I'm not a big Ryan Hollweg fan. I'm okay with Matt Stajan being relegated to the press box, I'm just not a fan of Hollweg's undisciplined, dirty style that helped fuel the Blues' comeback this afternoon.

The Leafs blew an early 3-0 lead, eventually losing 5-4 in a shootout. Still, we've got 3 points in 3 games and that's out-pacing my prediction. Kules has a 50% shooting percentage, making him an early Hart trophy candidate.

That's right, I'm going with Kules for the young man from Magnitogorsk.

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Ladies and gentlemen, last night we were exposed. We were exposed as the young, inexperienced, undisciplined team we are. The victory over Detroit, as we suspected, was an aberration. The egg we laid last night, as difficult as it was to watch, is more likely to become the norm this season.

Particularly disturbing last night, especially in the second period from hell, was how poorly our new defence played. When I search for the positives on this team, I first point to Toskala and then to our new faster, younger, solidified defencemen. Last night, they were all exposed, even the young Jedi, and I found myself missing Brad Marsh.

They'll be better days. At least Cujo got a shutout.

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Even though this team has been built to lose, I root for the blue and white. It's in my blood. When Nikolai Kulemin (nickname needed!) scored in the third, I cheered loudly. I wanted the W.

It's fun watching this team, because it's not the same old McCabe / Tucker / Sundin thing. It's fresh faces and youth. Last nights game was fun to watch as we surprised the best team in the NHL on the road. I don't think Wilson and the boys are aware they were built to lose.

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Back in 1984, the movie 2010 was released. It was a sequel to 2001: A Space Odyssey and it was marketed with the tag line "The Year We Make Contact".

I remember watching a Leafs game in 1984 when the camera closed in on a sign a fan had brought in. This sign read "2010: The Year We Make Contact" and it had a painted picture of Rick Vaive hoisting the Stanley Cup. I remember thinking that 2010 was insanely far in the future and surely we'd win the cup before then.

We're now two years removed from 2010. There's no way this team is making contact before then. Tonight we begin our 42nd season since winning the cup. It begins at 7pm against the Red Wings on CBC. Remember kids, this year isn't about wins and losses, it's about having fun.

Which reminds me... which is the better nickname for Grabovski - The Grab or Grabs?

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Our Maple Leafs finished the pre-season 2-5-2, pretty much the winning percentage I've predicted for this team.

With a few days before Thursday's season debut, it's time to focus on the positive. I caught a few of the pre-season games and most of the highlights, and here are my thoughts.

Mikhail Grabovsky - It looks like The Grab will score most of Mats' old share of goals. It's been fun watching The Grab, especially with The Hagman on his wing.

Niklas Hagman - The Hagman has been my favourite winger, feeding The Grab. These two on the top line might be our best chance for a little offensive spark. Yes, it's that bad.

Luke Schenn - Our very own Scott Stevens was a pleasure to watch. He's earned a spot in the top four to start the season and is a bona fide future star. Use the force, Luke. Use the force.

The Rest of the Good - I'd like to see more of Ian White as a forward, The Finger looked solid in the one game I saw him play, the defence as a whole shouldn't be any worse than it was the past few seasons and I'm digging what Ron Wilson is saying. Oh yeah, and Tosky might be Turk Broda.

A Bit of the Bad - Mark Bell better not make this team, Cujo looks super shaky, when The Grab is your best forward, it's going to be a looooooooong season.

I can't wait for Thursday.

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It's nice to see Pension Plan Puppets, a fun little Leaf fan blog, enjoyed my Luke Schenn photoshoppery.

I used that same picture again last week when I declared Luke Schenn was our Scott Stevens. It took me five periods to realize how damn special this kid is. He's already the best Leafs defenseman on the ice, although that's not saying a great deal.

After this little spark last night to seal the deal for Tosky and the boys, I'm thinking Scott Stevens is selling the great Luke Schenn short. I'm going with #4 Bobby Orr.

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Those who Google Bill Barilko usually end up at my tribute to Bashin' Bill. Here's the summary I wrote for that page.

It was April 21st, 1951, game 5 of the Stanley Cup final between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens. At the 2:53 mark of the first overtime period, Bill Barilko scored the last goal of his life winning the Stanley Cup for the Leafs.

The 24 year old defenseman perished in a light plane crash that summer while on a fishing trip to Northern Ontario. Not until his body was recovered 11 years later in the bush near Cochrane, Ontario, did the Leafs win another championship.

Marlene Pearce found my Bill Barilko page via a Google search and sent me the following note.

I am the daughter of Ron Boyd who was the helicopter pilot who found the crash site of Bill Barilko and Dr. Hudson's Fairchild 24. If you'd like more information and articles, government letters, etc. from my dad's scrapbook, I would be happy to share this with you. The story of the discovery of the site is quite interesting.

As you can imagine, I was very interested in everything Marlene could share with me about the discovery of Barilko's crash site. This is something I want to share with fellow fans of the legend of Bill Barilko. This, in essence, is why I blog.

Marlene sent me four images I'm sharing below. The verbiage above each image are Marlene's words. If you click a picture, it will take you to the Flickr page for the image where you can view it at a larger size.

1. Newspaper Article explaining the entire situation around the discovery of the plane and crash site. I think you'll find it interesting. My father's name was Ron Boyd and he was with his engineer, Mr. Phil Weston.

2. A photo from the newspaper of the wreckage, along with original photos my father took with his camera of the wreckage, and the crash site as he and Mr. Phil Weston flew over it.

3. A letter from the Department of Lands and Forests giving a commendation to my father and to those involved in the discovery.

4. A letter from F. A. MacDougall, Deputy Minister to the Department of Lands and Forests re: my father's work in this case.

Thanks, Marlene, for taking the time to scan these images and send them to me. It pleases me that this exercise brought back wonderful memories of your father and his career.

He's our Buddy Holly, immortalized by the Hip's "Fifty Mission Cap", and scorer of the 1951 Stanley Cup winner for my beloved Maple Leafs. Every year, Bill Barilko's legend grows.

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I realize Luke Schenn's NHL career has just entered its fifth period of preseason play, but I've seen all I need to see.

Luke Schenn is Scott Stevens. And no, I'm never wrong about such things.

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Eddie Vedder feels about the Chicago Cubs the way I feel about the Toronto Maple Leafs. It's in his blood, and he holds out hope, despite never seeing a championship in his lifetime.

Eddie wrote a great song for his team called "All the Way". I've embeded it below. As I listen to his passion and hope, I think about my Leafs. Some day, we too will go all the way... and many a tear will be shed.

I want a song like this. Who should write and sing it? Is Hayden a Leafs fan? Should The Rheostatics reform and make it happen? Can Blue Rodeo pull it off?

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Prior to the start of the Terry Fox Run on Sunday, I spotted something in High Park I thought was extinct. As it turns out, it's only endangered. I saw a youngster wearing a #1 Raycroft Leafs shirt.

I couldn't believe my eyes at first. I did a double take and then starting wondering if perhaps the young man was related to Andrew Raycroft or if he coincidentally had the same last name.

I snapped a picture and then cropped his face to protect his identity. The Raycroft shirt lives!

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During the 1990-91 Toronto Maple Leafs season, I continued to wear my Leafs cap to Mr. Rocca's math class. When your second leading scorer is Mike Krushelnyski with 39 points, you know it's a rough year. That 1990-91 season was very rough indeed, and my classmates ridiculed me for continuing to don the Maple Leaf.

I took the abuse and continued to support my team. I could see they weren't very good, but that didn't mean I was going to bail on them. I was in it for the long haul.

I'm on the record as saying this coming season will be the worst Leafs season yet. As I eyeball our list of forwards, I don't see anything more than a long list of fourth liners and fringe players who wouldn't see much ice time on any competitive team. I'm slightly more optimisitic about our defenders, but not much. Our only hope is that Vesa Toskala stays healthy and steals several games between the pipes.

Cliff Fletcher, who may or may not read this blog, is all but agreeing with me. "You don't have to be a Rhodes Scholar to know there's going to be rocky days ahead, tough games, maybe tough stretches." He went on to say the Leafs have only one top six forward: Nik Antropov.

I agree with Cliffy that there are rocky days ahead, but I disagree with him about Antropov. I don't believe he's that good, despite his miraculous campaign of 2007-08. I don't believe we have a single forward worthy of a half decent team's top two lines.

Just as I continued to wear my cap in 1991, I take no delight in the fact my team will be horrible this coming season. It is what it is, but I won't bail. I'm in it for the long haul.

Here's the current Maple Leaf depth chart. Brace yourselves, this is going to get ugly.

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Breakfast with Scot: 6.5 out of 10.

"Breakfast with Scot" was the first of the two Toronto Maple Leaf movies released over the past twelve months. I first wrote about it here. You may recall the buzz about it because it featured an ex-Toronto Maple Leaf who just happens to be gay and the film received permission by the NHL, and the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey organization to use jerseys, clips, and other items relating to the Leafers. It is the first time in major professional sports history that such permission has been given.

Yes, there is footage of the ACC and a Leafs practice and plenty of Maple Leaf posters and hats, but this isn't a hockey movie. It's a nice little Canadian movie about a couple who have a unique child thrust upon them. Yes, the couple happens to be a same-sex couple, but it's all pretty sweet and classy I'm willing to bet they could have viewed this film at the Republican National Convention and nobody would have squawked afterward.

Go Leafs Go! There are only 32 days, 10 hours, 16 minutes, and 34 seconds left until the Maple Leafs opener!.

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In one horribly kept secret transaction, the Toronto Maple Leafs are sending Bryan McCabe and a draft pick to the Florida Panthers for defenceman Mike Van Ryn.

As the Bryan McCabe era comes to a end, it's time to reflect upon #24 and what he meant to this city. I just searched this site for instances of the keyword mccabe and there is 215 such entries. He's been on our blue line for the past eight years, delivering some horrible seasons and some solid ones. Remember, the man was an alternate in Torino.

He was good enough that my brother wears #24 on his Leafs jersey but then he scored that massive contract that his shoulders couldn't bear. I was ecstatic last year when I heard the rumours somebody wanted McCabe's contact but I never blamed Bryan for not waiving his no-trade clause. That mess was the doing of JFJ and MLSE.

Farewell, #24. Good luck with the Panthers. It was time to move on, and besides, Uncle Cliffy has already given us The Finger.

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I am not American, but I'm keeping my good eye on the American political landscape as the Jackass and Elephant ramp up for the November 4th Presidential election.

We had a family BBQ yesterday and among the many topics covered was John McCain's choice for VP. Sadly, in my circle, the choice of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as McCain's running mate is a rather frightening joke. By most accounts McCain made this decision based on a single 15-minute meeting with the 44-year old mother of five. Other than 1.5 years of flip-flopping as governor of the 47th least populated state (683,478 people, many more moose), the experience that makes her fit to be a heartbeat away (and that's one questionable heartbeat) is being mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, population 8,000.

She was also a sportscaster! Here's some great footage of the future Sarah Palin, then known as Sarah Heath, doing sports for Channel 2 News. Be sure to pay extra special attention to the 2:52 mark when she notes the Winnipeg Jets are killing our Toronto Maple Leafs 8-1. The more things change...

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Do you remember Mats Sundin? He was a nice Swedish fellow who wore #13 for the Toronto Maple Leafs the past 13 seasons. He holds the franchise record for most goals and points and he's second in assists.

Here we are, about to hit Labour Day weekend, and Mats is still on the fence. Will he retire? Will he sign with the Leafs? Will he become a Ranger or Canuck or Flyer or Canadien? Do we still care?

As this drags on, I find myself hoping he'll call it a day and hang up his skates. I envision a neat Ikea coat rack where his skates would hang. I can see them there, in his quaint Swedish cabin by the Ikea kitchen cabinet stocked with Campbell Chunky Soup cans.

Remember the Mats.

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It's July 22 and it's Mats Sundin, Mats Sundin, Mats Sundin, Mats Sundin, Mats Sundin, Mats Sundin, Mats Sundin.

A Swedish newspaper reported he was set to sign with Vancouver, then his agent denied the claim. Another Swedish newspaper conducted a poll asking fans where they think the free agent centre will wind up, and the results were strongly in the Maple Leafs' favour, at 37 per cent. Will he return? Will he retire? Will he sign elsewhere? It's all about Mats Sundin.

Personally, I think Mats Sundin makes us too good. I love the guy, I think he's a class act with a boatload of skill and loyal to a fault, but I've got my heart set on a 30 win season and #13 will make us a tad too competitive.

Still, I suspect The Mats will announce his return as some point this summer and he'll retire next summer as a Toronto Maple Leaf. In the meantime, the Toronto media will run with Mats Sundin story after Mats Sundin story giving the people what they want. All Mats, all the time.

That reminds me, I'm due to visit http://www.torontomike.com/countdown.html. 79 days, 7 hours, 13 minutes, and 10 seconds left until the Maple Leafs season opener!

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The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired forward Ryan Hollweg from the New York Rangers for a 2009 fifth-round draft pick. The 25-year-old has five goals and seven assists in 200 career NHL games, all with the Rangers. New York will get Pittsburgh’s pick in next year’s draft, which we acquired in the deal that sent Hal Gill to the Penguins at the deadline last season.

Welcome, Ryan Hollweg, to the worst Maple Leafs team ever. Don't worry, we're okay with a 2008/2009 season of total stinkage. In fact, we're going to have fun with it and give you all funny nicknames.

For you I'm leaning toward Weggy.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired young forward Mikhail Grabovski from the Montreal Canadiens earlier today in exchange for a draft pick and a prospect. That draft pick is a 2nd rounder in 2010 and that prospect is Greg Pateryn, a United States Hockey League defenceman we drafted in the 5th round last week.

I'm no Grabovski expert, but from what I've read this doesn't sound like a bad deal. He's only 24 years old and he apparently has some skill. I just hope he's not another Alexander Suglobov. The Grab will definitely get playing time with the Leafs this season because there's a solid lack of centers once Mats moves on.

At some point maybe we'll add a player people have actually heard of.

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Freddie P and I have agreed to disagree about many things, and one of those things is Mats Sundin. Fred likes to diminish Mats' value in his blog. As recently as this morning he went off on the absurd offer Vancouver reportedly made for Sundin's services. This city, it seems, is comprised of two kinds of people: those who like Mats Sundin and those who don't.

I like Mats. He's been our best player since he arrived in 1994 and he's one of the classiest athletes ever to play in this city. No, he hasn't led us to a Stanley Cup final, but neither did Darryl, Wendel or Dougie. Sundin gave his all to this franchise and I say we're lucky to have had him as long as we did.

In addition to not being Canadian, Mats had something else working against him. He's a different kind of cat... a deeper thinker who is very private and very proud. The news today is that he needs more time to think about whether he will play again. Even though teams are throwing big bucks his way, Mats isn't yet sure what he wants and he's going to take some time to figure it out. The man could have signed yesterday for $20M but instead he's motivated by other factors. You have to respect that.

He's an enigma wrapped in a riddle. Whatever he decides, he's got a big fan right here.

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I'm still getting over the big four year deal Cliff Fletcher gave The Finger and now I've logged on to learn we've handed out another big four year deal to yet another unproven player.

No, this isn't as severe an overpayment as The Finger deal, but it's still more coin than Niklas Hagman is worth. It's $3 million a year for four years which means Hagman is due to have his contract bought out at about this time next season.

The 28 year old has played in 481 career NHL games for Dallas and Florida, collecting 80 goals and 85 assists for 165 points. He did score 27 goals last year, a career high, and you know how players coming off career years play when they sign in Toronto.

Again, The Finger deal was far more puzzling than this one, but you've still got to believe the Leafs have overpaid here. To make matters worse, we ought to be avoiding the four year deals like the plague right now, particularly when it comes to the mediocre and unproven.

I hate myself for loving this team.

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