bit shaky in net and for some reason the team can't seem to score until late in the game, despite consistently outshooting their opponents game in and game out (for 15 straight games the Leafs have outshot the opposing team). Next game for the Leafs is a tilt with Chicago at the Air Canada Centre this coming Saturday. Enjoy the time off boys, rest up, and let's see a win on Saturday!

the man, the legend...

2008-11-17T13:11:00.004-08:00

One of my best friends, Mikey, went to the Leafs-Canucks game on Saturday night and his creativity landed him in the Vancouver Province. I find the "T.O. = B.O." sign to be particuarly charming. His girlfriend is front and centre in the first one, proudly sporting the Blue & White. Nice work, Mikey!

I will be praying that the Leafs exact revenge the next time the two teams meet. Hey, at least Luongo didn't get another shutout!

flat-out ugly

2008-11-16T08:30:00.001-08:00

I have very little to say about last night's loss to the Canucks (a team I like and cheer for when I watch them), but that it was pretty sad. As usual, the Leafs has twice as many shots as their opposition, but last night they couldn't put it away. On my Twitter feed I asked the question "what the heck is wrong with the Leafs?" and my friend Jimmy the K write back "Luongo." Thankfully, to avoid complete embarrassment (and to prevent another Luongo shutout), the boys potted two goals right at the end of the game for a final score of 4-2. I get the hear the jeers of my pastor, a die-hard Canuck fan, which I am not looking forward to, but hopefully this game will recede into memory quickly. Next up the Leafs face division-leading Boston Bruins in Toronto on Monday.

Burke on his way?

2008-11-14T10:19:00.003-08:00

It seems that everyone has pretty much conceded that Brian Burke will become the Leafs' new GM and perhaps even President. Check out this article by veteran Leaf watcher Damien Cox in The Star for further info! CBC is also extolling the possibilities on their website. I am curious to see what happens over the next week or two!

the week in review

2008-11-14T09:12:00.002-08:00

I haven't have the opportunity to post my thoughts on each of the games in the past week, so I thought I would quickly do so now:

In last Thursday's loss to the Bruins, 5-2, the Leafs were lacklustre and deserved to get beaten. They let the Bruins get off to a 3-0 lead after two periods and they never recovered. Bruins rookie Blake Wheeler, after changing from number 42 to number 26, scored a hat trick against the Buds. His is a name the Buds will be paying much closer attention to when the two teams next meet on November 17 in Toronto.

Last Saturday's 6-3 win over the Habs (and it could have easily been a more sound thrashing than that) was a brilliantly executed and dominant performance for Toronto, who were all over Montreal from the get-go. My friend Randy said that the win was all because of "Leafs refs", but he hates Toronto and is always sour grapes when the Leafs win, especially when they win as convincingly as they did. Toskala was excellent, the defence was strong, and the forwards attacked, forechecked, and scored. Nik Antropov had a 3-point night and Ponikarovsky, Stajan, Hagman, and Grabovski (a former Hab) all had a couple points each. This was easily one of the best, if not the best, games that the Blue & White have played this season so far!

After their home win over Montreal, the Leafs left Toronto for a three game Western Canadian road swing, hitting Calgary on Tuesday night, Edmonton last night, and then Vancouver tomorrow night. They split the first two games, losing 4-3 to Calgary (coming back to at least make it close after being down 4-1 midway through the third period) and then last night they thoroughly "pounded" (in the words of Oilers coach Craig McTavish) Edmonton with a dominant 5-2 win. Happily, the power play was clicking well with three goals to its credit. Tomas Kaberle's three-point night moved him into third in all-time franchise scoring among defencemen, a great accomplishment.

The Leafs head into Vancouver tomorrow night to take on the Canucks. My buddy paid $300 per ticket to go and see this game because, like me, his girlfriend is a card-carrying member of Leafs Nation. I hope to catch some of this one on Hockey Night in Canada while I'm away for the weekend on Salt Spring Island.

playing Carolina

2008-11-05T10:54:00.000-08:00

It was tough to watch the Leafs lose a home-and-home series with the Canes, especially last night's game where the Leafs came back from being down 4-1 to tie the game and send it to OT. There seems to be a pattern developing of the Buds getting down a couple goals then clawing their way back. They lost 6-4 in Carolina and then last night 5-4 in the OT frame. Despite these losses, I ws really impressed with the character of these overachievers. Look for my first month assessment of the team within the next couple days...

best game I've watched in a long time...

2008-11-02T08:56:00.001-08:00

I have not had as much fun watching a Leafs game in a long time as I did last night's win over the Rangers at the ACC. After being down 2-0 going into the third period, the Leafs scored 5 goals in the span of 5:21 to win 5-2. Steve Valliquette, the Rangers goalie, had an inexplicable meltdown after the first goal was scored by John Mitchell (Mitchell's first NHL goal, a gorgeous wrist shot and his first of two in this 5-minute span) and this sparked goals by Jason Blake, Pavel Kubina, another by Mitchell, and Dominic Moore. The Leafs were dominating the third frame up to this point and when Mitchell scored, the ACC started to come to life. Blake's goal got them pretty fired up, and with Kubina's goal, they achieved liftoff. It was a brilliant display of character after making a lot of mistakes in the first two periods and being outplayed by the Rangers--Toskala really kept the Leafs in the game and was the big reason that the comeback was even possible. It could just as easily have been a four or five goal lead for New York.

Like Don Cherry, I have been hugely impressed with John Mitchell this season and last night's display just added to that. He skates well, hits well, is good with the puck, and does not make many mistakes--why the heck was he in the AHL last year??? I grow more and more impressed with Wilson and Fletcher's choices for the Leafs and their future direction when I see players like John Mitchell. As I've said in previous posts, this Leafs team is fun to watch and I enjoy their heart and spirit far more than the teams of the past few years. They have been a very pleasant surprise thus far...

Tonight the Leafs are in Carolina to face the Hurricanes--they play again on Tuesday in Toronto.

a wild one against the Devils

2008-10-31T13:05:00.000-07:00

The Leafs managed to pull out their first shootout win of the season in a seesaw battle against the Devils in New Jersey on Wednesday night, peppering Martin Brodeur with 48 shots despite having played Tampa on Tuesday night. Toskala started shaky and almost got the hook, according to Leafs coach Ron Wilson, but was stellar in the third period and in the overtime frame as well. Matt Stajan pulled down two goals and an assist for the Buds, while Alex Steen, Jamal Mayers, and Alexei Ponikarovsky added the other goals. You can read the post-game report on Mapleleafs.com here.

Niklas Hagman made a nice move on Brodeur in the fourth round of the shootout to win the game for the Leafs, but the video of it on NHL.com wouldn't load...

Ulmer weighs in (and is bang on!)

2008-10-29T09:51:00.002-07:00

I really enjoy Mike Ulmer and enjoy that he is not all pie-in-the-sky about the Leafs, though he loves the team. Here is a great assessment called The Truth Sometimes Isn't Pleasant from Ulmer's blog.

struck by Lightning

2008-10-28T20:14:00.000-07:00

It was a tough loss to Tampa Bay tonight for my beloved Blue & White, 3-2. Despite out-shooting the Bolts by a margin of 39-25, the Leafs couldn't find an equalizer to send them to yet another OT. Toskala did a great job in net, as he has already done for most games this year, but the boys couldn't get it done. Vincent Lecavalier put in two for the Lightning, both of them pretty, pretty goals and Jussi Jokinen also scored. In addition, first overall pick Steve Stamkos, a lifelong Buds fan, got his first NHL point tonight, an assist on the second Lecavalier goal. The Leafs got two powerplay goals from Matt Stajan and Mike Van Ryn and it was nice to see them getting it done with the man advantage. Next game sees the Leafs in New Jersey to take on the Devils tomorrow night

The Battle Of Ontario 2008, installment #1

2008-10-26T10:27:00.002-07:00

The Leafs came up with a big win last night at the ACC, downing their hated rivals, the Ottawa Senators by a score of 3-2. The boys played gritty hockey and outshot the Sens by a convincing 38-24. Toskala was outstanding, especially at the end of the game, preventing the Sens from getting the equalizer as they pressured with the extra man. This team is already looking like a better team, more fun to watch and more competitive, than Leafs teams from the past few years. They may not have the talent of recent Leafs teams (Sundin, Tucker, etc.), but they have heart, soul, and they play together! They look like they're having a good time out there and the fans of Leafs Nation have really taken them to heart. I am looking forward to getting the chance to watch a full game, rather than just online highlights, but since I don't have cable, it's going to be awhile before I have a free night to do that. But you can bet that, despite the fact we have a losing record right now, I'm really enjoying what I see! GO LEAFS!

the Ducks and the Bruins

2008-10-24T09:14:00.001-07:00

The last two games have been pretty good for the Leafs after the 4-1 loss to the Pens last Saturday night. On Tuesday they lost 3-2 in a shootout to the Ducks--it's looking like shootouts could be the Leafs' downfall, much like last year, as they seem to flounder whenever it goes past the extra frame. Even the very consistent Tomas Kaberle, a shootout given, flubbed his attempt with a backhand wide of the net. Kulemin also missed his wrist shot wide of the net. Teemu Selanne and Corey Perry both buried their shots past poor Curtis Joseph and that was the game--at least the Leafs pulled a point out of it!

Last night the boys showed that they've got more than a little grit and character as they bounced back from being down 2-0 in the first period to the Bruins, scoring four unanswered goals to drive a resounding nail in Boston's coffin (at least for one night!). I am curious to see what happens tomorrow night when the Buds meet the Sens at the ACC. Ottawa trails Toronto in the standings by two points and though it's still early in the season, this is a bit of a surprise to me and others. I am hoping the boys come up big for me because there is no team I enjoy beating more than Ottawa! I also love watching my friend David Perry, a huge Sens fan, when my team beats his. Hey David, my team is doing better than yours right now--I'm enjoying it and will enjoy it as long as it lasts!

the weekend

2008-10-20T13:40:00.001-07:00

I was away this weekend so I was unable to watch either of the games played, but I was heartbroken to find out that Toskala shut out the Rangers only to lose in a shootout on Friday night at MSG. I was far less surprised to find out that Sid the Kid enjoyed a 4-point night on Saturday as the Pens steamrolled the Buds 4-1. Based on these results, my opinion is that the Leafs are most in need of offense (and some defence too!). They have scored two goals in their last two games and obviously those kind of numbers are not going to be putting too many W's up for the boys. However, I am learning not to get my hopes up too high this year so any good that comes out of this season, as well as if they are at least entertaining to watch, is gravy to me. Tomorrow night the Leafs take on the Ducks at the ACC.

tough loss

2008-10-14T20:16:00.000-07:00

Losing in a shootout to the St. Louis Blues last night after having a fairly commanding 3-0 lead must have been tough for the boys, but they have no one to blame but themselves. It was really exciting to see them sticking it to the Blues through the first period, but heartbreaking to watch them throw it all away in the second and then allow the Blues to equalize in the third period. However, this is the kind of team the Leafs are probably going to be this season and I am ready for that! Next game is Friday against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden

Game #2

2008-10-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

All good things must come to an end, it's just too bad that it had to happen so soon. The Leafs took the exact opposite tack from their first game last night as they were drubbed 6-1 by the Habs at the ACC. Everything that the boys did well in Detroit on Thursday was left in the dressing room--they looked bad for most of the game as the defence was too slow, they scrambled, and Toskala was tentative and deep in his net. Yes, they hit a number of posts and had some really bad luck, but they were definitely the crappier team all night. It was one of those games where I was glad I was working so that I didn't have to witness the carnage firsthand on HNIC. I did, however, receive a couple pleasant text messages from friends before I was even finished work at 6:00, making sure to remind me that the "Leafs suck" and that they were "getting their asses kicked." Thanks for that. Let's hope they can bounce back against the Blues on Monday.

season opener

2008-10-10T10:11:00.002-07:00

Well, folks, it doesn't really get much better than last night's season opener for Leafs fans. Their 3-2 win over the defending champ Red Wings was a BIG surprise for Leafs Nation, though it's not like all of us sudden we think we've got a Cup contender on our hands. However, fair play to the Leafs for outworking the Wings and sticking to their game plan. They don't play particularly pretty hockey, but the boys looked like they have grit and heart--if they can keep that up, they're going to be an easy team to love even if they don't win a lot of games.

Toskala looked good in net from the extensive highlights I watched online. Sure, the Wings hit a lot of posts, but he still made some huge saves, especially toward the end of the game. I was very impressed with Kulemin's move on the breakaway for the winning goal--very pretty. The whole team played as a unit and, unlike last year, they managed to hold on to the lead despite heavy pressure from the Wings later in the third period.

Eighteen year old rookie Luke Schenn got 17 minutes of ice time--he was paired with the always-solid Tomas Kaberle and had a very good game, not looking like the very young rookie he is. This is a positive sign as he could be the cornerstone of the Leafs' defence corps for years to come.

As the post game report on Mapleleafs.com noted, the further into the game the Leafs got, the more comfortable they looked and this, too, is a very encouraging sign for an extremely green team. After this win, I am even more excited for this season and not because I am convinced we are going to be a great team. Rather, I am interested in watching a team that has soul, that fights, and that plays as a team, rather than what has been (mostly) crap the past number of seasons. They're young, they're hungry, and so I think that means we're going to see a few surprises from the Buds before the 2008-09 season is through...

preseason assessment

2008-10-01T10:45:00.001-07:00

Well, I must say that I am not horrified with how the Leafs have done so far this preseason (2-2-1)--they have exceeded my expectations and there are some things to be thankful for and questions I find myself pondering.

Luke Schenn has looked good thus far and I have high hopes for his future with the team. I don't know if he will actually make the big club right away, but if the Leafs are smart, they will develop him slowly and he should be a defensive cornerstone of the club for years to come.

Justin Pogge has been very hit-and-miss, showing moments of goaltending genius and then letting in a soft one a minute later. However, like Schenn, I have high hopes for Pogge as well and I believe him to be the Leafs' goaltender of the future.

I am very interested in finding out who Ron Wilson is going to name as his captain for this season. Right now, on the Leafs roster Tomas Kaberle has an "A" beside his name, but that is the only leadership designation that I see thus far. In my humble opinion, he is he most eligible candidate and perhaps the best suited to the job.

Do I think the Leafs are going to be great this year? No. Do I think they will be exciting to watch? Potentially, especially if they play hungry. Do I think that they may have been written off a bit prematurely as being the worst team in the Eastern Conference? Yes, I do. However, only time will give us answers to these questions and more (that sounded deep, eh?).

my thoughts on our off-season

2008-09-06T16:45:00.001-07:00

I have not written in awhile, but decided that with the events of the past week it was time for me to comment on happenings in Leafs Nation...

Firstly, I am ecstatic that the Leafs finally got rid of Bryan "Deadweight" McCabe, as must of you who know would imagine. It's no secret that McCabe is one of my least favourite Leafs of all time and I am glad that we offloaded that bloated salary, not to mention that hole in our defence corps. Do I care that Mike Van Ryn doesn't score goals? Not a damn bit! You know why? Because he is a DEFENCEMAN. That means he is paid to help keep the opposing teams from scoring, something McCabe couldn't do if his life depended on it. This is what the Leafs need and so I am happy to have Mr. Van Ryn on board. Have fun in Florida, Bryan!

Secondly, I am not particularly concerned about the whole Mats Sundin saga and wish that people would stop ragging on him. He can take his sweet time deciding what he wants to do and no Leafs fan should be anything but supportive. The guy has been an amazing player and leader for the Buds since he arrived and he owes this team NOTHING. So all of you whiners who are slamming Sundin: shut up! He's given us so many good years, good memories, and has been totally loyal the the Blue & White. Some teams would kill for a captain with such class...

Thirdly, I think that Fletch is doing a pretty good job of trying to rebuild this team and I am pleased with what I have seen so far. We are heading toward a hungry, young team and, sure, they may not do much this coming year, but there is the potential for this team to gel and become really good if the stupid management doesn't get in the way and hire a dumbass GM (see: John Ferguson Jr.) to replace the Silver Fox when he's finished. If we have good hockey people in positions of power, we have the resources and the fanbase to have a great franchise. It's a matter of changing our philosophy and not making the almighty dollar the primary priority. Now, whether MLSE will ever operate this way remains to be seen.

Finally, I must address all these Canucks fan friends of mine (and I really like the Canucks and want them to do well): I don't know what you're smoking if you think your team is really any closer to winning the Cup than mine (attention Randy Hein, I am talking to you!) because I really don't see what you see. You have great goaltending and then a bunch of guys who can't hit the goal to save their lives--looking down the Canucks roster right now shouldn't inspire you to hope for much as your GM seems a shade on the side of totally useless. Oh yeah, and the Canucks only had 5 more points than the Leafs last year also. Funny about that.

More to come...

recent happenings

2008-07-19T21:30:00.003-07:00

I haven't posted here on the Bing Man's Home of the Leafs for a long time because I have just started a new job and it's been keeping me very busy, as has life outside work. However, I have been keeping tabs on the Leafs on the periphery of my mind as I go about my daily business. My thoughts on recent developments are as follows:

Mats Sundin will not return to the Leafs, in my humble opinion--to be honest I love the guy but to sign him for another year for reasonably big money would be a mistake, now that I have thought about it more. If the Leafs sign him again, I would support him as I think he'd be good for the youngsters and he's still a great player, but we need to be serious about rebuilding and be going for those who fit the category of "young and hungry".

*

The re-signing of Matt Stajan did nothing relieve my anxiety about the future of the club. I have nothing against the guy, really, other than the fact that he is a chronic underachiever. He had six less points last year than he did the year before (33 as opposed to 39) and he was -11. Compared the promise he showed as a junior, I wouldn't say he's exactly torn it up in the NHL. However, the Leafs still gave him a 2-year deal. The positive is that he doesn't get hurt--over the past three seasons, he has led Toronto with 244 in games played and has played in the past 174 consecutive contests.

*

I am very pleased that Joe Nieuwendyk has joined the Leafs as the special assistant to the general manager(?). Frankly, I don't care if they hired him as the team's Hockey Stick Fairy--what I do know is that he's a proven winner, a class act, and will bring some much needed integrity to an organization that is not particularly known for it. Let's hope that when Gary Roberts finally hangs up his skates, the Leafs do the smart thing and hire him too! A reunion of the best friends, a good idea...

*

It looks like the Silver Fox will be in control of the team for this season unless something huge happens. I happen to think Fletch is a good GM and is starting the long-awaited rebuilding process reasonably well. I am very curious about this year's team, how Luke Schenn will fare, and whether the hockey will at least be exciting, even if we aren't playoff bound--I want to see young players hungry to win, not more of the "Muskoka Five" mentality. I am happy that CuJo has returned to back up Vesa Toskala and that Raycroft is gone, same with Tucker. Now, if we could only rid ourselves of McCabe...

Ulmer on Sundin's next move

2008-06-27T14:23:00.001-07:00

Mapleleafs.com blogger Mike Ulmer weighs in where he thinks Mats Sundin's future lies here.

my thoughts on recent events

2008-06-27T08:13:00.002-07:00

Well, it's been awhile since I have opined on the goings-on of our favourite golfers and so I thought I would take the time to comment on the recent news coming out of Leafs Nation for the benefit of you readers who are interested in my thoughts.

I am happy to see that Fletcher is actually following through on promises to rebuild and change the look of the franchise--it was great to see Wellwood and Raycroft put on waivers, hear of the buyout of Darcy Tucker (whom I love, but it's time to go) and today to read of steps toward ridding the Leafs of my least favourite of the Muskoka Five, Bryan McCabe. These are all important steps in the right direction for making this a team that wants to win, that performs well, and that's young and hungry. Hiring Ron Wilson, who is excellent at coaching young players, was an inspired move by the Leafs brass (and how often have you EVER heard me say THAT?) and if the smart decisions keep coming from Fletch and our future GM, the future of the team is looking bright to me. This young defenceman that the team picked up 5th overall in this year's draft, Luke Schenn, looks like a great prospect--a big, strong, physical defenceman and there are some other good prospects in the farm system, including one of the best young goaltenders in the world, Justin Pogge.

As for the whole Mats Sundin situation, I would love to have him back to lead a group of young players and it would be hard to see him in another team's colours. However, if we're trying to younger, he obviously does not fit the bill. Can you really see Sundin in a Habs or Wings jersey though? I shudder to think...

housecleaning time?

2008-06-15T09:02:00.000-07:00

According to this article in the Toronto Sun, now is the time for the Leafs to start their housecleaning in earnest, with their new coach in place and Fletcher most likely on as GM for another year until they can get a hold of Brian Burke (or so conventional wisdom on the subject says). I am very excited that they managed to sign Wilson, who I feel is one of the premier benchmen in the NHL. I think his philosophy will be good for the Leafs and hopefully he will get the results that Maurice, God bless him, failed to get (though I don't think it was his fault!).

Some thoughts:

The Leafs need to ditch Raycroft, Tucker, and McCabe as soon as possible because they are complete dead weight as players for this organization. It somewhat pains me to assess Tucker this way, but for the money he's paid he does not produce what he should. I would like to see Kubina gone also--his salary is incredibly bloated for what he brings/has brought to the team.

As for Mats Sundin, I am divided. I would like to have him back because I have a real loyalty to the guy and as far as I am concerned, he IS the Leafs, but I know that we need to think "younger" and he doesn't fit the bill. If he was willing to take a pay cut to come on board and play a mentoring, Gary Roberts-like role, then I am all for having him around.

Because of their dismal past seasons, Wellwood, Stajan, and even Alex Steen are all expendable if it means we can get different young faces in Toronto--they are supposed to be our "young guns" and they have as much pop as a water pistol. Whether or not they are sent packing remains to be seen...

We have the seventh overall pick in this years draft and I am looking forward to seeing what we get/who the team is targeting.

That's all for now--more news/thoughts as becomes available to Bingleafs...

Wilson is on board...

2008-06-09T08:35:00.002-07:00

According to the papers, Ron Wilson is set to become the 27th head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Personally, I am very pleased that we have managed to snag him because I believe him to be one of the elite coaches in the NHL and I think his style will be good for my perennially underachieving (oh let's be honest, unachieving) team. Does this mean that Fletch is sticking around as GM for the season, or will they be able to find someone who will work well with Wilson? Should be interesting.

Wilson Watch:

The Globe

CBC

National Post

odds better than 50/50

2008-06-08T16:39:00.002-07:00

According to Cliff Fletcher, in this article in the Toronto Star, there's a better than 50/50 chance that Ron Wilson will be announced as the Leafs' new head coach early this coming week. I hope so because I think that Wilson will be a good fit for the Leafs and perhaps it means that we could have Brian Burke on board at some point in the future as he and Wilson are fast friends and old college teammates. Watch this space...

Ron Wilson? Mats Sundin?

2008-06-04T23:08:00.000-07:00

Rumours out of Leafs Land is that former Anaheim Ducks coach Ron Wilson has been in serious talks to come in to coach the Leafs. I think Wilson's a good coach and his no B.S. attitude is exactly what the Leafs need. Also, will Sundin return or won't he? This is the question on everyone's lips right now. He was by far the Leafs' best player last season and I am of the opinion that he still has the goods to be a real impact player for the team. He's as strong as a horse, a natural leader, and knows how to get the job done in high-pressure T-Dot. I could spend all my days posting rumours on here, but choose to keep it short and sweet for those of you who are just interested in the quick and dirty from Leafs Nation. Until something actually happens...

Sundin receives big award

2008-05-29T07:57:00.002-07:00

Mats Sundin received the Mark Messier Leadership award for the 2007-2008 season yesterday at a luncheon held in Pittsburgh before Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals. You can read about it here. All of Leafs Nation should be proud of our captain for this achievement and for all that he has contributed to the team, through thick and thin. Congratulations Mats!

Blake wants to stay in Toronto

2008-05-15T09:28:00.003-07:00

My reaction to this? What have you done for me lately, Jason? I'm sure you're a nice guy, but a five year, $20 million contract and you score 15 goals for us? No thanks, I'll pass.

please don't hire Nonis, you morons....

2008-05-15T07:44:00.001-07:00

Dave Nonis met with the Leafs dancing chimps yesterday, as reported in the Toronto Sun the Globe. The Sun made the highly astute observation that Nonis has a lot more in common with JFJ than the "proven winner" that the Leafs say they are wanting to hire. What a surprise...

ever the gentleman

2008-05-11T08:54:00.001-07:00

Paul Maurice is one classy guy, as shown here. I am still sad that the Leafs fired him, but I know he will do well wherever he ends up...

more speculation from the Star...

2008-05-10T11:01:00.001-07:00

...can be found here. Nonis, Hartsburg, and Colin Campbell are all names mentioned in the article. I just can't wait until people are in place so all the speculation can end.

oh no...

2008-05-10T10:57:00.002-07:00

How discouraging is this? Dave Nonis is meeting with the Leafs brass about the vacant GM position. Shoot me now...

Maurice gets the axe

2008-05-07T12:13:00.000-07:00

As reported in a variety of different sources, Paul Maurice was fired from his post as Leafs head coach this morning. I am not particularly surprised by this news, though I admit to being bit saddened. Maurice may have been wearing some very rose-coloured glasses (before the 2007-08 season, Maurice labeled the Maple Leafs as the “most talented hockey team” he had ever coached, according to today's National Post article on the firing), but I think that the Maple Leafs problems had little, if anything, to do with Maurice as a coach.

I have a great deal of respect for Paul Maurice and, as I mentioned, I am really disappointed that he is leaving. However, he will make a great addition to any organization and I wish him all the best.

Well, add "coach" to our list of positions to be filled, joining "GM" and "hockey team" (as opposed to golfers). It's going to be interesting to see what happens next...

Scott Cullen on the off-season game plan

2008-05-07T07:37:00.000-07:00

TSN's Scott Cullen posted what he sees as the off-season game plan for the Leafs here. Reading through it didn't give me a whole lot of cause for hope for next season...

all is quiet...

2008-05-03T11:09:00.001-07:00

Sorry for the delay in posts on this blog, but there is very little happening in Leafs Nation these days. There are rumours of a Darcy Tucker buyout and little GM whisperings here and there, but nothing of any real note to report. Be assured, once something interesting happens, there will be reports/opinions here at The Bing Man's Home of the Leafs!

GM talk heats up...

2008-04-22T08:32:00.000-07:00

The rumour mill is really kicking into overdrive as the the Toronto Sun, Toronto Star, and the Globe & Mail are all running articles saying that there is a good chance that Brian Burke may be on his way to Toronto to take over as the new GM of the Leafs. Good news? Absolutely. Burke is a proven winner, would be (supposedly) be given autonomy to run hockey operations without the meddling of Peddie and his cohort of morons. I have not been paying much attention to Leaf talk lately, but this story has me more than a little intrigued...

I hope our future GM reads this...

2008-04-20T07:56:00.002-07:00

An interesting little article on being a GM in the NHL, from the Toronto Star, can be found here.

and the wheels fall off once again: Leafs officially eliminated from playoff contention

2008-03-27T20:54:00.000-07:00

The Leafs blew the second game of their home-and-home series with the Bruins tonight, losing 4-2 and officially putting themselves out of contention for the playoffs. Boo freakin' hoo.

Am I surprised that the Leafs won't be seeing any post-season action this year? Absolutely not. However, I have mixed feelings about it, as any fan should. Part of me would have liked to have seen them sneak in, but let's be honest, it was too little too late. Yes, they have played exciting hockey lately and gone on an improbable tear, but they ran out of gas at the end. You want to know why? I'll tell you why: because this is a team mostly made up of overpaid third and fourth liners (i.e. almost everyone who isn't Mats Sundin, Tomas Kaberle, or Vesa Toskala) assembled by a half-assed, piss-poor management who wouldn't know their heads from their arses on a good day, let alone know much about what makes a good hockey player/team.

What I hope this third straight year of missing the playoffs teaches the chimps at MLSE is that this team is crap and it's time to blow it up and start all over again. This is the first time in 80 years that the Leafs have missed the playoffs for three straight seasons, the last time being the 1926 through 1928 seasons, and speaking for Leafs Nation: THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

P.S. Brian McCabe, you suck. Go back to Long Island because we don't want you anymore...

"Leafs fans deserve more"

2008-03-26T13:10:00.001-07:00

A great column by Mike Toth, writing for Sportsnet, can be found here. It lauds the passion of Leafs fans, but says that we need to set the bar higher. Amen and amen.

the final nail...

2008-03-26T08:31:00.000-07:00

The Leafs' playoff push was essentially halted by the their 6-2 thumping at the hands of the Boston Bruins last night. I feel bad for them because they have been playing frantic playoff-like hockey for the last number of weeks and managed to come up with some miraculous wins, some of which were even more impressive because they didn't have their two leading scorers, Mats Sundin and Nik Antropov, in the lineup. It seems like the boys finally just ran out of gas and the wheels came off last night as they were soundly beating by a Boston Bruins team who were four points (now six) ahead of them and are now holding down the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.

My head is already thinking about the off-season and the moves that must be made in order to make this team competitive and how the organization might finally shed its label as the laughing stock of the league. It should be interesting...

"God's team"

2008-03-24T19:22:00.003-07:00

This was from an editorial in the National Post:

Re: Computer Simulation Unkind to Leafs; Just 2.3% Chance Of Playoff Berth, March 20.

Dear God, if you could find it in your heart to let the Leafs squeak into the Playoffs I promise to throw away all my Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins books.

- Fraser Petrick, Kingston, Ontario

down to the wire

2008-03-21T22:35:00.000-07:00

I don't think that they're going to make it, but like clockwork the Leafs are making their late-season charge toward the last playoffs. As of tonight's 4-1 win over the Sabres, they are five points out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. My prediction: I don't think they're going to make it and I want the high draft pick more than I want Leafs playoff hockey, to be honest. However, I do want them to beat the Senators tomorrow night quite badly, if only because I hate losing "Battle of Ontario" games! Look for more posts in the near future as the regular season draws to a close...

a pretty huge comeback

2008-03-12T16:16:00.000-07:00

I must admit, last night's comeback from 3-0 down in the third period to win the game 4-3 in OT showed real character on the part of the Bums (umm... I mean Buds). Tonight they need to win the second half of the home-and-home in Philly if they stand any chance of making the playoffs. It has started well for them so far, as Ian White just scored to make it 1-0 Leafs.

Sundin is amazing and keeps on leading the boys--last night's goal to get the rally started was vintage Sundin. So glad to see him still in a Leafs uniform...

lay off the captain!

2008-03-08T08:17:00.002-08:00

A great little article about Sundin from Hockey.com can be found here.

the Schizo Leafs

2008-03-07T16:02:00.000-08:00

Well, the Toronto Maple Leafs are nothing if not completely devoid of reason. A team that was absolutely tanking for much of the season, not even really within sneezing distance of the playoffs (much to my joy--the slide for Stamkos!), has decided to go 7-2-1 in their last 10 games; this includes last night's 8-2 thrashing of the Boston Bruins with the recently-hapless Tim Thomas in net. Once again the Buds' faithful (read: mostly delusional) fans, of which I am obviously a hard-core, are getting whipped up into playoff frenzy as the team once again goes on its yearly late-season tear in a desperate effort to make the post-season. That 37 year old Swedish magician captain of ours is up to his old tricks again, registering 11 points in the last five games--seriously, how does he do it? If the Canucks' Swedish captain played like that, they would be tearing up the Western Conference--too bad...

I am conflicted because though it would be great to see my team in some playoff games, I still believe that this team needs to be demolished as much as possible and built from the ground up. And we need a GM who is not afraid to make the big, unpopular decisions necessary (free of Peddie's meddling) to take the team in a forward direction. I can really only just sit and see how the final 13 games play out, but I still think that the Leafs making the playoffs will legitimize how things are being run right now and that is the worst thing that could happen to this organization. This machine is BROKEN and needs to be fixed.

Final Bingleafs verdict: let the Slide for Stamkos begin...

the post-deadline assessment

2008-02-28T14:10:00.000-08:00

Well, I definitely have some stuff to say about the Leafs' dealings on Tuesday and there is a lot being said in the Toronto press. Some people are saying that Fletcher should have played hardball with the "No-Trade-Clause Gang of Five" and threatened them with being sent down to the minor leagues if they didn't waive their NTC's. Obviously they love playing for a 25th place, no-hope loser of a team because Toronto is cushy and they can loaf on the ice while getting endorsement deals and media attention from the hockey-crazy T-Dot media.

However, a contract is a contract and I refuse to blame Fletcher for what happened on Tuesday. He did get some draft picks and got rid of some dead weight--really, was anyone sad to see Wade Belak get traded? Fletcher did what he could considering what he had to work with. And to be honest, I am happy that at least Kaberle is still in a Leafs uniform, not to mention Sundin. Ferguson got us into this mess by handing out these no-trade clauses like he was Santa Claus (no pun intended) at Christmas!

As for the other three members of the NTC gang, I would have been ecstatic to see them shipped off, however, they did not waive their NTC's and so we're stuck with them, at least until the summer. If the Leafs don't make the playoffs, Kubina's NTC comes off and he is deal-able (though who wants to pick up a contract that big for a bum like him?). You ALL know how much I hate Brian McCabe and it was my prayer that he would waive the clause, but he didn't so we are stuck with that useless sack of s**t for awhile longer. Let's hope his wife puts enough pressure on him to get him back in New York, where they own property. Tucker has been a washout this year and needs to be dealt. Period.

The Leafs will continue to be crap until they get a GM in there that is not afraid of getting his hands dirty and until the organization cares about winning as much as we hard-core fans do. It's as simple as that.

And I am not really that angry--believe me, I am used to ineptitude by now...

a bit optimistic, but at least it's positive

2008-02-28T13:03:00.002-08:00

From the pen of Leafs blogger Mike Ulmer comes this post. It sounds ludicrous at times, but at least it's one less article skewering Mats Sundin...

Reactions to Mats staying from Toronto Star readers

2008-02-25T14:34:00.002-08:00

If you want to know how most Leafs fans feel about our captain staying with the sinking ship, click here. I would say that the majority admire him greatly and are happy to have him--include me in said group...

You can't help but love the guy...

2008-02-25T12:59:00.002-08:00

No matter what anyone has to say about Mats Sundin, I love the guy and have no problem with the fact that he is staying in Toronto. This article says it all. I realize that I have said to cut him loose in the past, not in anger mind you, if only to give him a chance for a Cup, but if he wants to stay then I applaud his loyalty and love of the team.

More to come from me on the Leafs after tomorrow's trade deadline...

Berger on the money again!

2008-02-22T08:24:00.002-08:00

Another great article by Howard Berger of the FAN590, this one on the whole Sundin-trade issue, can be found here.

the trade deadline approacheth...

2008-02-21T22:46:00.000-08:00

If I were to write about every rumour surrounding the Leafs as we come down to the trade deadline, I would spend all day posting. Sufficed to say, there are a million rumours swirling around about Mats Sundin, Brian McCabe (please get rid of him) and a host of other Leafs and so I am not going to to take the time to comment on them all. If something of great importance happens before Tuesday's deadline, you can look to my blog for comments. After the deadline, expect a full recount of those events concerning the Buds and my humble opinion on said events. If you want all the latest gossip, check The Fourth Period, Sportsnet, TSN, and of course TMLfans.ca.

P.S. Dreadful loss to Buffalo tonight, 5-1. That's right boys, keep rolling over so we can score that high draft pick!

riding it out in the basement

2008-02-14T23:18:00.000-08:00

With tonight's 5-4 loss at home to the Islanders and Tampa Bay's win over the Philadelphia Flyers, the Leafs fall to last place in the Eastern Conference. I hope they like the look of the basement because I don't think they will be leaving it anytime soon. Congrats to Mats Sundin who moved to within one goal of Michel Goulet (547) for 23rd on the NHL all-time goals list--Ron Francis is at 22nd with 549, so it should be too long before the big Swede surpasses him as well. Next up for the Leafs is a tilt at home on Saturday night against Boston (my best friend's favourite team) which is on Hockey Night in Canada.

Happy Birthday Captain!

2008-02-13T21:47:00.001-08:00

I just want to give a shout out to Mats Sundin on his 37th birthday--thanks for always being an awesome leader and keeping our team from complete and utter misery!

no hope despite the fun of the win

2008-02-11T13:48:00.000-08:00

I really enjoyed watching the Leafs beat Detroit on Saturday for Hockey Day in Canada, but don't think that the win got my hopes up or made me think that it signifies a "180" for the team. Granted, they played really well on Saturday and Toskala looked world-class, for the most part. I still think that the playoffs are a pipe dream and that's exactly how I want it to stay. I don't want management thinking about making a push for the playoffs, which, knowing Leafs history, would result in disastrous trades or signings. Even though the Leafs are out of it, I am enjoying watching the NHL playoff race because it is going to be down to the wire, especially in the Western Conference. Nothing much else to say about the Leafs right now. More to come as the trade deadline gets closer...