After the Toronto Maple Leafs published an open apology in numerous local newspapers for missing the playoffs for the seventh straight season and falling well short of expectations it was Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke’s turn to face the music when he held a press conference Tuesday morning. Much like the letter posted in the newspapers, Burke apologized to the fans for putting a sub-par product on the ice. Burke praised the Toronto fans for being the best in all of sports and acknowledged that they (the organization) “needs to deliver more” and that the fans loyalty needs to be rewarded. Burke’s words are hardly news to fans of the Blue and White. Toronto fans have stood by their club through thick and thin, and when you consider this team is now the only team in the NHL

With the Toronto Maple Leafs set to wrap up the 2011-12 season tonight against the Montreal Canadiens a few things are certain— there will be no playoffs, and the Maple Leafs have a decent shot at a lottery pick, albeit far from certain. Rather than run down all the possibilities that could effect where the Maple Leafs will pick come July’s NHL Entry Draft, let’s just say that the best news the Leafs Nation could get tonight would be that their beloved Blue and White lost to the Canadiens, who have clinched the third overall pick, giving the Habs a solid shot at the number one pick. Prior to the 2011-12 season many pundits had Toronto in the playoffs, while others felt they would be right in the thick of things, finishing anywhere from seventh to tenth in the Eastern

When Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke joined the organization back on November 29th, 2008 he was exactly what Toronto needed—a hard nosed, media savvy, experienced general manager with a Stanley Cup ring and a reputation for building winning teams. Burke’s tenure with the Maple Leafs has been a roller coaster ride thus far. For every success story Burke has built in Toronto one could argue there have been an equal amount of missteps. The acquisition of Phil Kessel still sticks out as Burke’s biggest move, with hockey fans split on whether the move was worth the three draft choices (including two first rounders) Burke gave up to the Boston Bruins. If the acquisition of Kessel was Burke’s biggest move, acquiring Dion Phaneuf would have to be Burke’s second biggest move, but when you factor in the fact that

With yet another disappointing loss in the bank our beloved Toronto Maple Leafs were officially eliminated from the playoffs for the seventh straight season. For Toronto fans, the 3-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night marked the tenth straight loss for the club at Home, which made it 50 days since the Maple Leafs last put together a win on Home ice. Having trouble thinking back that far? It was February sixth the last time the Maple Leafs won at Home. Go back further and you’ll find that the Maple Leafs have not been in a playoff game since May 4th, 2004 …that’s just under eight years ago, which is disgusting! The Maple Leafs looked sluggish and disinterested throughout the contest. In fact, the only bright spot was the play of Jussi Rynnas (who made his NHL debut)

With another disappointing season nearly in the books, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke and his scouting staff are just a few weeks away from finding out where they will draft. Should the Leafs finish where they currently sit in the standings Burke can expect to draft seventh overall. If Toronto falters down the final stretch there is a good possibility that they may fall into a lottery pick slot, which could potentially land Burke the number one overall pick. Luck has never been a friend of the Maple Leafs organization, especially when it comes to the NHL Entry Draft. With that in mind, look for the Maple Leafs to finish just out of a lottery position, which should garner plenty of four letter words from the Leafs Nation. If Burke was lucky enough to land a lottery pick

The Boston Bruins continued their dominance over the Toronto Maple Leafs this season Monday night, punishing the Blue and White to the tune of an 8-0 shellacking. Monday nights win over the Maple Leafs gave Boston a sweep in the six game series, with Chris Kelly netting the game winner at 02:25 of the first period, which gave Kelly four game winners against Toronto this season. Boston emerged from the first period with a 4-0 lead and started off the second period where they left off when Benoit Pouliot scored his 12th goal of the season and second of the game at 02:31 of the second. Boston would earn two power play markers on the night. When everything was said and done the Bruins had outscored the Maple Leafs by a final score of 8-0 on the night and 36-10 in