Toronto Maple Leafs News » Columnist

Cox: Caps push Habs to the brink

Damien Cox — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 03:29:00 +0000

There is great frustration among those who play for, direct and cheer for Les Habitants today, and probably with good reason.

Cox: Poised Penguins in full control

Damien Cox — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 02:10:00 +0000

The graduation of Sidney Crosby from merely superb player to out-and-out hockey legend suggests that as long as he’s around, wonderful things are going to happen.

Cox: Capitals head off early playoff disaster with OT win

Damien Cox — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 03:59:00 +0000

As the echoing sounds of bouncing basketballs interrupted his post-game press conference, Bruce Boudreau looked less surprised than bemused.

DiManno: Leafs GM Brian Burke laments lost season

Rosie DiManno — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 01:56:00 +0000

It's been a terrible year for the Maple Leafs, and an even worse one for GM Brian Burke.

DiManno: Former Leafs coach Pat Burns admits end is near

Rosie DiManno — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 08:30:00 +0000

Pat Burns turned 58 last Sunday. That's a triumph in itself. Barring miracles – and they do happen – it's unlikely he'll live to see 59.

Cox: Leafs still not ready to compete

Damien Cox — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 08:30:00 +0000

It was a disappointing ending for the Maple Leafs, and a cautionary one for both the team and its fans.

Cox: Leafs owe their GM huge effort vs. Bruins

Damien Cox — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 08:30:00 +0000

In a city that hasn't seen an NHL playoff contest live in six years, this is what substitutes for a big game.

Zelkovich: Depression not off record for TSN’s Landsberg

Chris Zelkovich — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 01:45:50 +0000

While hyperactivity seems more suited to Michael Landsberg's energetic style, he has battled depression on and off for more than a decade.

Feschuk: NHL players’ equipment donation changes lives

Dave Feschuk — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 08:30:00 +0000

Sir Sandford Fleming drama teacher Eamonn Nolan last fall petitioned the National Hockey League Players' Association for 25 full sets of equipment to help a fledging hockey program. The players happily obliged, and Wednesday the students took the ice for what amounted to the school's first real hockey game in 20 years.

Cox: Expect the Leafs to keep spending this summer

Damien Cox — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 08:30:00 +0000

The goal was to establish the Maple Leafs as a destination franchise for players seeking both money and opportunity.

New-look Leaf uniforms for next season

Damien Cox — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 08:30:00 +0000

The T-shirts disguised as Maple Leaf home and away uniforms are about to change.

Cox: Burke finds peace in trip to Afghanistan war zone

Damien Cox — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 08:30:00 +0000

Brian Burke didn't exactly return to the office feeling he was missed. At least not by the Maple Leafs.

Zelkovich: Some announcers could use a translator

Chris Zelkovich — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 08:30:00 +0000

During a rare weekend television moment that did not involve sports, I stumbled across a show that included the stereotypical Hollywood image of a sports fan: Overweight, under-educated and just smart enough to figure out how to open a bottle of beer without putting out an eye.

Cox: Playoffs possible (next year) for Leafs

Damien Cox — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 08:30:00 +0000

Given the number of mediocre teams in the Eastern Conference, the Leafs don't need to get that much better to be in playoff contention next year.

Cox: Phaneuf trade a long-term success

Damien Cox — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 08:30:00 +0000

Almost two months into the Dion Phaneuf era, one that seems almost certain to continue with the 24-year-old being named captain next fall, it's fair to say the Leafs would make the deal again any day, and twice on Sundays.

Woolsey: NHLPA backs crackdown on blindside head hits

Garth Woolsey — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 08:30:00 +0000

The NHL Players' Association continues to take steps to solve its headaches, both long-term and short.

Cox: Silly squabbling over rules is hurting hockey

Damien Cox — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 08:30:00 +0000

The league wants to be able to start suspending players right away for egregious hits to the head but found the players not quite ready to rubber stamp the notion.

Cox: Leafs owners not meddling with Burke’s team

Damien Cox — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 04:49:50 +0000

MLSE Chairman Larry Tanenbaum and president/CEO Richard Peddie were once viewed as meddling suits messing up the workings of the Leafs, but you hardly hear their names anymore, or references to the MLSE board of directors or Ontario Teachers Pension Fund, in a Toronto hockey conversation.

Zelkovich: NHL is just peddling a blood-sport

Chris Zelkovich — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 08:30:00 +0000

A few years back there was a brilliantly funny and under-appreciated television series called "History Bites," which showed how TV might have covered historical events such as the Crusades or the slaughters at the Roman Colosseum.

Woolsey: NHL, NFL miles apart on head hits

Garth Woolsey — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 08:30:00 +0000

Yeah, I know, you've heard and read and seen, repeatedly, so much about head hits lately that your head hurts.

Cox: Late push shows that hope alive

Damien Cox — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 08:30:00 +0000

If there's a compelling element to the Leafs' late-season surge, it's the improvement in team play.

Woolsey: Cocaine confession not a career killer

Garth Woolsey — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 08:30:00 +0000

The Texas Rangers' spring training facility is located in Surprise, Ariz., a fitting venue for manager Ron Washington's admission this past week that he tested positive for cocaine use last season.

Cox: Predicting who will win individual NHL hardware

Damien Cox — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 04:19:39 +0000

Let's put Lady Byng on ice for this season, shall we? The trophy, that is. So let's skip that one and go on to the ones that matter: most valuable player, best goalie, best defenceman, best rookie and top coach.

Zelkovich: Mistakes aside, vintage Grapes

Chris Zelkovich — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 08:30:00 +0000

Not surprisingly, there aren't very many surprises in the made-for-TV movie based on Don Cherry.

Cox: Three Leafs show that all not lost down road

Damien Cox — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:30:06 +0000

We now take this break from the unending discussion over brain injuries and cheap hits in the National Head-Shot League ... to talk about a hockey game.

Woolsey: The Code governs NHL

Garth Woolsey — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:29:44 +0000

An eye for an eye; a head shot for a head shot. It has been forever thus. In the NHL, the name of the game is revenge. It sells.

DiManno: Now NHL should deal with cheap-shot artists

Rosie DiManno — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:29:23 +0000

Now that the league, in its belated wisdom, has addressed the havoc wrought by blind-side head hits, the next matter on the to-do list should be addressing pest control for the infestation of hockey by dirty vermin.

Cox: NHL flailing in Ovechkin suspension

Damien Cox — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 03:59:08 +0000

To those who believe NHL superstar Alex Ovechkin committed a heinous crime, his 2-game suspension is laughable. To others, it's too much.

Cox: Difficult to envision rushed rule

Damien Cox — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:30:00 +0000

Haste is apparently now of the essence.

Woolsey: NHL fumbling in the dark on head shots

Garth Woolsey — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 08:30:00 +0000

The NHL has been concussed once too often.