December 15, 2014
The Toronto Maple Leafs do not lack for history, legends, storiesâand chutzpah. In the introduction to the photo-heavy coffee-table book, which it must be noted, is published in partnership with the Toronto Maple Leafs, they lay claim to being "the most popular hockey team on the planet." Fortunately, the rest of the pages aren't filled with such boasts. Instead, Ulmer (If the Cup Could Talk) lays out short biographies on many great Leafs. Setting aside the flaw of trying to place players within a decadeâBobby Baun in the 1950s? Tie Domi wasn't the player in the 2000s that he was in the 1990sâit's hard to argue with the names of players, but what about key figures like superscouts Squib Walker and Bob Davidson, or trainers Tim Daly or Bob Haggert? As a Leafs-sanctioned book, it steers well clear of controversy, and there is little information about players outside of their time in the hallowed blue and white. Curiously, an executive or two is included, with current general manager Dave Nonis oddly out of place when his predecessor Brian Burke is not, but there is little detail of ownership through the years, other than shots at the miserly but colorful Harold Ballard.