I apologise in advance for the lack of any (attempted) witty or amusing comments.  As you know, this is meant to be a fun, light-hearted website, but Gary Bettman and everyone involved in the lockout for some reason have managed to temporarily suck out all of my love and enthusiasm for sports.  Please note that all views expressed here are purely those of myself as opposed to the Blue Toro staff as a whole, who, rather worryingly, seem to love hockey more than life itself.

I actually debated whether to even write about the end of the NHL lockout; a boycott if you will.  However, at the end of the day we cover Toronto sports teams and whether I like it or not, people want to read about hockey, no matter what has happened.  Translation: I may have been ‘persuaded’ that it was the right thing to do.

At the risk of sounding like a miserable sod, I’m not yet in a position to get excited about the prospect of seeing the Maple Leafs back on the ice.  (Oh hold on, that’s normal for Leafs fans right?)  I’m still pissed off with the way Bettman, the owners and to a lesser degree, the players, have treated the fans.

More than any of the other major sports in North America, the NHL is a gate-driven league, i.e. it depends on the fans.  And yet, the league has shown their total disdain and lack of respect for those very same fans by having three lockouts since 1993*, leading to the loss of two partial seasons and one full campaign.  That is disgusting.

* All of the lockouts have happened since Bettman took over as Commissioner. I’m not implying anything, just reporting the facts……..Oh, who am I kidding, we all know exactly what I’m implying.  People can talk all they want about revenues rising from $400 million to $3.3 billion during Bettman’s reign.  However, while the actual increase can be debated, this would have happened regardless of who was in charge. 

Unlike the majority of you, I actually wanted the season to get cancelled*.  It might have been the only way to make supporters wake up and realise how little the NHL actually gives a toss about them and in the event persuade fans to make some kind of stand next season, whatever that may be.

* As a guy not obsessed with hockey, i.e. not Canadian, I’ve been able to review the lockout more objectively.  And yet, ironically, still get as annoyed.

Hockey fans remind me of my mate who continually stays in relationships way longer than he should, even though it’s obvious to everyone else it just isn’t working and she’s taking him for a ride.  But no matter how much you advise him, how often he is neglected, how expensive the women are, how depressed he becomes, my mate still has to be left to get on with it until eventually working it out for himself.

It makes me laugh (sarcastically as opposed to joyfully) when the media says the NHL now has a lot of work to do in winning over their fans again.  No they don’t!  The fans that are hardcore, i.e. Rangers, Bruins, Blackhawks, Flyers, the whole of Canada, will come flocking back regardless (see last paragraph.)  And for those people who are either fairweather fans or didn’t care anyway, again nothing has changed.  If they didn’t give a damn about the NHL beforehand, how is any attempt to apologise after a lockout going to make things any difference?

It will be interesting to see if the NHL still has the gall to go ahead with the rumoured idea to increase the playoffs to 20 teams for this season, under the ruse of being a big thank you/apology to the fans.  Everyone knows this is total bull.  Really it’s just a way for the owners and players to rake in some of the money they have lost from this latest lockout.

(It’s basically on a par with the NHL attempting to say moving up from their original offer for the new CBA was a ‘shared sacrifice’.  Not really the case when that original offer was so insulting/unrealistic and you know whatever agreement is eventually reached will result in your side making more money than the previous deal.)

I did hear suggestions of giving everyone free access to Centre Ice for this season, which would be a good move.  In effect, at this point it can’t hurt the league to give fans half a season at no cost.  And if it happens to peak the interest of people who don’t normally follow/care about hockey, then all the better.  (Free stuff often has that effect on folks.)

Anyway, I’m going to stop talking about this now as despite being a so-called objective observer, I’m getting riled up again about this whole farce of a situation and resorting to swearing more than usual.

I promise to return to a lighter mood for my next article.

Photo credit: @JakeRoy30, JohnnyMateri & @USAmjs

• By paul.taylor
• January 7, 2013
• Comment

Over the last couple of weeks, we saw Max Talbot do one finger push-ups and shoot a puck with a bow and arrow. I’m pretty sure you guys will figure this whole thing out when you watch the video below. Max Talbot visited the Ubisoft Montreal studio and got some hands-on time with Assassin’s Creed III.

• By ed
• October 9, 2012
• Comment

During the lock-out, players who aren’t too keen about moving to Europe for the season, might have a second choice in North America.

In fact, Philadelphia Flyers’ Max Talbot and Bruno Gervais are organizing some non-contact hockey games between players from Montreal and Quebec. Not all the players representing Montreal and Quebec are actually from those cities, but these team names were given to create some sort of a friendly rivalry.

Now, there is talk of expanding the league across Eastern Canada.  Therefore, Toronto and Ottawa would likely have an opportunity to join the league, together with a few teams within the GTA.  The games aren’t meant to be played in NHL rinks, but in regional arenas to raise funds for good charities.

Now, would you be ready to pay $20 to see some NHLers’ play for fun for a good cause? Personally, I think it’s a good idea to raise money for sick kids and other such charities, but I’d rather see an OHL game between young up and comers who will give their everything this year, knowing that all eyes in the canadian hockey world will be turned their way.

That is, of course, if the lock-out is still in effect!

• By Manny Frag
• September 24, 2012
• Comment

With the NHL lockout now being official, there’s every chance a lot of the players will take the opportunity to kick back, hang out with friends, eat whatever they want and basically get lazy.

As such, it’s refreshing to see that at least one player is still training seriously for whenever Gary Bettman decides to see sense and make a reasonable deal with the NHLPA.  The Philadephia Flyers Max Talbot has embarked on a new training workout called ‘the Assassin’:

If that’s anything to go by, Talbot will be in a better position than most when it’s time to lace up those skates again.

Photo credit: http:wordpress.com

• By paul.taylor
• September 18, 2012
• Comment

Good morning, I hope you’re enjoying the long weekend.

Q. What’s the deal with having J.A. Happ in the bullpen when by the time he comes in, the Jays starting pitchers have already let the game get out of hand? He’s been a starter before and a top prospect at that position, so why is John Farrell keeping him in the bullpen?

Danielle – Brampton

Q. With how stretched the bullpen’s been lately, I believe Farrell was just looking for some stability before moving Happ into the starting rotation.

However, as the saying goes, be careful what you wish for.  While Happ will make his first start for the Jays this Tuesday against Tampa Bay, it’s in place of Carlos Villanueva, who’s left the team for personal reasons.  Maybe Villanueva knew he was due an injury and thought it best not to push his luck.

Q. The Leafs literally have seven NHL centres’, eight if you count Randy Carlyle’s preference to move James van Riemsdyk (JVR) to the middle.  A cynic could argue all these centres’ are too small, inexperienced, or soft. Do you think having that many options down the middle will be a boon to the Leafs playoff hopes?

Mike – Mississauga

A. The size and strength factor (David Steckel aside) is a key reason Carlyl’s hoping JVR can make the transition to centre.

And while JVR’s only played three seasons in the NHL, he still has invaluable playoff experience, helping the Philadelphia Flyers get to a Stanley Cup final. However, even if the move does work, certain people will still argue he’d be more effective for the Leafs on the wing.

As for the overflow of centres in general, the Leafs almost appear to be taking a Bachelorette-style approach to finding the perfect candidate.  In some ways, they remind me of my friend, who was the only one guaranteed to pull whenever we went out.  Unfortunately, he mistakenly equated quantity to quality when the truth was he rarely met a young lady who impressed anyone.  (Translate as necessary.)

Essentially, the Leafs are hoping if they take enough women home, eventually one of them will turn out to be a stunner.

Q. Could the 100 metre runners BE any more arrogant? (said in Chandler Bing voice.)

Lindsey – Liverpool

A. Unfortunately this is indicative of the reality-television, narcissistic, shallow world we now live in.  And yes, if that makes me sound like some grumpy old git, I accept the assessment wholeheartedly.

While it’s good to take pride in your accomplishment, modesty is preferable.  If I’m good at something, I don’t need to announce it, because everybody already knows. (Unless I’m that charismatic son-of-a-bitch George Clooney. Then I’d be telling everyone how amazing I was.)

Okay, that’s it for today.  As always, send any question to the contact details below.

Email:              englishpaul@hotmail.co.uk or paul.taylor@bluetoro.ca

Twitter:           @bluetoro.ca or @EnglishPaul07

Photo credit: PR Newswire

• By paul.taylor
• August 6, 2012
• Comment

The Toronto

Maple Leafs have acquired big forward James Van Riemsdyk from the Philadelphia Flyers, in exchange for defenceman Luke Schenn.

With that trade, Toronto added a top six forward to their line-up, while subtracting a defenceman who was struggling to develop and even be in the line-up.

Van Riemsdyk is a 23 year old lefty who registered 21 goals two seasons ago. Last season, head coach Peter Laviolette and JVR weren’t on the same page, and the American missed 39 games because of a concussion. He registered only 24 points in 43 games.

But do not worry Leafs fans, he is definitely not on the downhill. If Randy Carlyle gives him a real shot, and plays him on a top line and on a 1st or 2nd unit of the power play, Van Riemsdyk will become one of the fans’ favorite very quickly. He plays with an edge, and can easily score 30 goals in the NHL if he is given the chance and trust of his coaching staff.

On the other hand, Luke Schenn is taking more time to develop than expected. He is a liability defensively, and puts himself out of the play too often, when trying to complete a big body check. Offensively, he is nothing special, but he was never known for his offensive prowless. The Flyers will hope that young brother Brayden, can motivate him into becoming the defenceman the Maple Leafs saw in him, when they drafted him 5th overall, in the 2008 NHL entry draft.

Looks like the new cool thing in the NHL is to reunite siblings together. After brothers Andrei and Sergei Kostitsyn were reunited (for a 2nd time) in Nashville last february, and Jordan and Eric Staal were put together in a Carolina Hurricanes’ uniform, younger brothers Luke and Brayden Schenn are now members of the Philadelphia Flyers.

You can follow the new acquisition of the Leafs on Twitter @JVReemer21

• By Manny Frag
• June 23, 2012
• Comment

The LA Kings have won their first ever Stanley Cup. Mike Richards and Jeff Carter played an important role in that conquest. Simon Gagne not as much, but nonetheless, this picture is priceless, unless you are a Flyers fan.

Big thumbs down to the Philadelphia Flyers’ hockey operations team.

• By Manny Frag
• June 12, 2012
• Comment