Although this is a pretty solid book of anecdotes on the NY Rangers, somehow the GAG (Goal-A-Game) Line gets nary a mention despite a piece each on Jean Ratelle and Rod Gilbert. How could Brian MacFarlane not tell the full story of the third member of that line, Vic Hadfield, and his tossing Bernie Parent's mask into the stands during a playoff game at the Garden. That tale warrants a short mention in the appendix only.

There are a few bad editing errors as Ranger great Ching Johnson is referred to as Ching "Johnston" throughout the book bar the appendix. There is a photo of Ratelle in a game vs. Buffalo but the caption refers to Dale Rolfe's pounding by Flyer Dave Schultz in the '74 playoffs. That same page features a photo of Brad Park but when he was with the B's (Ranger fans should be outraged at that, shouldn't they?). Ditto the photo of goalie Lorne Chabot who is seen wearing a Leaf jersey. Was the publisher prevented from accessing NY papers' or the Rangers' own photo archives so had to rely on other sources?

Overall the book's pretty much like the Rangers' history, a few moments of brilliance in an otherwise memorable run of near misses.

If you're a fan of hockey, from the original six to the 1990s, this is a book to read. Anecdotes abound courtesy of Mr. Mcfarlane, from the night 44 year old coach Lester Patrick stepped in as goaltender during a playoff series in 1928, to the night Eddie Giacomin returned to the Garden in a Red Wing uniform, to Phil Esposito's haphazzard management, to the Cup in 1994...Mr. Mcfarlane's Original Six series is exactly what hockey is about. Only an Islander fan would hate this book, and that's exactly how it should be...For real hockey fans, it's sure to to be enjoyed, and reread several times...

A must read for beginner hockey players and their families. very well rounded to broaden ones understanding of the most skillful game on earth. This book will have you understanding all levels of hockey. You will understand the meaning of referee calls,different types of fouls, arena description and dimensions, proper equipment,NHL stars and legends past and present, and much more too numerous to decribe here. This book will have you "talking hockey" like a pro. Great pictures and illustrations to get a clearer understanding of all aspects of the game in a nutshell. My kids love this book, good reading material.

Far from the thorough history I thought it would be, THE LEAFS is still an outstanding collection of stories that, when pieced together, give you a sense of the Maple Leafs' rich and proud history. Brian McFarlane, the incredibly prolific writer, broadcaster, and hockey historian has collected these stories from newspaper clippings, anecdotes, and his own personal experience with the team. McFarlane does a fantastic job (as he always does) chronicling the Leafs' highs (the Cup dynasties of the 1940s and 60s, the miracle playoff surge of 1959, Sittler's 10 point night), the lows (the Harold Ballard years, the entire 1980s), and the colorful characters that made the Leafs a beloved franchise in Canada and, really, wherever hockey fans are found.

Of course, I do have a couple of complaints. First, as I mentioned before, I was under the impression that this was going to be more of a detailed history of the franchise. Instead, we mostly get the obvious highlights and a few funny side stories. There are just way too many gaps in the Leafs timeline here (even the year-by-year synopsis at the end is painfully thin). It would be nice if someone went back, as McFarlane apparently attempted to do, and wrote a more thorough account of each of the NHL's "Original Six" teams. A few years ago, Dan Diamond put together a beautiful and fascinating book that chronicled this tremendous era in the NHL (called YEARS OF GLORY, I'm sure Amazon offers this book as well), and I believe the individual teams deserve a richer treatment than McFarlane provides here.

Second, as a Leafs fan, I was shocked that McFarlane didn't include one of the absolute greatest and most fascinating stories in Leafs history: the tragedy of Bill Barilko. Barilko, a defenseman for Toronto, scored a diving overtime goal in Game 5 of the 1951 Finals, clinching the Stanley Cup for the Leafs. A few months later, during an offseason fishing trip, the plane Barilko was traveling in disappeared. Leafs owner and GM, Conn Smythe, devestated by the death of one of his favorite players, personally financed a massive search for Barilko and ordered that no Leaf will ever wear his number 5 again. After Barilko's death, the Leafs would not win another Stanley Cup until 1962. A month and a half after that 1962 Cup victory, someone finally found the remains of Bill Barilko. McFarlane briefly mentions his death, but doesn't mention the rest of the remarkable story. However, he does spend a section talking about the death of Terry Sawchuk, the great goalie who spent just three short years with Toronto. Maybe Sawchuk means more NHL fans in general, but the name Barilko means a great deal to any Leafs fan with a sense of history. His story deserved to be included.

Still, it's a book all Leafs fans and fans of NHL history should enjoy a great deal. I am a little puzzled by Amazon's recommended reading level of ages 9-12. Sure, the prose is a little simple, but, if you've read anything by McFarlane, you know he's always like that! So don't let that age range fool you. It's a treat for fans of all ages. Definitely recommended!