2024

25 days until 2024.

Conor Timmins #25 is a fairly new face on the Leafs. Timmins had a great pre-season and seemed poised to make a big contribution this year, but the injury bug stopped him in his tracks. Injuries are something that Timmins is all too familiar with.  After missing the first couple months of the season, he’s back and playing a critical role on a d-core that’s been short handed all season.  Timmins is a resilient player who hasn’t let injuries derail his NHL career.  Each time he’s been hurt, he’s come back ready to play and contribute any way he can. 

How resilient are you?  When you have a setback do you dust yourself off and get right back on the horse? 

As the new year approaches, it gives each of us a chance to reset and come back stronger and more determined to do the things we want to do, to live the life we want to live. 

Recently I’ve been diving deep into the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, with a couple coaching colleagues of mine.  This time through the book I was really struck by Covey’s assertion in habit 1, “You are the creator.” Let that sink in for a minute or two.  “You are the creator.”

What do you want to create in 2024?

22 days until 2024.

Jake McCabe #22 brings a physicality to the Leafs back end that they desperately need. McCabe is a hard hitting, aggressive, offensive-minded defenceman. His level of compete is a model for how the team should play, particularly in the playoffs. At times his aggressiveness can be costly, either by taking penalties or by getting out of position, but it’s a small price to pay for getting the team motivated and competing at a high level. In other words, the risk is worth the reward. Just last night, McCabe had some big hits that got the crowd into the game and was certainly a factor in the Leafs 4-0 win over the Predators.

What kinds of risks are you willing to take? What kinds of rewards would you need to make the risk-reward equation work for you?

In 2024 I’m ramping up my tolerance for risk. Not only am I going to be jumping in the pool, I’m going to be yelling “Cannonball” and making big waves. 2024 will be my best year yet.

How about you? What have you got in mind for 2024?

16 days until 2024.

Mitch Marner #16 is one of the most creative and fun to watch players in the league. On Thursday he scored on a ridiculous between the legs move as part of the Leafs’ third period come back versus the Blue Jackets. Throughout his entire career, Marner has proved that his smaller size was more than compensated for by his creativity and heart. Recently, Marner took a puck to the face and in the next game, wearing a full-face shield he scored a hat-trick. If I had to describe Marner in one word, that word would be FUN.

As I look forward to 2024 that’s the same word I want more of in my life. I want more fun. How about you?

Well, fun doesn’t just happen. Well, sometimes it does, but if you want more fun in your life, you can create it. You can plan for it. You can enter each day with the intention of having fun. As strange as it may sound, even making these posts with hockey players representing the days left in 2023 has been lots of fun for me. For the last 10 days of 2023 I’ll be posting the top 10 Leafs of all time. Now, that will be fun.

Are you ready to make 2024 your best year yet?

11 days until 2024.

Max Domi #11 is beginning to find his old form as the season progresses.  Having Domi on the Leafs is like having an old family friend visit.  As the son of former Leaf tough guy Tie Domi, Max has been welcomed with open arms and with great anticipation.  Unlike his father, Max is expected to contribute to the team with great passing, solid defense, and timely scoring.  The true test and contribution for Domi will come once the team makes the playoffs.  That’s where his experience, tenacity and compete will benefit the team the most. 

When I think of Domi, it makes me think, “Tell me you’re a hockey player without telling me you’re a hockey player.”  Domi’s toothless grin is a dead giveaway. 😊

Are you following in your father’s footsteps or are you blazing your own path through life.  Either way it’s important to own what you’re doing, particularly if you want to play an active role in creating the life you want. 

10 days until 2024.

I’ve been counting down the days until 2024 using jersey numbers of some of my favorite players, but now that we’re 10 days away, I’m shifting gears and using a top 10 Maple Leafs list.  Starting with the great Dave Keon.

The Toronto St. Michael’s product was a Maple Leaf from 1960-75. He stands third all-time in franchise scoring with 858 points. He led the team in scoring once in the expansion era (1969-70).

The native of Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec won the Calder Trophy, Lady Byng and Conn Smythe. He may have won them all before 1967, but he still belongs on this list. Keon was Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1986.

With 2024 right around the corner, now is a good time to think about what type of year you want it to be.  For me, I plan on making it my best year yet.  I invite you to do the same.

9 days until 2024.

I’m counting down the last days of the year with the top 10 Maple Leafs of all time.

Lanny McDonald was drafted fourth overall by the Maple Leafs in the 1973 Draft. He paired up with captain Darryl Sittler to become a dynamic duo from 1973-80.

The native of Hanna, Alberta tied Sittler for the team lead in scoring in 1976-77 with 46 goals and 44 assists for 90 points. His most memorable moment as a Leaf came in 1978. Tha’s when he scored the overtime goal in Game 7 to eliminate the heavily-favoured New York Islanders. The Islanders would go on to win four straight Stanley Cup titles after that upset.

The Medicine Hat Tigers graduate would go on to win a Stanley Cup with his boyhood team, the Calgary Flames. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011.

If you want to get a kickstart to making 2024 your best year yet, you can use my questionnaire and worksheet.

8 days until 2024.

Rick Vaive was drafted fifth overall by the Vancouver Canucks in 1979. He got traded to the Maple Leafs in his first NHL season. With fan favourite Dave ‘Tiger’ Williams going the other way in the deal, the pressure was on from Day 1.

Nicknamed Squid due to his Charlottetown, PEI roots, Vaive wore the blue and white from 1979-87. He led the team in scoring three times to become the fastest player to reach 500 career points with the team at the time (495 games).

Vaive also became the first player in franchise history to score 50 goals in 1981-82. He followed that up with two more 50-goal campaigns.

It’s Christmas eve today. If you could ask Santa for just one thing that would make 2024 the kind of year you want it to be, what would you ask for? 

Although its fun imagining what Santa could bring you, it’s far more effective to realize that you don’t need anything from Santa. You’ve already got everything you need to make 2024 your best year yet.

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7 days until 2024. Merry Christmas!

Doug Gilmour made a big splash in Toronto when he was acquired from the Calgary Flames in a 10-player deal in 1991.

The Kingston native was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the seventh round of the 1982 Draft. Then, he was traded to the Flames and won a Stanley Cup in 1989. However, his personal bests were all set with the Maple Leafs from 1991-97. Gilmour led the team in scoring twice over that time.

The Cornwall Royals product won the Selke Trophy in 1992-93 and was named captain in 1994. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011 and his #93 has been retired by the team.

Gilmour was affectionately nicknamed “Killer” as a reflection of his tenacity and physical style of play despite his small stature. 

What would happen if you borrowed a little of Gilmour’s killer instinct and applied it to 2024?  What would be possible for you?  Would 2024 be your best year yet?

6 days until 2024. Happy Boxing Day!

I’m counting down the remaining days of 2023 with the top 10 Leafs.

Mitch Marner was drafted fourth overall by the Maple Leafs in 2015 and has led the team in scoring three times already.

The product of the London Knights set a franchise record this season, recording a point in 23 consecutive games. Then, he became the second fastest player in franchise history to collect his 500th point, reaching the milestone in just 467 games.

Playing Robin to Auston Matthews’ Batman, the Markham, Ontario native is a key member of a team with Stanley Cup aspirations.

It’s boxing today which means many people are out in the stores looking for the things they wanted but didn’t get for Christmas, or they’re out looking for deals. I think of the new year as kind of a macro boxing day for the year that’s just ended.  It’s an opportunity to get the things you wanted but didn’t get. 

If I could wave a magic wand and you could have all the things you wanted in 2023 but didn’t get, how would you know the wand had worked?  What would you see? What would you hear? What would you feel? What would you know, that would let you know the magic wand had worked? 

5 days until 2024.

I’m counting down the remaining days of 2023 with the top 10 Leafs. We’re into the top 5 now.

Wendel Clark was the heart and soul of the franchise during his first of three tenures with the team from 1985-94. He never led the team in scoring but he was the straw that stirred the drink for many years.

The Kelvington, Saskatchewan native was drafted first overall by the Maple Leafs in 1985. He started out playing defence for the Saskatoon Blades before moving up to forward for his NHL career.

Clark was traded to the Quebec Nordiques in 1994 in a huge deal that included Mats Sundin coming to Toronto. He returned to the team from 1995-98 and then again in 1999-2000. He racked up almost 1,700 minutes in penalties for his career. Clark was tough as nails and equally capable of hitting and fighting as he was at scoring goals.

This lull between Christmas and New Years is a great time to slow down and reflect on the past year. If you look back over the year it can be helpful to reflect on: 1) What can you celebrate?  The bar doesn’t have to be high to be worthy of celebrating.  2) What lessons did you learn or what insights did you have that you can carry forward with you?

4 days until 2024.

I’m counting down the remaining days of 2023 with the top 10 Leafs.

Auston Matthews is the rising star of the franchise and is quickly becoming known as one of the leagues all-time great goal scorers.

The Arizona native was drafted first overall by the Maple Leafs in 2016. Matthews has led the team in scoring three times. This season, he became the fastest player in franchise history to reach 500 points, taking just 445 games to do so.

The product of the United States Development Program played one season with Zurich of the Swiss League before joining the Leafs. Two seasons ago (2021-2022), he became the first Maple Leafs player to score 60 goals enroute to winning the Rocket Richard and Hart Trophies as well as the Ted Lindsay Award. He has also won the Calder Trophy (2016-17) and Rocket Richard Trophy (2020-2021).

Imagine having an award-winning year in 2024. Being at the top of your game and accomplishing or surpassing your goals. What would that get you that you otherwise wouldn’t have?  Can you imagine it?  I encourage you to imagine it in as much vivid detail as possible. What would you see, hear, feel and know?

3 days until 2024.

Bӧrje Salming was a trailblazer, signing with the Maple Leafs in 1973 and becoming the first Swedish-born superstar in the NHL. If not for all-time greats Bobby Orr, Denis Potvin and Larry Robinson, he would have won numerous Norris Trophies as the league’s best defenceman.

The smooth-skating defenceman was a Maple Leaf from 1973-89 and currently sits fourth in franchise scoring with 768 points. Few players had a greater impact on the city of Toronto. He received a lengthy standing ovation as a member of Team Sweden during the 1976 Canada Cup at Maple Leaf Gardens.

The native of Kiruna, Sweden was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996. Also, his number 21 sweater has been retired. Sadly, he passed away in November 2022 at the age of 71.

I just started watching a documentary about Salming’s life called Bӧrje. At the start of the film there’s a flashback to a conversation with his mother that went something like this:

Mother: How do you feel when you play hockey?

Bӧrje: I feel alive.

Mother: Then go. Go and be alive.

When do you feel alive? What would happen if you spent more time in 2024 doing that? What happens when you spend more time in the feeling of being alive? What happens when you follow your passion as Bӧrje did?

2 days until 2024.

Darryl Sittler was drafted eighth overall by the Maple Leafs in 1970 and was named captain of the team in 1975. The Kitchener, Ontario native led the team in scoring eight times during his tenure from 1970-82. He currently stands second in scoring (916 points) in the long history of the franchise.

The graduate of the London Knights still holds the NHL record for points in one game, scoring 10 points against the Boston Bruins in 1976. Another career highlight was scoring the series-clinching goal for Team Canada against Czechoslovakia in the 1976 Canada Cup.

Sittler, who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1989, shares his retired jersey #27 with Frank Mahovlich.

In November 2022, the Leafs did a pregame ceremony honoring Bӧrje Salming. This was just a couple weeks before Salming’s passing. One of the things I remember most about that ceremony was the raw emotion among the crowd but in particular the emotion displayed by Darryl Sittler.  He and Salming were teammates and lifelong friends.  It’s friendships like this that inspire me to work on my own relationships with my friends.  When I was working through my 2024 Best Year Yet worksheet, I had several realizations about the “friend” part of my life.  This is an area I want to improve and put more focus on.  One way I’m doing that is inviting friends to PWHL games in 2024.  I bought season tickets which give me the perfect opportunity to spend time with friends doing something I love, watching hockey. 

What part of your life do you want to focus on in 2024?  Is it career oriented or personal?  Or maybe a little of both.  The great thing is that you don’t have to choose.  You can work on career, relationships, personal health and wellbeing, all at the same time. If you want to go through the same planning and exploring process I went through, you can get access to mu questionnaire and worksheet on my site. (see comments)

Last day of 2023!

Mats Sundin #13 was not a homegrown talent but he did go on to become the franchise leader in points with 987. The big Swede was the first European-born player to be drafted first overall when the Quebec Nordiques selected him at the 1989 Draft. He was acquired by the Maple Leafs in 1994 in a blockbuster trade that saw fan favourite Wendel Clark head to Quebec. He would don the blue and white from 1994 to 2008 and lead the team in scoring 11 times over that stretch. Named captain in 1997, he tied Rick Vaive as the fastest player to reach 500 points, accomplishing the feat in 495 games. Sundin was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012 and his #13 hangs in the rafters at Scotiabank Arena. He’s a solid choice to be first in the best Toronto Maple Leafs players since 1967.

Mats is well known for his leadership on and off the ice.  During the Leafs 2023 trip to Sweden, Mats was around the team, dropped a ceremonial puck and in every interview with current players they talked about what a role model Mats is.  It’s this kind of legacy that I think about when I think about the type of person and the type of leader I want to be.  How about you?  Do you have a vision for the type of person you want to be?  Have you made plans for 2024 to bring that vision to life?  If not, that where my 2024 Best Year Yet can be helpful.