A Foot In The Crease

After forty four straight weeks, Episode 3.44 brings to a close Season Three of AFITC. Before we pack it in for the summer though, this weekâs program is jam packed with all of the player movement including trades and signings that have taken place in the last week. The Maple Leafs were busy signing a trio of players â Jeff Finger, Niklas Hagman, Curtis Joseph - and trading for another â Mikhail Grabovski. Weâll tell you whether these were good deals and what roles these players will take on come next season to kick off the Redline Report. After a year of holding his tongue, Oilers GM Kevin Lowe finally let his opinions of Brian Burke be known. Weâll tell you exactly what he said as we begin Quick Hits, followed by news on all the notable trades and signings of the past week. On The Bubble, as always, features Listener Email, and the Gong Bangerâs final appearance of the season in the Troubling Fact of the Week. To conclude the segment, the host of Off The Record on TSN, Michael Landsberg joins us as we get his take on the Maple Leafs moves, Mats Sundinâs future, salary inflation and much more. Finally, rigamarole wraps the show by explaining why it really is not all about the money for Mats Sundin. The second edition of the AFITC Year End Awards will be released in early August. As a result, the polls will remain open accepting votes in the following categories until the end of July: Whipping Boy of the Year, AFITC Leaf Player of the Year, Email of the Year, Emailer of the Year, Rigamarole of the Year and Guest of the Year! Check back on our site early in August for the awards show! As we reach the end of our third season there are numerous people that we must thank for their contributions and support of our show. First of all, each of our guests who have taken time over the past year for our show has helped immensely in furthering its credibility. Thanks go out most sincerely to Dr. Pat Graham, Damien Cox, Shredder, Russell and StooLi from Sens Underground, two-time guest Paul Hendrick, four-time guest James Duthie, John Iaboni, four-time guest Michael Landsberg, Corey Landsberg, Louie Caporusso, Wade Belak, John Scrymgeour, three-time guest Bob McKenzie, three-time guest Andy Frost, three-time guest Jennifer Hedger, Nick DâAgostino, Brandon Burlon, Justin Hodgman, two-time guest Matt Stajan, and Matt Marquardt, all of whom appeared this season on AFITC. Secondly, thanks to everyone who took the time to correspond with us throughout the season on the program. Whether it is a comment about the show, an opinion on a team, player, coach, or manager or just somebody wanting to talk hockey, hearing from our listeners is what makes doing the show worthwhile for us! Thanks to all of you! Finally, we cannot express enough how fortunate our show has been to have such incredible support through each of its three years of existence and especially this season as the new levels of listener interest it has received has been staggering. We do not say this often enough but today we will: without each and every one of our listeners, there would be no show! The show is for you and we could not appreciate your support more than we do! Become an AFITC Insider by joining A Foot In The Crease Fans on Facebook. Feel free to continue sending listener email along throughout the summer to afootinthecrease@gmail.com. We will respond to each one we get and feature as many as possible on Episode 4.1 of AFITC to be released during the second week of September.

Ahead on Episode 3.43, the penultimate edition for Season Three of AFITC, we bring you up to date on a variety of Maple Leaf roster moves made in advance of the kick off to free agency on July 1st. GM Cliff Fletcher continues to live up to what he said back in January about significant changes before next season. We will tell you who is gone and who can still expect to call themselves a Maple Leaf come September. Quick Hits features lots of news regarding the Tampa Bay Lightning, news from Anaheim including Scott Niedermayerâs decision for next year and a departure from the Ducks, a new contract for Jeff Carter, a trio of signings in Calgary and San Jose, a pair in Colorado and two departures from Ottawa. On The Bubble features Listener Email and the return of the Gong Banger in the Troubling Fact of the Week. Rigamarole concludes the show by cautioning the Maple Leafs as to why it would be a good idea to tread carefully once the free agency market opens for business. As we approach the end of Season Three of the show with the final episode to be released on July 6th, we would like to get your input for the AFITC Year End Awards in the following categories: Whipping Boy of the Year, AFITC Leaf Player of the Year, Email of the Year, Emailer of the Year, Rigamarole of the Year and Guest of the Year! Refer to the âGuest Listâ to the right of this page for links to each program on which a guest appeared and to www.daveintoronto.blogspot.com for written transcripts of each edition of rigamarole. Send your votes along for each category to afootinthecrease@gmail.com and we will announce the winners near the end of our season. Become an AFITC Insider by joining A Foot In The Crease Fans on Facebook. Send along listener email to afootinthecrease@gmail.com.

Ahead on Episode 3.42 of AFITC, we bring you all the news from the 2008 NHL Entry Draft and boy was there ever a lot to discuss including the Maple Leafs making a splash by moving up to 5th overall. Weâll tell you who is now property of the Maple Leafs, touch on another Leafs trade â the acquisition of Jamal Mayers, the status of Mats Sundin and the hiring of Al Coates as Director of Player Personnel. Later in the Redline Report, Quick Hits brings you news on major trades involving Alex Tanguay, Olli Jokinen and Mike Cammalleri to go down at the Entry Draft, two signings in Nashville and one from Ottawa, who will guide the Thrashers behind the bench next season, and where the much sought after Dave Nonis is headed. On The Bubble kicks off with Listener Email from Stuart, Mark, Will, Alan and Aaron and concludes with this weekâs guest. Boston Bruinsâ prospect Matt Marquardt joins us to discuss his path to the NHL, his last year of junior hockey with the Moncton Wildcats and the Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the QMJHL and much more. Rigamarole concludes the show by explaining why this year is the year of the defenseman in the NHL. As we approach the end of Season Three of the show with the final episode to be released on July 6th, we would like to get your input for the AFITC Year End Awards in the following categories: Whipping Boy of the Year, AFITC Leaf Player of the Year, Email of the Year, Emailer of the Year, Rigamarole of the Year and Guest of the Year! Refer to the âGuest Listâ to the right of this page for links to each program on which a guest appeared and to www.daveintoronto.blogspot.com for written transcripts of each edition of rigamarole. Send your votes along for each category to afootinthecrease@gmail.com and we will announce the winners near the end of our season. Congratulations go out to Brandon Burlon and Nick DâAgostino, both of whom were selected at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Burlon, who appeared on Episode 3.38 of AFITC, was taken 53rd overall by the New Jersey Devils and DâAgostino, who joined us on Episode 3.37 of the program, was selected 210th overall by the Stanley Cup finalist Pittsburgh Penguins. All of us at AFITC wish to congratulate them on these outstanding accomplishments! Become an AFITC Insider by joining A Foot In The Crease Fans on Facebook. Send along listener email to afootinthecrease@gmail.com.

Episode 3.41 of AFITC comes to you after a busy week in the NHL as teams begin the retooling process for next season. Starting off in Leaf Land, a new head coach was announced in advance of more front office moves planned by now permanent GM Cliff Fletcher. Also we bring back the Revolving Door to highlight a legacy member who is, once again, back in this dubious injury club. Later in the Redline Report, we discuss the NHL award winners and who took home the hardware from the Awards Gala last Thursday. Quick Hits features news on the retirement of three more prominent veterans, contract signings by the Habs and Hurricanes, a coachâs contract extension, new head coaches for the Sharks, Panthers and Senators, a new head coaching vacancy, an update on the injury status of Tomas Holmstrom and a new home for âThe Hockey Theme.â On The Bubble brings you listener email and an appearance by the host of the NHL on TSN, James Duthie! Finally rigamarole looks at which player is becoming the most marketable asset for the NHL during a time of positive transition and interest growth in the United States. Special thanks to James Duthie for joining us on todayâs show! Always such a pleasure to talk to, James, as usual, was a great guest on the program! As we approach the end of Season Three of the show with the final episode to be released on July 6th, we would like to get your input for the AFITC Year End Awards in the following categories: Whipping Boy of the Year, AFITC Leaf Player of the Year, Email of the Year, Emailer of the Year, Rigamarole of the Year and Guest of the Year! Refer to the âGuest Listâ to the right of this page for links to each program on which a guest appeared and to www.daveintoronto.blogspot.com for written transcripts of each edition of rigamarole. Send your votes along for each category to afootinthecrease@gmail.com and we will announce the winners near the end of our season. Become an AFITC Insider by joining A Foot In The Crease Fans on Facebook. Send along listener email to afootinthecrease@gmail.com.

Episode 3.40 of the program brings you all the news from the final week of action in the NHL. We wrap up games five and six of the Stanley Cup Final, tell you how Detroit won and what Pittsburgh needed to do differently. Beginning the Redline Report though, we start with news of who the next Maple Leaf Head Coach is likely to be as well as touching on a depth signing from the Finnish Elite League. Quick Hits wraps the Redline Report with news on a couple of retirements, a signing in Carolina, a coach getting the axe, and a minor trade. Also during this segment, all those rumors about Brian Burke becoming the GM of a new team were true. Weâll tell you which team it is and also touch on the fate of Canadaâs second national anthem: the Hockey Night In Canada theme song. On the Bubble features more listener email, a Troubling Fact of the Week and this weekâs guest. We are pleased to welcome #14 Matt Stajan of the Toronto Maple Leafs back to the program as he makes his return to AFITC during On The Bubble. Rigamarole, as always, will wrap up this weekâs proceedings with a look at how a team, but perhaps not the one you may think of, from this yearâs Stanley Cup Finals could be champions for years to come. Big thanks to Matt Stajan for taking time for us this past week to make his second appearance on AFITC. What a treat to get him on the program! Become an AFITC Insider by joining A Foot In The Crease Fans on Facebook. Send along listener email to afootinthecrease@gmail.com.

The Detroit Red Wings took a big step this past week toward securing their eleventh Stanley Cup by building a three games to one series lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins. We will tell you how they did it and what Pittsburgh did not do well enough in our Stanley Cup Report. To kick start the Redline Report though, lots of Leaf News to discuss including a meeting between Cliff Fletcher and Mats Sundin, Fletcherâs status as GM heading forward, decisions on free agents and interest in former Leaf head coach Paul Maurice. Quick Hits wraps the Redline Report with the terrible news of the loss of Canucks prospect Luc Bourdon. Also in the segment, we touch on a trade involving the Bruins and Blue Jackets, a new contract for Starsâ defenseman Trevor Daley, and a front office hiring by the St. Louis Blues. On The Bubble features, as always, listener email. To conclude the segment, we welcome this weekâs guest, #88 Justin Hodgman from the IHLâs Fort Wayne Komets, to the program. Finally, rigamarole wraps the show with a look at how Mats Sundinâs legacy in Toronto will depend entirely on the next major decision he makes: what to do about next season. Special thanks to Justin Hodgman for joining us this week on Episode 3.39 of AFITC! Check out Justinâs IHL championship winning goal in triple overtime. Next week on Episode 3.40, #14 Matt Stajan of the Toronto Maple Leafs joins us. Be sure to listen to next weekâs program! Become an AFITC Insider by joining A Foot In The Crease Fans on Facebook. Send along listener email to afootinthecrease@gmail.com.

Did anyone else almost forget the NHL season was not in fact over? I nearly did! At long last, the Stanley Cup Final is underway and of course we are all over it here on Episode 3.38 of AFITC. Will Detroitâs experience be too much for the Penguins to handle? Will Pittsburgh be able to learn the ropes in the Finals quick enough to get back on track? We answer all those questions and more coming up in the Redline Report. Before that though, we start the show with news on John Pohl and the Toronto Marlies playoff run in the Leaf Notes portion of the show. Quick Hits concludes the Redline Report with news on Jeremy Roenick, Alain Vigneault, Tony Granato, the coaching and GM situation in Dallas and this yearâs deadline for Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne. On The Bubble brings you more listener email, a Troubling Fact of the Week, and at the end of the segment, we welcome this weekâs guest to the program. Joining us this week is St. Michaelâs Buzzers defenseman #6 Brandon Burlon. Brandon is ranked 41st among North American skaters for the upcoming NHL Entry Draft and we will talk to him about what got him to this position, what he expects heading toward the draft and look ahead to next year when he will skate with the University of Michigan Wolverines. And finally, rigamarole tells you which team the Pittsburgh Penguins resembled in game one of the Stanley Cup Finals. Thanks go out to Brandon Burlon for joining us on AFITC this past week! We wish him all the best as he goes into the NHL Entry Draft at the end of June. Become an AFITC Insider by joining A Foot In The Crease Fans on Facebook and check out the new Quotes section developed recently. Send along listener email to afootinthecrease@gmail.com.

The march of the Penguins has led Pittsburgh to the Stanley Cup Finals where they await either the Detroit Red Wings. We will get you caught up on all the happenings regarding the Stanley Cup playoffs in the Redline Report. Before that, we open with Leaf Notes featuring news on the search for a new general manager, Mark Bell, Kyle Wellwood, Tomas Kaberle and Anton Stralman, along with the Toronto Marlies and their continuing quest for the Calder Cup. Quick Hits brings the Redline Report to a close as we take our final look at Team Canada at the World Hockey Championships, and touch on news regarding Ron Wilson, Martin Erat, Chuck Kobasew and Jacques Martin. On The Bubble follows with Listener Email and this weekâs guest: St. Michaelâs Buzzers defenseman #8 Nick DâAgostino. Heâll join us at the end of On The Bubble. Rigamarole wraps the show with a look at why the Pittsburgh Penguins have been so dominant thus far in the playoffs and surprisingly, it is not because of Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin. Big thanks to Nick DâAgostino for joining us on the program this week! We wish him all the best heading toward the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Next week on Episode 3.38, we will welcome Nickâs teammate from this past season with the St. Michaelâs Buzzers, #6 Brandon Burlon. In the final NHL Central Scouting Rankings, Brandon was ranked 41st among North American skaters. Among the topics we will discuss next week on the program are what it took to get to this position and what lies ahead including next season where he will be a member of the University of Michigan Wolverines and what he expects as the 2008 NHL Entry Draft draws near. Become an AFITC Insider by joining A Foot In The Crease Fans on Facebook and check out the new Quotes section developed recently. Send along listener email to afootinthecrease@gmail.com.

Just when it seemed like things were finally starting to cool off in Leaf Land, news picks back up to regain midseason form. After two years behind the bench, head coach Paul Maurice was fired this past week. Was this the right move? How does this affect the bigger picture of Maple Leafs management? We touch on all of that in the Redline Report. Also last week, the Maple Leafs signed a draft pick. Weâll tell you who and where heâs playing now along with updating the Marlies playoff run. The NHL Playoff Recap follows Leaf Notes as we wrap up the second round and set the Conference Finals match ups including their progress thus far. Quick Hits wraps the Redline Report with news on Team Canada at the Worlds, Wade Belak, Fabian Brunnstrom, Joel Quenneville and Olaf Kolzig. In On The Bubble, we announce the nominees for the Bill Masterton Trophy and the Jack Adams Award, feature Listener Email and welcome the Gong Banger in for another Troubling Fact of the Week. And finally to wrap the show in rigamarole, we look at whether or not the Brian Burke to Toronto scenario really is as dead as it seemed two weeks ago. Become an AFITC Insider by joining A Foot In The Crease Fans on Facebook and check out the new Quotes section developed recently. Send along listener email to afootinthecrease@gmail.com.

Ahead on Episode 3.35 of AFITC, Mats Sundin is no longer a free agent, at least not of the social kind. With Sundin engaged to be married, will that affect his playing future? We speculate on that, finally reveal the International Man of Mystery and take you through the continuing progress of the Toronto Marlies in the AHL playoffs to begin the Redline Report. Later, NHL playoff coverage and news on Team Canadaâs first game at the World Hockey Championships will wrap the segment. In On The Bubble, we announce the nominees and our picks for the Frank J. Selke trophy and feature more Listener Email. Concluding the segment, we are pleased to welcome TSN Sportscentre anchor Jennifer Hedger back to our program. Fresh off her trip to Afghanistan, we talk to her about the conditions she saw, what this trip meant to her, what hockey means for Canadian Troops as well as some NHL playoff talk. Rigamarole wraps the show as it always does, this week with a look at which team Fabian Brunnstrom should sign with. Special thanks to Jennifer Hedger for appearing on our program this week. What a treat it was for us to hear about such a remarkable experience! Become an AFITC Insider by joining A Foot In The Crease Fans on Facebook and check out the new Quotes section developed recently. Send along listener email to afootinthecrease@gmail.com.

Episode 3.34 of AFITC brings you big news regarding the next Maple Leafs general manager, well alright; we tell who it wonât be. As well, Cliff Fletcher thinks he knows which way Mats Sundin is leaning. Weâll let you know which way that is as well as getting you up to date with the progress of the Toronto Marlies playoff run. Also in the Redline Report, we conclude our coverage of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, set the second round and let you know the happenings in that round thus far. To conclude the Redline Report, Quick Hits feature news on the new GM of the Canucks, Bruce Boudreau, Barry Trotz, Scott Niedermayer and Team Canada at the World Championships. In On The Bubble, we reveal the nominees for the Vezina, Norris and Calder Trophies along with our picks to walk away with the hardware. Also, weâll quickly touch on the final NHL Central Scouting Service rankings released this week and of course feature more Listener Email. Rigamarole concludes the show and explains how the Brian Burke speculation got right out of hand last week. Become an AFITC Insider by joining A Foot In The Crease Fans on Facebook and check out the new âQuotesâ section developed this week. Send along listener email to afootinthecrease@gmail.com.

Episode 3.33 of AFITC hits the air today with the NHL well into the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Some surprises, some upsets, some teams cruising right on through. Weâll go in depth once again on all that has transpired thus far in the Redline Report. To kick off the segment though, we discuss more news on the Maple Leafs including potential buyouts, the Leafsâ draft position and the progress of the Toronto Marlies in the AHL playoffs. Quick Hits wrap the Redline Report with big news out of the front office in Vancouver, along with the future of Ray Emery, the status of Jacques Martin, a new deal for Sergei Samsonov and the possibility of moving to an eighty four game schedule. On The Bubble follows with Listener Email featuring several quality emails touching on a variety of topics. At the end of the segment, Andy Frost â the public address announcer for the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre and host of Psychedelic Psunday on Q107 among his various other responsibilities â makes his return to AFITC to offer his thoughts on the Maple Leafs and the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Rigamarole concludes the show with a look at why their could be so much on the line in game seven of the Montreal Boston for Carey Price, apart from just winning the series. Big thanks to Andy Frost for taking time to join us on this weekâs program! Become an AFITC Insider by joining A Foot In The Crease Fans on Facebook. Send along listener email to afootinthecrease@gmail.com.

The Maple Leafs have been watching for over a week now but that doesnât mean there isnât anything to talk about. We get you caught up on lots of news regarding the Maple Leafs to kick start the Redline Report. Then itâs onto the playoffs as we take a look at the progress of each of the eight first round match ups including in depth looks at those involving Canadian teams. Quick Hits bring the Redline Report to a close with news on Team Canada for the upcoming World Championships, the Edmonton Oilers, Jacques Martin, and Patrice Bergeron. In On the Bubble, we bring you more listener email and a playoff edition of the Troubling Fact of the Week. To conclude the show, rigamarole looks at why the Ottawa Senators are experiencing so much trouble in the playoffs and who is partly responsible for it. All that and lots more on the first playoff edition of the program for season three. Become an AFITC Insider by joining A Foot In The Crease Fans on Facebook. Send along listener email to afootinthecrease@gmail.com.

The Maple Leafs bowed out with a curtain call this week of three more meaningless games: a shootout loss to Buffalo followed up with two more losses against rivals Ottawa and Montreal. We cover those games, hand out the final AFITC Player of the Week award for season three and talk about changes in the Redline Reportâ who must go, who should stay, the biggest surprise, the biggest disappointment, is Paul Maurice still the man to coach this team, among other things â all questions that must be answered for next season. Quick Hits feature news on the Senators and Habs injuries, Vincent Lecavalier and Ken Hitchcock. In On The Bubble, we hear more final thoughts on the Maple Leafs season with Listener Email and deliver another Troubling Fact of the Week. Rigamarole wraps the show with a look at the great story that is the Washington Capitals. Become an AFITC Insider by joining A Foot In The Crease Fans on Facebook. Send along listener email to afootinthecrease@gmail.com.

In the words of the immortal Led Zeppelin, âClose the door. Turn out the lights. No they wonât be home tonight,â or rather this spring as in no playoff hockey at the ACC for a third consecutive season. Two losses last week in keys games against the Bruins sealed that fate. We explain what went wrong in the games with the season on the line and touch on the first meaningless game: a win Saturday over Montreal. Later in the Redline Report, we hand out the AFITC Player of the Week Award, touch on the again murky future of Mats Sundin in a Maple Leaf uniform and tell you who Cliff Fletcher signed this week. To conclude the Redline Report, we touch on news regarding Pat Quinn and the injury statuses of the Canadiens, Bruins and Canucks. On the Bubble brings listener email from Stuart, Alan and Aaron along with another Troubling Fact of the Week. Rigamarole wraps the show looking at one playoff dream that died and another one that still lives after last week. Become an AFITC Insider by joining A Foot In The Crease Fans on Facebook. Send along listener email to afootinthecrease@gmail.com. Check out the article about AFITC in the Ryersonian newspaper. Finally, after hearing the premiere of the three latest tunes by The Printing Press on each of the last three shows, be sure to visit the website to download your own copy of each of the songs.

A perfect week with wins against the Islanders, Sabres and Senators has left the Leafs four points out of the playoffs with six games left but with four teams to pass in the process. Weâll break down each of those games, hand out the legendary AFITC player of the week award to one of the several nominees this week, spin through a crowded Revolving Door and once again, address the chance the Leafs have at the playoffs in the Redline Report. Busy in the front office too this week as Cliff Fletcher signed a goalie. Weâll tell you who and what plans are in store for him going forward. Quick Hits wraps the segment with news on Rick Dipietro, Tim Connolly and Kurtis Foster. On The Bubble brings you some more outstanding Listener Email and a Troubling Fact of the Week. Rigamarole this week explains why it is so hard to see the Leafs miss the playoffs the way they have each of the past two seasons. We said last week nine wins in the last nine games would be necessary. Well three down, six to go. Become an AFITC Insider by joining A Foot In The Crease Fans on Facebook. Send along listener email to afootinthecrease@gmail.com. Check out the article about AFITC in the Ryersonian newspaper.

Two wins for the Maple Leafs against Philadelphia this week likely will not be good enough in their quest for the playoffs after losing to Buffalo on Saturday night. Episode 3.28 of AFITC covers those three games, hands out a Player of the Week Award, as well as taking a dizzyingly long spin through the Revolving Door, touching on the absence of three keys players. Quick Hits wraps the Redline Report with news on Sidney Crosby, and suspensions to Steve Ott, James Wisniewski, Georges Laraque, Andrew Peters and Chris Pronger. On The Bubble brings more listener email and a Troubling Fact of the Week. Rigamarole wraps the show, this week with a look at whether the hill to the post season is too steep for the Maple Leafs to climb. Become an AFITC Insider by joining A Foot In The Crease Fans on Facebook. Send along listener email to afootinthecrease@gmail.com.

Episode 3.27 of AFITC hits the air following two disappointing defeats at the hands of the New Jersey Devils. Now eight points back of eighth place Philadelphia, we cover in depth the two games the Leafs played against the Devils and the one against the Bruins while examining the chances the Maple Leafs still have at the post season. To conclude the Leaf block of the Redline Report, we award another Player of the Week Award and touch on news regarding Jason Blake. The Redline Report wraps up with Quick Hits featuring Sidney Crosby, Corey Perry, Chad Kilger and Alexander Ovechkin. In On The Bubble we bring you more Listener Email, this week from Cathy, Chris, Stuart and Aaron along with the triumphant return of the Gong Banger and the Troubling Fact of the Week. Finally, rigamarole concludes the show with a look at why the Maple Leafs must continue to try to win games down the stretch. Become an AFITC Insider by joining A Foot In The Crease Fans on Facebook. Send along listener email to afootinthecrease@gmail.com.

Episode 3.26 of AFITC â the trade deadline wrap up show â comes your way on the heels of a busy week of player movement in the NHL. Some big deals, some minor deals, even some Maple Leaf deals were made this week. We get you caught up on everything you need to know about what happened before the NHL Trade Deadline throughout the show in the Redline Report and in On The Bubble with the help of NHL on TSN Insider Bob McKenzie. On the Maple Leafs front, a four game road trip yielded an impressive seven points keeping the Maple Leafs in the hunt for the playoffs. Weâll review the games against Ottawa, Florida, Tampa Bay and Washington in the Redline Report along with naming the recipient of the heavily coveted AFITC player of the week award. Quick Hits conclude the Redline Report with notes on Ethan Moreau, Darren McCarty, Barret Jackman, Dan Boyle, Mike Comrie, Brad Richards, Peter Forsberg, Adam Foote and Brian Campbell. Listener email will be included in On The Bubble along with an interview with Bob McKenzie. Finally, rigamarole looks at why the Ottawa Senators are starting to resemble the Canadian government. Big thanks to Bob McKenzie for joining us on the show this week during one of his busiest weeks of the year! Become an AFITC Insider by joining A Foot In The Crease Fans on Facebook. Send along listener email to afootinthecrease@gmail.com.

As the trade deadline approaches on Tuesday February 26th, we approach Episode 3.25 of AFITC wondering when all the action is going to start. Still no moves to speak of but that doesnât mean we donât have lots to discuss on this weekâs program. We cover the three games the Maple Leafs played this past week against Columbus, Buffalo and Atlanta; hand out a Player of the Week Award; touch on news regarding Alex Steen and Mats Sundin; spin through the Revolving Door with injury updates on Deveraux and Ponikarovsky and wrap the Redline Report with Quick Hits. On The Bubble brings plenty of listener email this week. Later in the segment, Lake Superior State University forward John Scrymgeour joins us to discuss his season thus far with the Lakers. Finally, rigamarole explains why everybody should just get off Mats Sundinâs back. Special thanks to John for appearing on our program this week! It was a pleasure having him on the show! Become an AFITC Insider by joining A Foot In The Crease Fans on Facebook. Send along listener email to afootinthecrease@gmail.com.

Episode 3.24 of AFITC hits the air after yet another confusing week in the land of the Maple Leafs: one win in three games but the two losses were both one goal games. Nevertheless four important points were passed up in a very tight Eastern Conference. We discuss those games and hand out another Player of the Week award in the Redline Report. To wrap the Maple Leaf portion, we touch on two significant quotes: one from Matt Stajan and one from an unnamed NHL executive. We conclude the Redline Report by discussing Richard Zednik and his terrifying injury along with news on Rod BrindâAmour, Sheldon Souray, Hendrik Lundqvist and the first trade of note before the deadline. Listener email follows in On The Bubble. Later in the segment, #3 Wade Belak of the Toronto Maple Leafs joins us to discuss what to expect from the Maple Leafs over the last quarter of the season, the importance of toughness, and the possibility of wearing a neck guard among many other topics. Big thanks to Wade for taking time out of his day to come on the program! Rigamarole wraps the show and looks at why so few transactions have been consummated thus far. Become an AFITC Insider by joining A Foot In The Crease Fans on Facebook. Send along listener email to afootinthecrease@gmail.com.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me! Just when you think the Maple Leafs might still have playoff aspirations after an impressive win against Ottawa a week ago Saturday, an egg of all world proportions is laid at home against Florida on Tuesday followed up by impressive victories over Montreal and Detroit, yes Detroit! What do you make of a week like this? We try to come up with some sort of explanation in the Redline Report. News regarding Andy Wozniewski, the Player of the Week Award and updates on injured Leafs Alexei Ponikarovsky and Darryl Boyce wrap the Maple Leaf portion of the Redline Report. Quick Hits conclude the segment with news on Steve Yzerman, Shawn Horcoff, the Montreal goaltending situation, Dion Phaneuf and John Ferguson Jr. On The Bubble brings more listener email and an interview with the Ottawa Senators 3rd round pick in 2007, Louie Caporusso: a former St. Michaelâs Buzzer and current star forward with the University of Michigan Wolverines. Rigamarole concludes the show with a look back at CBCâs annual Hockey Day in Canada. We conclude the program with another major guest announcement during Parting Shots. If you are a fan of the Maple Leafs and a fan of good, solid physical play, you will not want to miss next weekâs guest. Find out who in Parting Shots or become an AFITC Insider by joining A Foot In The Crease Fans on Facebook. Big thanks to Louie Caporusso for taking time to join us on the program! We discussed his career with the St. Michaelâs Buzzers, his transition to the NCAA with the University of Michigan Wolverines, and his selection by the Ottawa Senators in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft among various other things! Send along listener email to afootinthecrease@gmail.com

Episode 3.22 of AFITC brings you news of a Maple Leaf victory over the Heatley and Alfredsson-less Ottawa Senators. Defeats earlier in the week though, at the hands of St. Louis and Carolina make this victory merely a sweet consolation prize for a season going nowhere. More injuries continue to pile up and we sort through all of them in the Revolving Door after handing out a Player of the Week award. The Redline Report concludes with Quick Hits regarding Teemu Selanne, Peter Forsberg, Jordin Tootoo, JP Dumont and perhaps the first of many trades to come in advance of NHL Trade Deadline Day. In On The Bubble, we bring you more Listener Email and the Gong Banger checks back in for work with another Troubling Fact of the Week. Finally in rigmarole, we take a look at the finest prospects the Maple Leafs have to boast. On next weekâs program, Episode 3.23, we will be joined by Louie Caporusso (3rd round selection, 90th overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft) who is currently playing for the University of Michigan Wolverines. Currently in the midst of a fine debut season in the NCAA, Louie will join us to discuss his days as a member of the St. Michaelâs Buzzers, his transition to NCAA hockey, how it felt to hear his name called by the Ottawa Senators last June and much more! Do not miss Louie Caporusso on Episode 3.23 of AFITC! Become an AFITC Insider by joining A Foot In The Crease Fans on Facebook. Send along listener email to afootinthecrease@gmail.com.

The worst kept secret in Toronto sports was made public this week when the Maple Leafs fired John Ferguson Jr and hired Cliff Fletcher to be the general manager in an interim basis. Was this the right move? Will it make a difference? What else has to be done? Later in the show we welcome Michael Landsberg, the host of âOff The Recordâ on TSN, back to our program to help us answer these questions at the end of On The Bubble. Before that though, in the Redline Report, we cover the games the Maple Leafs played this past week against New Jersey, and Washington. Three new members joined the Revolving Door club, all with the similar injuries. We tell you whoâs on the shelf and conclude with Quick Hits featuring Ilja Bryzgalov and where the 2008-2009 NHL season will begin. Finally in rigamarole, we tell you why the word rebuilding doesnât have to be as dirty as itâs made out to be in Toronto. Big thanks to Michael Landsberg for joining us on this weekâs edition of AFITC! Become an AFITC Insider by joining A Foot In The Crease Fans on Facebook. Send along listener email to afootinthecrease@gmail.com. For post game articles and analysis, check out daveintoronto.blogspot.com.

Episode 3.20 of AFITC hits the air today after get this, a perfect week for the Maple Leafs. Shockingly, the Maple Leafs managed three wins in three games against Carolina, Boston and Buffalo to keep them within striking distance of the final playoff spot in the East. Updates on Bryan McCabe, Carlo Colaiacovo and Mark Bell follow in the Redline Report along with more rumors of John Fergusonâs dismissal. Weâll tell you who the newest candidate is to fill a potential vacancy in the Leaf front office. Quick Hits concludes the Redline Report featuring news on Curtis Joseph, Peter Forsberg, Michael Nylander and Sidney Crosby. In On The Bubble, we bring you more listener email, this week from Mark, Alan and Aaron. Also a Troubling Fact of the Week and an email to the gong banger follows at the end of the segment. And in Rigamarole, we tell you if the Maple Leafs have done enough to turn their fortunes around or if significant changes still need to be made. Stick around and find out when episode 3.20 of AFITC starts now! Become an AFITC Insider by joining A Foot In The Crease Fans on Facebook. Send along listener email to afootinthecrease@gmail.com. For post game articles and analysis, check out daveintoronto.blogspot.com.

Ahead on this weekâs show, we bring you news of an utterly discouraging Maple Leafs road trip. Anybody who has any hope left for this season ought to give their head a shake because the Maple Leafs will not be making the playoffs this year. Three convincing defeats at the hands of Anaheim, Los Angeles, and San Jose sealed their fate this season. Off the ice, the Maple Leafs claimed a forward off waivers and had their all star representative named. Weâll tell you who they were as well as finally connecting the dots in the Scotty Bowman saga. To conclude the Redline Report, we examine Alex Ovechkinâs mammoth contract and touch on stories regarding Dany Heatley, Raffi Torres, Mike Ribeiro, Sergei Samsonov, Chris Osgood and Roberto Luongo. In On The Bubble, we highlight Brandon Burlon of the St. Michaelâs Buzzers who was slotted fifty seventh overall on the mid-season rankings for North American skaters released this week by NHL Central Scouting. More listener email comes your way as well along with a Troubling Fact of the Week again courtesy of the Philadelphia Flyers. In rigmarole, we shed some light on the underlying irony at this yearâs all star game in Atlanta. What should the Maple Leafs do to turn this ship around? Stick around and weâll tell you coming up on Episode 3.19 of AFITC. Become an AFITC Insider by joining A Foot In The Crease Fans on Facebook. Send along listener email to afootinthecrease@gmail.com. For post game articles and analysis, check out daveintoronto.blogspot.com.

UPDATE: We apologize for a technical issue surrounding this episode. If you downloaded this before 5PM Monday January 7th, the last 27 minutes or so of the file are silence. Please try downloading again! Thanks go to listener Dave Fellows for pointing this out to us. Sorry for any inconvenience! Episode 3.18 of AFITC struggles to bring any good news from Leafs Nation this past week. One shootout win against Tampa Bay was overshadowed by two convincing defeats at the hands of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia along with more injuries beginning to pile up. We have all the details on the three games the Leafs played as well as an update on the current membership in the Revolving Door Club. Great ratings for the NHLâs Winter Classic in Buffalo on New Yearâs Day. We will look at the viewership of this game, discuss the possibilities of the Leafs holding a similar game and find out what it was like in Buffalo at Ralph Wilson stadium from Corey Landsberg who was in attendance at the game. On The Bubble features more listener email from Mark, Andre, Will, Alan, and Aaron along with a discussion on the success of Team Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship. Rigamarole looks at why the Maple Leafs are a different team in front of Vesa Toskala then compared with the other men who have tended goal for them this season. Big thanks to Corey Landsberg for coming on the show to give us a first hand account of what it was like at the Winter Classic in Buffalo on New Yearâs Day! Become an AFITC Insider by joining A Foot In The Crease Fans on Facebook. Send along listener email to afootinthecrease@gmail.com. For post game articles and analysis, check out daveintoronto.blogspot.com.

Episode 3.18 of AFITC struggles to bring any good news from Leafs Nation this past week. One shootout win against Tampa Bay was overshadowed by two convincing defeats at the hands of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia along with more injuries beginning to pile up. We have all the details on the three games the Leafs played as well as an update on the current membership in the Revolving Door Club. Great ratings for the NHLâs Winter Classic in Buffalo on New Yearâs Day. We will look at the viewership of this game, discuss the possibilities of the Leafs holding a similar game and find out what it was like in Buffalo at Ralph Wilson stadium from Corey Landsberg who was in attendance at the game. On The Bubble features more listener email from Mark, Andre, Will, Alan, and Aaron along with a discussion on the success of Team Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship. Rigamarole looks at why the Maple Leafs are a different team in front of Vesa Toskala then compared with the other men who have tended goal for them this season. Big thanks to Corey Landsberg for coming on the show to give us a first hand account of what it was like at the Winter Classic in Buffalo on New Yearâs Day! Become an AFITC Insider by joining A Foot In The Crease Fans on Facebook. Send along listener email to afootinthecrease@gmail.com. For post game articles and analysis, check out daveintoronto.blogspot.com.

Episode 3.17 comes your way today on the final day of 2007. We look back at the past week in Maple Leaf action that saw them pick up only one of a possible six points in games against the Islanders, Flyers and Rangers. Updates on injured Leafs Vesa Toskala and Bryan McCabe follow in the Revolving Door. Also, we tell you why Anton Stralman is now in this dubious club. To conclude the Redline Report, we touch on the Ray Emery soap opera in Ottawa and Quick Hits featuring Marc Denis, Sergei Samsonov, Alex Ovechkin and Chris Osgood. On the Bubble brings you more listener email and the Troubling Fact of the Week along with a look at the progress of Team Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship. And in rigamarole this week, we examine exactly what has to happen to prompt a significant shake up in the front office of the Maple Leafs. Become an AFITC Insider by joining A Foot In The Crease Fans on Facebook. Send along listener email to afootinthecrease@gmail.com. For post game articles and analysis, check out daveintoronto.blogspot.com.

Apologies for the technical difficulties experienced with this episode. If you downloaded the episode earlier today you will have only received a file a minute and some seconds in length. This new posting of this weeks episode should be the full version. Episode 3.16 of AFITC â The Holiday Edition â arrives today with news on the continuing progress of the Maple Leafsâ road trip. Games against the Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers this week yielded one win, one loss and one overtime loss. We tell you all about those games as well as filling you in on the status of Carlo Colaiacovo and his possible return to the lineup. Later in the Redline Report, we hand out the AFITC Player of the Week award and check in with news on two suspensions handed out this past week to Chris Simon and Craig Adams. In On The Bubble, we feature listener emails from Mark, Alan and Aaron and look at how improved play of late for the Maple Leafs still manages to make the Troubling Fact of the Week segment. Rigamarole wraps the show with a look ahead to what the Maple Leafs must do over the final two games of their road trip. Best of the season and Happy Holidays to all our great listeners who continue to offer the show tremendous support! Become an AFITC Insider by joining A Foot In The Crease Fans on Facebook. Send along listener email to afootinthecrease@gmail.com. For post game articles and analysis, check out daveintoronto.blogspot.com.