gm brian burke News

Toronto - Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke continues his off-season theme of adding small pieces of the puzzle by his signing of 25-year-old defenceman Mark Fraser Tuesday. Fraser played half his season last year with the Marlies.

Toronto - Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke sat back as the Carolina Hurricanes got better Thursday by signing Alexander Semin to a contract. The Hurricanes are a team Toronto must pass if they intend to make their first playoff appearance in 8 years.

Toronto - Let us forget about providing links and not bother with a quote and accept as fact that Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke has stated unequivocally his team will acquire a veteran goalie. Both he and Dave Nonis have said as much, and that is that.

Toronto - It is being reported that star-in-waiting Justin Schultz, a 22-year-old defenceman said to be NHL ready, has whittled his choice down to six teams. That's from 24, or 26, depending on which report you read, who had asked to make a pitch for him.

Toronto - It's hardly a surprise that the Toronto Maple Leafs open and close their 2012-13 regular season schedule against the Montreal Canadiens. The NHL more often bookends the season with one of the league's biggest rivalries.

Canucks GM Mike Gillis is talking openly to the media about his efforts to trade goalie Roberto Luongo and says he has multiple teams bidding. But the number doesn't matter, in the end it's gotta be the Leafs.

It may be all over but the gnashing of teeth as far as the Toronto Maple Leafs and their long-suffering fans are concerned. The Leafs lost another one on Sunday, March 12, 2-0 in Washington to the Capitals, and are now 8 points out of eighth place.

Look, I don't say this with any pleasure and did not want it to be so. In fact, though not a member of the Leaf Nation - it seems to exact too much pain - I feel their missing the playoffs is bad for the NHL. They should be there.

It's not what Toronto Maple Leafs fans wanted to hear but the team announced Wed. March 7 that Joffrey Lupul will be out 3 to 4 weeks after separating his shoulder against Boston Tuesday. The Leafs called up newly acquired Carter Aston to replace him.

Randy Carlyle put his Toronto Maple Leafs through over an hour of high-tempo work on Sunday, March 4, his first practice at the helm of the team. There isn't much time for the veteran NHL coach, and former Leaf player, to settle in and start winning.