Not a great week of preseason action for the Maple Leafs: only one win in four games but hey, it’s all about development right? We will tell you if there was any of development noticeable as we cover the four games on the docket, as well as update you on a multitude of injuries in the year’s first edition of the Revolving Door.

Concluding the Redline Report, we discuss the start of the NHL regular season in Europe, the ludicrous notion of Roberto Luongo as Canucks’ Captain, problems on the Penguins’ blueline, the status of the netminding in Chicago, the comeback attempt of Jeff O’Neill, another trade from Anaheim and an injury to Chris Chelios.

On The Bubble features Listener Email this week from Stuart, Andre and Aaron, a look back at the St. Michael’s Buzzers last week of action in the Junior Hockey Report, and a Troubling Fact of the Week. Rigamarole wraps the program with a look at how trading their first round draft pick in 2009 could have been a good thing for the Maple Leafs last week.

Be sure to check out a video report of the Buzzers vs Spirit game Friday October 3rd on the Hightlight Video page at www.centraldivisionhockey.com.

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The Maple Leafs kicked off a busy week of preseason action with four games: two each against the Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins. We’ll take you through all the action of those four contests as well as some of the stories that have developed as Maple Leafs’ camp wears on. To conclude the Redline Report, Quick Hits discusses a rather amicable separation between the Anaheim Ducks and Mathieu Schneider, a new job for John Muckler, and why golf has now likely been added to a list of extreme sports that NHL clubs would rather their players not participate in.

On The Bubble brings you more Listener Email, this week’s Junior Hockey Report in which we examine the St. Michael’s Buzzers inability to close the deal after good starts in two games this past week and an appearance from the Gong Banger in the Troubling Fact of the Week.

Finally, in rigamarole, after hearing numerous seats went unused at the Coca Cola Fans First Game, we take a shot at those who let their tickets go to waste.

Become an AFITC Insider by joining A Foot In The Crease Fans on Facebook. Send along listener email to afootinthecrease@gmail.com. Also, be sure to check out the brand new, spectacular website for OHA Central Division hockey.

At long last, we hit the eve of the return of NHL action as training camps across the league are officially underway with Maple Leaf preseason competition set to begin on Monday. Leaf Notes in the Redline Report bring you the news from the first weekend of workouts at Leaf camp including thoughts from Ron Wilson, Luke Schenn’s chances of cracking the roster, the battle for spots on defense and a Wellwood who was invited to training camp.

In Quick Hits, we feature news on the participation of NHL players at international tournaments in future years, Mathieu Schneider’s status with the Anaheim Ducks, new contracts with the Sabres for Jason Pominville and General Manager Darcy Regier and the return of JFJ to the NHL. On The Bubble is jam packed this week with the Junior Hockey Report that includes live coverage from the Governors’ Showcase Weekend in the OPJHL, Listener Email, and a Troubling Fact of the Week.

With still no sign of Mats Sundin, in rigmarole, we examine who the logical choice to become the next captain of the Maple Leafs.

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Nine weeks off and in that time, much has transpired in the world of hockey. We’ll kick off the show with the conclusion to the Bryan McCabe saga as well as the latest on Mats Sundin. Also in the Redline Report, we will touch on a depth signing on defense for the Maple Leafs, new honours for Wendel Clark and Doug Gilmour, Cliff Fletcher’s season outlook and new additions to the coaching staff.

Quick Hits brings you the biggest news from around the league: this week featuring Eric Staal resigning with the Hurricanes, and Joe Sakic and Chris Chelios deciding to continue their NHL careers. In On The Bubble, we feature the first installment of the Junior Hockey Report discussing the new Central Division within the OPJHL and the return of the Gong Banger in the Troubling Fact of the Week.

Rigamarole wraps up the inaugural episode of Season 4 explaining why despite all the doom and gloom, there is still much to be interested in about the Maple Leafs this season.

Become an AFITC Insider by joining A Foot In The Crease Fans on Facebook. Send along listener email to afootinthecrease@gmail.com.

At long last, the highly anticipated, glitz and glamour, red-carpet conclusion to Season Three of AFITC is upon you with the second of its kind, “Year End Awards Special.” Throughout the show, we take a look back at the year that was on the program while handing out awards in the following categories: Email Of The Year, Emailer Of The Year, Moonlighter Of The Year, Irreverent Moment Of The Year, Whipping Boy Of The Year, AFITC Leaf Player Of The Year, Rigamarole Of The Year, Guest Of The Year and Songs Of The Year.

Congratulations to all of the award winners (no doubt the crowning jewel in their particular careers) and thanks to all of our listeners who took the time to cast their votes in a variety of categories over the last few months.

As mentioned at the end of the program, Season Four of AFITC will begin on September 14th, 2008, a week later than normal as NHL training camps open a week later than usual as well. Again thanks to all of our listeners for their support this season in helping us make Season Three the best yet! So from us to you, a summertime treat, enjoy the Year End Awards Special for Season Three of AFITC!

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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.

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 week’s 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 – Jeff Finger, Niklas Hagman, Curtis Joseph - and trading for another – Mikhail Grabovski. We’ll 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. We’ll 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 Banger’s 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 Sundin’s 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 D’Agostino, 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 Niedermayer’s 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 “Guest List” 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. We’ll tell you who is now property of the Maple Leafs, touch on another Leafs trade – 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 week’s guest.

Boston Bruins’ 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 “Guest List” 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 D’Agostino, 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 D’Agostino, 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 coach’s 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 “The Hockey Theme.” 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 today’s 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 “Guest List” 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. We’ll tell you which team it is and also touch on the fate of Canada’s 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 week’s 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 week’s proceedings with a look at how a team, but perhaps not the one you may think of, from this year’s 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.