Leafs Seek Western Help

This old illustration from the 1930s depicts a then-growing trend in Toronto: an influx of fresh faces from the west.

Wielding pitchforks and jockeying donkeys above are Nick Metz of Wilcox, Saskatchewan, Andy Blair, of Winnipeg, Manitoba and Buzz Boll, of Fillmore, Saskatchewan.

I post this picture because of a similar trend starting now, nearly 80 years later. Only instead of coming from the Canadian prairies, they are coming from Orange County, California.

If I had any Photoshop skills at all, I would have replaced Mr. Metz, Mr. Blair and Mr. Boll with the faces of Brian Burke, Dave Nonis and Brad May. The three Anaheim Ducks have flown north to Toronto, signifying the start of the latest franchise face lift.

You can expect Brian Burke to bring in quite a few more faces before the start of next season. Many of them could come from out west, where Mr. Burke has worked for the last decade.