Phil Kessel

Nazem Kadri had a visitor at the John Labatt Centre last night. Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke dropped by for a look. He's keeping a close eye on the London Knights forward and his first rounder.

I was told he was outstanding   -Brian Burke

 

"I am C-3PO, Human-Cyborg relations. And this is my counterpart, R2-D2." I'm, uh… sure. And you're here for a hockey game? "Oh, yes. We find the action quite exciting. Much like the dogfights Master Luke fought when he defeated Lord Vader. This is our first such game in person."  

A year ago, Taylor Hall was the odds-on favourite to be the first pick overall in the 2010 NHL entry draft. Long before John Tavares became the first pick of the 2009 draft, those in the business had tabbed him as the No. 1 choice, and though Victor Hedman and Matt Duchene made it interesting, the New York Islanders were never going to stray from taking Tavares. Hall could get bumped by Tyler Seguin next June, but both are considered to be franchise players, the kind of players that teams can build ar

I've been more than fortunate   -Lindy Ruff

 

Second of four meetings this season. Washington won 6-4 at the Verizon Center on Oct. 3 in a game that was a lot more lopsided than the final score would indicate. Alexander Semin scored twice as the Capitals raced out to a 6-1 lead after two periods before the Maple Leafs rallied in the third.

We turned it on at the end   -Brendan Morrison

 

I t is honourable and right for Brian Burke to stand by his coach, even more because he didn't hire Ron Wilson to guide the Maple Leafs. Too many times coaches get dumped for no particular reason other than because it's an easy thing to do and the supply of able coaches outstrips the demand. So if Burke wants to swim upstream against that particular current, good for him.  

A St. Catharines math teacher is using the Toronto Maple Leafs dismal season as a learning opportunity for his students. Norbert Preiner's philosophy is when life gives you a lemon of a hockey team, you might as well make mathematical lemonade. As the Buds crash through the basement floor of the NHL standings, Preiner and Grade 10 student Nick Spadafora are calculating how many games the blue and white would have to win to climb out of the cellar and — God forbid — actually make the playoffs this year  

If you didn't say injuries, you've probably been too caught up in what has actually been a pretty compelling 300-plus games. No shame in that. Not when about one of every six featured a comeback from at least a two-goal deficit.  

The Maple Leafs are sulking, embarrassed and now bracing themselves for inevitable changes. Toronto general manager Brian Burke said prior to Thursday night's monumental 6-5 shootout collapse in Carolina he was considering changes. "Looking at trade options," Burke said.

If that fails, I will start shipping money to the minors.   -Brian Burke

 

Phil Kessel continues to razzle and dazzle for the Maple Leafs thus far. I know the team has significantly underachieved and optimism is small but reflect on how sensational Kessel's been considering the obstacles he's faced. Serious offseason shoulder surgery, and a mountain of expectations in the most hockey-mad city of them all and yet how does he respond?