Toronto Maple Leafs

Breaking News: Brian Burke's son killed in car crash

February 5, 2010

According to a Maple Leafs release, Brian Burke's son, Brendan, was killed in a car accident earlier today, at 21 years of age. Burke was driving along US Highway 35 when his jeep slid sideways into a nearby car. He succumbed to his injuries soon thereafter. Out thoughts go out to Brian Burke and his family. We will have more on this story as it breaks. Source. ----------------------- More from the Palladium-Item in Indiana. Heavy accumulations of snowfall on Friday rendered area roads treacherous and claimed the lives of two people, injuring others and sparking a string of slideoffs and fender benders. Brendan Burke, 21, Canton, Mass., and Mark A. Reedy, 18, Bloomfie...

From New Jersey With Love

February 5, 2010

Patrick Storto

38 Comments

When the Devils beat the Leafs last Friday night, they got a general feel for their opponent. The Devils left that game last Friday night with the win and the confidence that they could beat the very same team again four nights later in Toronto. Well by the time that game rolled around, the Devils were staring into a completely different opponent. They had to go into Toronto and take on a Leafs team that all of the sudden had Dion Phaneuf on the blue line and JS Giguere between the pipes. It was obvious that the Devils were not prepared as the Leafs handled them quite easily for Giguere's first win and first shutout in a Leafs jersey. This time the Leafs left the game with a general...

Victim of Expectations

February 5, 2010

Ron Guillet

4 Comments

Dion Phaneuf, as of right now, is not a Norris trophy candidate. Phaneuf took the National Hockey League by storm in his rookie season, producing 20 goals as a 20-year-old defenseman. He then had a successful sophomore campaign, breaking the 50-point barrier. In his third year, he had a 10-point increase and produced 60 points, gaining him consideration for the Norris trophy at only 22 years old. Since then, however, Phaneuf has regressed. If his on-pace numbers are realized, this will be his worst season in terms of points, although he will pass his career-low 11 goals of last season. While those type of numbers would warrant a top-two spot on almost any defense corps in the leag...

Post-Game Thoughts: Truculence Personified

February 2, 2010

Ron Guillet

20 Comments

Not one player on the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 2009-10 squad has had their name chanted in the Air Canada Center. It took Dion Phaneuf all of 6 minutes and 51 seconds. When Travis Zajac had his face plastered into the boards, I just knew we had found our very own Chuck Norris. Then, Phaneuf dropped the gloves with Colin White and my man-crush officially began. Okay, maybe I’m getting a little too excited. But when’s the last time Leafs fans have had reason to get excited about a potential future Norris trophy winner? I, for one, think we’re entitled to some Kool-Aid drinking tonight. But let’s get post-game thoughts brewing here, folks: - Dion Phaneuf. That is all. - Oka...