brendan shanahan News

Maybe the more ardent Toronto Maple Leafs fan among you can provide the reasoning behind the notion that the team has made the kind of changes that will show up in the standings. That will vault them into the playoffs for the 2nd time in umpteen years.

Toronto Maple Leafs President Brendan Shanahan has his fall guy in place headed into the season. But will he have to use him?

The Toronto Maple Leafs have made a new hire, inking the now former G.M. of the OHL Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Kyle Dubas. The club's new assistant general manager, Dubas is just 28 and was hailed by Leaf G.M. Dave Nonis as an "innovative thinker."

The situation with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks are roughly analogous. Each had a disastrous 2013-14 NHL season and missed the postseason, for the Leafs it was more of the same, for the Canucks their first miss in six years.

Toronto Maple Leaf fans are waiting to see if coach Randy Carlyle will join the Nashville Predators now former-coach, Barry Trotz, and be fired. There's been no word but new Leaf president, Brendan Shanahan, spoke about the coach he inherited.

The Toronto Maple Leafs ended a disastrous run — they lost 12 of their final 14 — and a disastrous season, going out with hardly a whimper in Ottawa against the Senators Saturday night. The Leafs were again outshot, this time 37-29.

Much as their Canadian brethren to the west have done it appears the Toronto Maple Leafs are going to name a former player as their team president. There are some differences between Brendan Shanahan and Trevor Linden, but many similarities.

Martin Hanzal of the Phoenix Coyotes cross-checked David Booth of the Vancouver Canucks in the head Thursday. Booth went down, now seems all right, but it certainly could have been worse. It was the third stick infraction of the third period for Hanzal.

Boston Bruin forward Shawn Thornton appealed Brendan Shanahan's decision to suspend him 15 games for a cheap shot on Brooks Orpik but has lost his appeal, it was announced the day before Christmas. He has one appeal option remaining.

The National Hockey League (NHL) makes Boston's Shawn Thornton a scapegoat by making an example out of him. He gets 15 games for his attack on Pittsburgh's Brooks Orpik. And, as usual, the NHL does nothing to address the core issue.

The Hockey Hall of Fame can only induct four players each year and it would be hard to argue with the choices this year, announced Tuesday. Going into the Hall in a Nov. 12 ceremony will be Joe Sakic, Mats Sundin, Pavel Bure and Adam Oates.

Phoenix - The National Hockey Leagues' Player's Assoc. (NHLPA) filed an appeal on behalf of Raffi Torres for his 25 game suspension for a round 1 hit on Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa. The NHLPA filed the appeal for the Phoenix Coyote forward May 3.

Phoenix - One of the most severe suspensions in NHL history was handed down by Brendan Shanahan on April 21 as Phoenix Coyote Raffi Torres is gone from the playoffs and beyond. Torres got 25 games for his open-ice, left-his-feet hit on Marion Hossa.

After a season of handing out suspensions like a right-wing talk-radio host hands out opinions, NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan has lost his way when it matters the most. The result? A Stanley Cup playoffs with unchecked, and unnecessary, violence.

Boston Bruin forward Brad Marchand got a five-game suspension from Brendan Shanahan and there's an argument it should have been more. Whatever the amount though it's more than he would have received under the neglectful reign of Colin Campbell.

Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller, this season the NHL's version of a pinata, is looking for the NHL to do more to protect goalies in their crease. On Dec. 22, Miller held conference with reporters and talked about a solution - more penalties.

Toronto - From the time he entered the NHL to the time he retired, former Toronto Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin has seen the game of hockey change considerably.

It's an age-old part of the game of hockey that can put fans on their feet in seconds, but with the recent crackdown on head shots and after a summer of tragedy, is it time to take fighting out of the game?