During a recent Leafs recap I made reference to the civil war that has erupted in Leafsland.  Everyone, it seems, has an allegiance to either Andrew Raycroft or Vesa Toskala and that's pretty much all anyone wants to talk about with regards to this team. Tonight we're hosting the Habs

What's so civil about war anyway?  I ask this question, because I see brothers fighting brothers, a civil war is erupting in Leafs Nation.  There are two camps: the Toskala boosters, of which I am one, and the Raycroft defenders. Leafs Nation won't have reason to unite and celebrate until

By the end of the first period of our first game, the player I love to hate had two goals.  That put him on pace for 492 goals this season.  Even now he's on pace for a whopping 164 goals. As for the game itself, should we be surprised the

On his blog, Humble Howard accurately predicted what Mike Boon's up to.  He enjoys goofing on my life-long love of a team that hasn't won a championship since well before I was born.  Publicly, he roots for the Senators just to piss me off, but in secret conversations he admits

With a record of 0-0-0, Yahoo! Sports has extended a little editorial privilege whilst making their early season predictions known.  They've got the Toronto Maple Leafs fifth in the NHL's Northeast division, as you'll see from this screen cap. Already fifth before the puck is dropped.  It's going to be

On the eve of our season opener, let's talk about the action off the ice and in the booth.  Harry Neale is leaving the Toronto Maple Leafs' regional broadcasts to join the Buffalo Sabres' announcing crew.  Our loss is Buffalo's gain as Neale is my personal favourite in the role.

I was watching last night when Vesa Toskala allowed the first shot he faced to end up in the net.  Not long after, another weak shot was in the mesh.  Vesa Toskala's Maple Leafs debut was weak, but we must hold our fire.  We'll need our ammo for when it

I caught a good chunk of the Maple Leafs preseason opener last night against Edmonton.  I basically watched until I switched over to Rescue Me at 10 and it wasn't the easy viewin' I'm used to at this point in the season.  It was tough to watch, and it's all

I just noticed I'm wearing my navy blue Toronto Maple Leafs tee shirt today.  I haven't worn it all summer, but I subconsciously threw it on this morning.  It's happening again, as it does every year at this time, and I don't think there's any way to stop it. It's

The NHL just suspended Mark Bell for 15 regular season games.  This ends speculation he'll be reinstated in time for opening night. This is good for my bet, but bad for Mark Bell.  He won't get paid during the suspension and that's serious coin for a guy who make over

I'm a LeafsTV subscriber, so it's no skin off my back, but twenty games is a big chunk of the season.  LeafsTV will broadcast eight pre-season games in addition to the 20 regular season games they have.  CBC, Sportsnet and TSN will split up the remaining games. I caved when

Last month I shook on The Mark Bell Bet.  My brother said Mark Bell would score 20 goals for the Leafs next season and I said no way.  We've got $50 on the line. I closed that entry by suggesting it was a kin to taking candy from a baby.

Leafs GM John Ferguson Jr. is making waves with this quote. "We could be interested in Peter Forsberg if conditions are right."If Peter Forsberg becomes a Leafs, and that's still a pretty big "if", he could be a part of the new Swedish MAP Line: Mats Sundin, Alex Steen

The Los Angeles Kings signed veteran goaltender Jean-Sebastien Aubin to a one-year, $525,000 US contract today, officially ending the J.S. Aubin era here in Toronto. If we step into my little time machine we'll recall that Aubin was unbeatable to close out the 2006 season.  In ten games

Ajax Mike just sent me this link.  It's about a Mike Myers comedy entitled "The Love Guru" that begins shooting next month in Toronto. A June 20th 2008 release is planned. Ajax Mike knew I'd be interested in "The Love Guru" because the plot revolves around a star hockey player

Earlier in the year, my brother predicted Mark Bell would score 40 goals for the Leafs.  I said he would likely score closer to 13.  Now that Bell is going to jail after this season, I'm feeling pretty good about my prediction. Tonight, Ryan and I made our bet official,

Speaking of major league disappointment, I'm a passionate fan of a sports franchise that hasn't won a championship since 7 years before my birth.  Every fall hope springs eternal and every spring I'm left feeling depressed and unsatisfied.  I feel like Charlie Brown taking another run at the football Lucy

Two years ago today, I was writing about our summer of discontent.  I wasn't happy with a hockey team I felt would need a little luck to make the playoffs.  We ended up missing the playoffs by two points.  Here's what I wrote two years ago. Are you a Leafs

It's July 26 and we're expecting a high of 28° here in the big smoke, a perfect time to talk Leafs.  Paul Hunter suggests in today's Toronto Star that Matt Stajan may have to go if the Leafs want to re-sign Mike Peca.  It's a salary cap issue, and trading

I usually check my RSS feeds first thing in the morning, to take the pulse of the blogosphere.  Today I'm behind schedule and I'm only getting caught up now.  There's an entry on Freddie P's blog that really spoke to me. Fred has forwarded my official Toronto Mike Maple Leafs

The official Toronto Mike Maple Leafs Countdown clock has been launched.  You'll find it at http://www.torontomike.com/countdown.html. There are only 84 days, 5 hours, 42 minutes, and 16 seconds left until the Maple Leafs opener against the Ottawa Senators at the ACC.

Brendan Shanahan said he only wanted to play in New York.  I didn't believe him.  I held out hope the unrestricted free agent would sign with his home town team.  Shanahan was true to his word, however, and he just signed a one year deal with the Rangers.  It's highly

The Toronto Maple Leafs love to sign goaltenders, but only if they're unproven.  This started last summer when we sent Tuukka Rask to Boston for Andrew Raycroft.  Raycroft had one decent season and one horrible season under his belt, and we wanted him in blue and white.  Go figure. About

Our beloved Toronto Maple Leafs and newly acquired netminder Vesa Toskala have agreed to a two-year, $8 million contract extension.  This contract begins after next season. That's some serious cabbage for a 30-year-old who has never been a number one goaltender in this league.  Last season, his best in the