2011-12 Season
The drought is over.
I don't need to say much more than that.
It's been a pretty awful nine years, but considering that we'll be tuning in to CBC for a Leafs playoff game next week, I think it's time to look back and exorcise some of the 2004-2012 Leafs' demons that we've hopefully talked about for the last time. Well, at least without crying our eyes out. [more…]
Mats delivered a killer speech in the city he plied his trade so magnificently for 13 seasons, dedicating his HHOF induction to everyone who supported him throughout his career: [more…]
You often dream about things, things that are so far beyond your reach that you have a problem of thinking about them being more than just dreams. I am a hockey fan from Croatia, who wanted to write about the game and therefore, my biggest dreams consisted of being around the game with people who care about it as much as me. Be it writing, seeing things live, or learning the game.
Of course, the biggest dream in a hockey fan's life is seeing the Holy Grail of hockey, the Stanley Cup. When Anže Kopitar won the Cup with the LA Kings, I knew that the opportunity for seeing it live could present itself and when the Kings' ace announced that the Cup was coming to his native Slovenia I knew this was an opportunity I couldn't afford to miss.
BigBadBoss has posted his latest video highlight package for the 2011-12 season, this one on Joffrey Lupul's resurgence. Be sure to check out his Jake [more…]
Cody Franson and James Reimer gave two of the more interesting interviews on locker clean out day. Watch them below. Additional interviews with Joey Crabb, Luke Schenn, Clarke MacArthur, Phil Kessel, Dion Phaneuf and Tyler Bozak can be found here. Tomorrow Burke will hold the state-of-the-Leafs address we have all been waiting for, the first time the Leafs GM has addressed the media since the Wilson firing in early March.
A nice video package from "BigBadBoss" on arguably, with nods to the performances of Kessel and Lupul, the most positive revelation of the past season [more…]
For the early part of the season, when the Leafs were still planted in the playoff picture and the Oilers began to return to their rightful place at the bottom of the standings, there was plenty of debate over which team was truly on the right track to winning (seriously) again. Two popular Canadian clubs, two large fan-bases, and perhaps two of the most meticulous groups of bloggers and internet-y fans in the hockey world.
The answer seemed pretty simple: give me the Leafs and their upswing (or so it seemed) with Burke over that joker Tambellini any day of the week. Tambellini is perhaps the biggest disaster to ever happen to the Oilers, and despite his stable of top picks, he's done ultimately nothing of his own accord to help that team. Burke, I guess, is helping the Leafs or something.
While Brian Burke deserves much of the blame for the recent woes of the Toronto Maple Leafs, it’s also fair to point out that he didn’t exactly inherit a powerhouse. The Leafs roster was in terrible shape when the big Irishman accepted the unsavory role of Maple Leafs president and general manager.
Unfair expectations were placed on this current regime and miracles were expected overnight as he was quickly dubbed the ‘saviour of the franchise’. Unfortunately, in the new cap-era NHL, a quick fix is nearly impossible and instead patience, money management and shrewd decision making is even more imperative.
Is the “Fire Burkie†rhetoric that has been spewed from Leafs Nation coast-to-coast justified?
Being a Leafs fan is never easy (being a fan born in the early 80s is even worse). Oh, we have had a few shining moments over the past 25 years or so, but for the most part it has been pain, ridicule, frustration and heartbreak. Even with the spotty track record over the last four decades Leafs Nation continues to grow and grow around Canada, the United States and even the across the globe (thanks to Mislav!).
Having the biggest fan base in hockey is a blessing and a curse. With the great support also comes at times an unappeasable group of fans. Most wanted Ron Wilson fired for not getting enough out of the team, now that he is gone it has turned into Brian Burke’s fault for not getting enough talent on the team.
In short, Leafs fans are hard to please.
