LATEST STORIES FROM BITTER LEAF FAN
Leafs Nation Demographics and Media Partners
July 20, 2009 by
Bitter Leaf Fan
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Given last year’s posts around the ‘Net on the future of the Leafs fan-base and the challenges of marketing an, ahem, less than successful franchise I thought it was fascinating to note the Leafs’ media partners for this season’s free exhibition game.The Back StoryThe dominant...
Leafs Nation Demographics and Media Partners
July 20, 2009 by
Bitter Leaf Fan
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Given last year’s posts around the ‘Net on the future of the Leafs fan-base and the challenges of marketing an, ahem, less than successful franchise I thought it was fascinating to note the Leafs’ media partners for this season’s free exhibition game.The Back StoryThe dominant...
Leafs Nation Demographics and Media Partners
July 20, 2009 by
Bitter Leaf Fan
| Comments
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Given last year’s posts around the ‘Net on the future of the Leafs fan-base and the challenges of marketing an, ahem, less than successful franchise I thought it was fascinating to note the Leafs’ media partners for this season’s free exhibition game.The Back StoryThe dominant...
Leafs, Tampering and a Modest Proposal
July 10, 2009 by
Bitter Leaf Fan
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In 1986, the Detroit Red Wings were so bad they might as well have played in boots.Coach Harry Neale got the team off to a 8-23-4 record before being fired. His replacement Brad Park was even worse, going 9-34-2 the rest of the way.At the end of the '86 season, Red Wings GM Devellano...
The Price of Truculence
July 02, 2009 by
Bitter Leaf Fan
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In his recent make-over of the Leafs, Burke picked up three players who combined for 434 penalty minutes last season.To put that total in perspective, the entire Carolina Hurricanes roster put up just 786 PiMs and the Red Wings just 810.The Orr, Exelby, Komisarek trifecta had exactly...
The Leafs and UFA Season: Day One
July 01, 2009 by
Bitter Leaf Fan
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So this is what Brian Burke meant when he said "truculent."On the first day of NHL free agency the Leafs acquired heavyweight RW Colton Orr (4 years/ $1M per) and D Mike Komisarek (5 years/ $4.25M per).The Leafs also traded D Pavel Kubina to Atlanta along with AHLer Tim Stapleton...
NHL UFA Season Begins: Do YouThink You Made the Right Decision This Time?
June 29, 2009 by
Bitter Leaf Fan
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One day to go until NHL free agency season opens. One day until we find out which NHL GMs are crazy with the cash.I'd like to think that this year's free agency period will reveal a more rational market but I'm sure Sather will prove me wrong with an eleventy-billion dollar...
Burke, the Leafs and the NHL Draft
June 26, 2009 by
Bitter Leaf Fan
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The BroadcastWas there a single pick the experts didn't like tonight? Every pick was smart, every player was talented and every team was getting just what they needed.Maybe I'm cynical or maybe I've just been following the Leafs and the draft for too long, but on draft...
Entry Draft Rankings: The Experts' Take
June 25, 2009 by
Bitter Leaf Fan
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It goes without saying: this is a big weekend for the Leafs and Brian Burke.It's not often that the Leafs head into the entry draft with their first round pick and two choices in the second round. In fact, the Leafs have gone into the draft with their first and second round picks...
Another Five Questions (Cross-Posted from PPP)
June 24, 2009 by
Bitter Leaf Fan
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The NHL draft is so close I'm sure those of you heading to Montreal are already counting it in "sleeps."Here's a little known fact: since the lockout, the entry draft has generated as many, if not more, deals as trade deadline day. In 2008, 26 trades went down on...
Draft Day Intrigue?
June 16, 2009 by
Bitter Leaf Fan
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I'm not usually one to get involved in trade rumours or speculation, but a few articles have emerged that are worth a read.In a nutshell: if John Tavares goes first, it will be draft-day business as usual - Hedman goes #2 and Duchene goes #3. If, however, the Isles pick Hedman...
Don't Take Dany Heatley if Your Team Has Chemistry
June 15, 2009 by
Bitter Leaf Fan
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A very clever Dany Heatley spoof from Team 1200 in Ottawa. Worth a listen.ht to David Staples
Victorians Unhappy with the Price of Hockey in Toronto
June 07, 2009 by
Bitter Leaf Fan
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On Saturday night I went searching for an old book of mine and I stumbled across one I didn't even know I owned: "Hockey Night in Canada" by Foster Hewitt. I'm guessing it was either a gift or I pilfered it from my parents during one of their moves.Bound in orange...
50 Miles and Runnin': MLSE's Territorial Rights
June 07, 2009 by
Bitter Leaf Fan
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The Toronto Star posted the NHL constitution and by-laws today. The NHL Constitution is here. By-laws are here (part 1) and here (part 2).Not exactly prime reading for a Sunday afternoon but there is some interesting stuff in there, especially as it pertains to moving a team to Hamilton...
Five Questions (Cross-posted at PPP)
June 04, 2009 by
Bitter Leaf Fan
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Every 7 to 10 days I post a "Five Questions" entry over at uber Leaf Blog Pension Plan Puppets. Here's the latest entry...When I was in university I rented a ramshackle five bedroom house from a little old Chinese lady who insisted we call her Yee.I have no idea if that...
The bingo, the lotto (you know I never win those)
June 03, 2009 by
Bitter Leaf Fan
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Do you remember back in mid-April when Leafs GM Brian Burke announced that the Leafs were trying to trade up in the NHL draft to get John Tavares?Back when Tavares seemed to be the consensus #1 pick.And here we are, all of eight weeks later, surrounded by rumblings that Tavares may...
It took a Tattooed Boy from Birkenhead
June 03, 2009 by
Bitter Leaf Fan
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There was a time (roughly 1979 to 2008ish) when the only thing more porous than the Leafs' defence was the Leafs' front office.Every move the Leafs made: management changes, upping concession prices, free agent signings, internecine board squabbles, waiver moves, logo changes...
Bob McKenzie or Kerry Fraser: You Decide
May 27, 2009 by
Bitter Leaf Fan
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The guys at PPP asked me to send them a paragraph on where I was during game six of the Leafs - Kings playoff series back in 1993, a game played 16 years ago today. Not being so good with directions, I gave them a bit more than that...# # #Believe it or not, I don’t remember much...
Peter Zezel
May 26, 2009 by
Bitter Leaf Fan
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Peter and I grew up on the same street in Scarborough. He was about six years older, which is a pretty wide gulf when you're a kid, but I have tremendously fond memories of Peter and his family.From hockey in his driveway to huge street hockey games a few roads over on Valhalla...
The Cost of Trading Up
May 26, 2009 by
Bitter Leaf Fan
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When asked about his plans for the upcoming NHL draft, GM Brian Burke was about as circumspect and quiet as a six year old kid who’s had three espressos, two helpings of cake, and was on his way to get his first puppy.Burke claims he wants John Tavares and he doesn’t care who knows...
It's like a Mach piece
May 18, 2009 by
Bitter Leaf Fan
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The NHL has two mock-drafts posted, you can read them here and here.Thought I'd post this up as it's always worth a look to see what the so-called experts are predicting for the upcoming draft.Here are Brad Holland and Adam Kimelman's competing top 10s:TeamHollandKimelanNew...
Cinqo de Mayo
May 14, 2009 by
Bitter Leaf Fan
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The fine folks at PPP have asked me to make a contribution to their site every 10 days or so. This is what I gave them.I was at a formal dinner this week where I sat with a group of academics. The man to my right had a PhD in Anglo Saxon English. Many of the guests at my table were...
If it ain't a mess, it'll do till the mess gets here
May 07, 2009 by
Bitter Leaf Fan
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The world always makes the assumption that the exposure of an error is identical with the discovery of the truth - that error and truth are simply opposite. They are nothing of the sort. What the world turns to, when it has been cured of one error, is usually simply another error,...
The Seal is for Marksmanship and the Gorilla is for Sand Racing
April 20, 2009 by
Bitter Leaf Fan
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Estragon: I can't go on like this. Vladimir: That's what you think.Last week Hockey Night in Canada reached out to the Blogosphere, inviting Tom Benjamin, Greg Wysnyshski and Paul Kukla to appear in place of the usual suspects on the "Hot Stove Lounge" segment.Prior...
Post-game Leafs - Sabres
April 08, 2009 by
Bitter Leaf Fan
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I missed the winning goal because an Elvis impersonator was in our section. Clearly this was the highlight of the night, if not week, for everyone within 20 feet of me as they all decided to stand up, turn their backs to the game, and yell at Elvis in hopes of getting a t-shirt of...
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A life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...
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