The plague of Toronto sports

If you're a Canadian sports fan, or just a sports fan in general, you've likely seen a trend over the last few years. It has to do with professional sports teams from Toronto.

How are fans still putting up with the mis-management, frequent collapse, exodus of top players, and losing seasons? There is something to be said as a fan for dedication to your team, but there is a point where the fans move from dedicated to dumb. Just take a look at the six Toronto teams:

+ Toronto Raptors have never won an NBA championshop, haven't made the playoffs in two years, and haven't won a playoff series in the last decade.
+ Toronto Maple Leafs haven't won an NHL championship since 1967 and haven't made the playoffs since 2003-2004.
+ Toronto Blue Jays have not made the playoffs since they won the World Series title in 1993.
+ Toronto Rock lacrosse team have failed to make the playoffs the last two season and haven't won a series since they were league champions in 2005.
+ Toronto FC has yet to qualify for the playoffs since entering the MLS in 2007.
+ Toronto Argonauts, this may sound like a broken record, but no playoff appearances in the last two seasons.

The losing history of Toronto sports teams in the last two seasons is incredible. Due to this lack of success, top professional free agents have avoided Toronto like the plague. The ultimate goal for most professional athletes is to win a championship, and if recent history serves, that is not an option in Toronto.

If it were only one team struggling, the source would be easy to trace, but the widespread failure of Toronto teams is incredible. Why are they losing, collectively? I would tend to blame poor management.

The Leafs selling off draft picks for overrated players, the Raptors inability to keep star players happy or to surround them with legitimate support, and I won't even begin with the Blue Jays.

Kudos to the dedicated fans, even if you are disillusioned. With six professional teams in the city of Toronto, you would have to predict one will make the playoffs in the next year...or two. Maybe.

Five people the NHL could do without

As the end of the NHL season arrives, hockey analysts are examining the future for non-playoff teams and making picks for the Stanley Cup playoffs. With the end of the season upon us however, I'm thinking of something else. I'm thinking about 5 people the NHL could do without. In no particular order, here they are:

1. Chris Chelios: The fact that Chelios made it back to the NHL at age 48 is less of a testiment to his ability, than it is to the sad state of the Atlanta Thrashers blueline. Chelios has no business playing in the National Hockey League let alone the American League. If you had the opportunity to watch any Thrashers game that featured Chelios, you'd know that he caused more damage, and directly caused more goals against, than he did good for the team.

2. Pierre McGuire: For the love of all that is good in the world, Pierre McGuire needs to go. Listening to his moronic analysis (if you can even call it analysis) of plays makes me want to throw myself out a window. Seriously, look at the Facebook groups, read about the drinking games, search his name on Twitter; Pierre McGuire is undoubtedly the most hated and least respected announcer in the history of hockey.

3. Brian Burke: Now I know this will never happen, not with all the brain washed idiots in Toronto that actually think the Phil Kessel trade was a smart idea. Tyler Seguin or Taylor Hall, a 2nd round pick, and another 1st round pick for Kessel? Ridiculous. And how about that "Monster" Jonas Gusttavsson? Monster is right. Gustavsson finished 36th out of 44 goalies in both Save Percentage and Goals Against Average. In the most talked about hockey city on the planet, Burke is the most overrated GM on the planet.

4. Gary Bettman: If you've ever read my blog, you should have seen this one coming. I firmly believe Bettman has done more damage to the National Hockey League over the last decade than anyone. Bettman's crowning jewel of the last year has been the Phoenix Coyotes. Until Bettman can figure out that protecting his image is less important than protecting the players and teams of the NHL, this league will struggle. It's time for Bettman's dictatorship to end and for a breath of fresh air to rejuvenate the NHL.

5. Matt Cooke: It was the year of the head shot, and no one has dominated the press for dirty hits over the past few seasons more than Matt Cooke. Is he a decent hockey player? Definitely. Could the NHL do without him? Definitely. Big, open ice hits, even one's involving the head, are a key component of the NHL. Blindside hits or knee on knee hits aren't, and these dangerous plays are a specialty of Cooke.

I know my list is a little lopsided and I know none of them will likely be leaving the NHL anytime soon, but these are five men the NHL could do without.

NHL Trade Deadline is looming

Now that the Olympics are over, it is time for NHL teams to get into stretch drive mode and make some final roster moves.

With big names such as Ilya Kovalchuk and Dion Phaneuf moving already, it's hard to imagine there will be many blockbuster deals at the NHL Trade Deadline. Of course there is always a surprise or two, but who is really left?

The biggest potential, and I am loosely using the term 'potential' deal, could come out of Montreal. The Canadiens could face losing either Carey Price or Jaroslav Halak in the very near future for nothing if they don't make a move soon.

I would have to predict that if the Montreal Canadiens move either goaltender, it will be Halak. Halak is having a strong season and had a great Olympic Games while playing for Slovakia. His value is likely as high right now as it will ever be.

The Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators, and Carolina Hurricanes are also all likely deadline players. The Oilers will be looking to flush out several players including Ethan Moreau and Tom Gilbert.

Another, more high profile, name that is being tossed around right now is Nashville's Dan Hamhuis. Apparently the Philadelphia Flyers are very interested in Hamhuis, but if history serves itself, it usually is not the first team rumoured to be in the game that wins. Another factor is, with the injury to Ray Emery, the Flyers might need to spend their extra cap space to acquire a legitimate playoff goaltender. Tomas Vokoun anyone?

Other names frequenting the phone lines include Ray Whitney of the Carolina Hurricanes and Alexei Ponikarovsky of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Either way, I'm sure the next 24-hours will be filled with several interesting trades. Lots of draft picks and cap space maneuvers will happen for sure, but we'll have to watch and wait for the off chance of another blockbuster move.

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Has the NHL trade deadline come early?

Leafs fans were rejoicing as Brian Burke unloaded some serious dead weight in return for Dion Phaneuf and JS Gigeure. The Calgary Flames dealt with the Toronto Maple Leafs and also pulled off a blockbuster deal with the New York Rangers which included Olli Jokinen and Chris Higgins.

Now, NHL sources are reporting Ilya Kovalchuk is only minutes, hours, or at most days from being traded by the Atlanta Thrashers.

So what gives? Has the NHL trade deadline come early? Why aren't NHL teams waiting until the end of the month to start making deals?

First, there are only 5 points separating 13th and 6th place in the Eastern Conference. The playoff race in the West is just as tight. With an Olympic break thrown into the mix and the first major deals already done, it's time for teams to start making their move if they want to stay in the playoff mix.

Teams in the hunt for a playoff rental player, or a long term salary fix, must move now that teams are dealing, because once a team has made a major deal, the options for others start to diminish.

The Olympic break has to be factored into this early dealing as well. The Atlanta Thrashers have no guarantee that Ilya Kovalchuk won't be injured playing major minutes for Team Russia at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games and therefore, want to deal him before the Games. Many of the leagues top stars who are approaching free agency or who have struggled this season are on the block and could potentially be dealt before the Olympics begin.

The potential for injury, and the fact that the playoff race is happening now, not two months from now, is extremely hard to deny for teams needing help. Watch for trades in the next 24 hours including Ilya Kovalchuk, Michael Ryder, and yes, more from the Toronto Maple Leafs. As well, watch for a major unload from the Edmonton Oilers and Carolina Hurricanes.

Let the games begin.

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Toronto Maple Leafs trade for Dion Phaneuf

Well, talk about a shake up, the Toronto Maple Leafs have traded for Dion Phaneuf from the Calgary Flames. Other Sources are now reporting the Leafs have traded Vesa Toskala to the Anaheim Ducks for JS Giguere.

Brian Burke has added another peice to his puzzle of rough and tumble players, although at what expense? Phaneuf, who two years ago was considered an absolute lock for the Canadian Olympic team, has been struggling imensely for the Calgary Flames lately.

Giguere, a former Conn Symthe and Stanley Cup winner has struggled immensely this year and could use a change of scenery, especially after the Ducks resigned goalie Jonas Hiller for 4 years.

Personally, I think the trades will work out fine, but it will not push any team involved over the edge. This move will just spark Maple Leaf fans into again thinking they have a contending team when the reality couldn't be more incorrect.

Brian Burke really needs to find a way to trade himself and Ron Wilson. Then again, who would take them?

The Leafs traded two of their top 3 scorers, Matt Stajan and Niclas Hagman, as well as Ian White and Jamal Mayers for Phaneuf. In return, they got Phaneuf, Fredrik Sjostrom, and prospect defenseman Keith Aulie.

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