Mats Sundin Banner Raising Ceremony at the ACC
It was great to see the emotional tribute to Mats Sundin as the Maple Leafs raised his banner to the rafters of the ACC. It was a touching speech that Sundin gave, and also a call to arms for Leafs fans to suppo...
Mats Sundin On Off The Record
Great interview on Off The Record with Mats Sundin before Saturday night banner raising ceremony at the ACC. Sundin was back in Toronto this week for the build up to the Maple Leafs honouring him before the game against the Canadiens.
Some argue that number 13 should be retired by the Leafs, but that goes against the franchise decision not to retire any more numbers after 5 and 6. Should Sundin be the first to break the Maple Leafs rule, or are Dave Keon and Darryl Sittler way ahead in line in front of him? In my opinion, 27 should have been retired a long time ago and should be the first to break the old Leafs regime rules.
What are the thoughts of Leafs Nation? Should the Leafs break there rule of not retiring legends numbers?
...Mats Sundin Back in Toronto to Attend First Leafs Game as New Maple Leafs Ambassador
Mats Sundin was back in Toronto this past week to help with some Maple Leafs events including a kids hockey clinic. It was great to see him back in the Blue and White, and also to see that smile again.
Tonight he'll be back at the ACC for the first time as a fan,and also as the new Maple Leafs Ambassador.
“It’s going to be fun, like coming home,” Sundin said earlier this week. “So many great memories, battles ... I left a lot in there. It will be great to watch the Leafs and get the atmosphere in the building. I’ve only seen a couple of games this year, but I like the way they play; upbeat, with good goaltending.”
Sundin will soon have his banner raised to the rafters of the ACC with the other Leafs greats. There have been reports that there is a date set of February 11th, but there has been no official announcement from MLSE. Leafs fans will be looking forward to that night, and it will surely be a special night.
Sundin is building a new dream home outside Stockholm, and is looking forward to have some Leafs memories on display.
“I brought back, sweaters, sticks and pictures,” he said. “I have my stick from my 500t...
Give The Toronto Maple Leafs A Standing Ovation!
Whether you're a die-hard Toronto Maple Leafs fan or a hater, you can't deny that it has been an amazing season for Leafs Nation. The young Leafs players have played well beyond expectation, and given the hockey mad city a reason to be proud again. Even if the Leafs don't make the playoffs this year, the season has been a huge success and Leafs Nation can't wait to see how this team will evolve over the next few years.
The whole team has stepped up, and shown that the future in Toronto is bright. To show the Maple Leafs players how much we are behind them, give the Toronto Maple Leafs a standing ovation after the final game of the season at the ACC on Saturday April 9th.
Win or lose, let's show the Leafs players how much Leafs Nation is behind them. If you're at the game give them a big sendoff, or if you're at home watching on Saturday give them a big thank you on your social media site of choice.
Let's get #GOLEAFSGO trending all Saturday night on Twitter!!!
...Maple Leafs Welcome Tomas Kaberle Home
Leafs Nation welcomed home Tomas Kaberle on Saturday night at the ACC with a standing ovation. The career long Leafs D-Man really showed how much he wanted to stay in Toronto before and after he was traded, and Leafs fans feel the same way.
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Thoughts From A Life Long Toronto Maple Leafs Fan
As I sit here watching the Leafs lose to the Edmonton Oilers who finished just below them in the bottom of the standings last season, I ask myself why I put myself through this pain each game night from fall to spring for the past thirty plus years? Why do we come back night after night for horrible to barely good enough play each NHL season? We sit and swear at the TV as the faceless owners of the Toronto Maple Leafs count the truck loads of cash brought in each night from the Blue and White.
I've always been an optimistic Leafs fan, and love seeing young and underdog players do well while wearing the maple leaf. During the late 90's and early part of the turn of the century we had arguably the best team in the NHL, but still came up empty. Why is it that we come back game after game, and hand over our hard earned money every year for tickets and any other nik nak with the Maple Leafs logo on it?
Is it that players just can't rise to the occasion in a hockey crazy city like Toronto? This I find hard to believe, because so many players have given their heart and soul for the Buds since I have been following the team. From Darryl Sittler to Doug Gilmo...
Maple Leafs Pay Tribute To Pat Burns, Beat Stars
The Toronto Maple Leafs had a tribute for both Gaye Stewart, and Pat Burns tonight before the game against the Dallas Stars.
Gaye Stewart was a member of the Maple Leafs’ 1942 and 1947 Stanley Cup winning teams, and Pat Burns lead the Maple Leafs to within one game of the Stanley Cup Final in the 1993 NHL playoffs.
After a tribute in Montreal on Saturday, it was great to see the Maple Leafs have their own for Pat Burns on Monday night at the ACC. In my thirty something years as a Leafs fan, he is the coach that stands out, and the one that really deserved to win a Cup in Toronto. He lead the Leafs to the conference finals two years in a row, and really got all out of his players. It was really interesting to hear Wendel Clark on Hockey Night In Canada talking about how Burns told him not to fight Bob Probert in the first round of the 93 playoffs, and how Clark realized that Burns had gameplan in place and knew how to achieve it for the final result.
The Leafs played another strong game after the tribute lead by the strong play of Jonas Gustavsson, and Nikolai Kulemin. The Leafs came out on top of the Stars 4-1, and head into Buffalo on F...
Leafs Nation Mourns With The Passing Of Pat Burns
Leafs Nation is mourning the passing of hockey legend, and former Maple Leafs coach Pat Burns. Burns passed away yesterday after a long battle with cancer. The NHL coaching great will always have a spot in the hearts of Leafs fans, and the 4 years he coached the Maple Leafs will never be forgotten.
Cliff Fletcher, Toronto Maple Leafs senior advisor and the general manager during Burns’ tenure with the hockey club:
“Pat forged a tremendous bond, not only with a very good veteran team in Toronto, but also with Leafs fans everywhere. He commanded respect from the players and the team quickly had great success while taking on the identity of the head coach. The Leafs’ rise at the time was a testament to Pat’s strength, toughness and determination. Hiring him 18 years ago was easily my best decision in hockey, and we developed a great friendship that I will always treasure. Pat will be greatly missed.”
Pat Burns is the only Leafs coach to win the Jack Adams Trophy as NHL Coach of the Year by leading the Maple Leafs to a 44-29-11 record in 1992-93 in his first season behind the Toronto bench. He is the only NHL coach in history to earn the award...