'It got ugly'

When it comes to futility, the 1990-91 Leafs are right up there with the worst of them

By Michael Traikos, National PostOctober 24, 2009 1:14 PM


Rock Bottom?

Mark Osborne takes a moment to think about the question. So many lows to choose from, he says. Where to begin?

At the time, it felt like things could not get any worse when the team started the season winless after seven games. But then four games later, head coach Doug Carpenter had been fired. And a few weeks after that, Osborne had been traded to Winnipeg.

Each of those events equally stung, he says. But if Osborne has to choose, the worst part of playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1990-91 was when he had to leave his house to buy groceries or cash a cheque at the bank.

In those days, the 6-foot-2, 205-pounder was a checking forward who never backed down from a fight. But words hurt more than punches ever did. And the fear of having someone say something negative to him outside the rink turned Osborne into a hermit.

http://www.canada.com/sports/ugly/2141700/story.html