Lost in the news of pretty much anything else imaginable today (Nathan Horton to the Bruins, Scott Niedermayer’s retirement, an increase in the salary cap, Pat Quinn’s lack of a head coaching job and an awful Hall of Fame class) was the announcement of the entire 2010-2011 NHL schedule for all 30 franchises.

The Toronto Maple Leafs kick off the season in a style similar to last season, hosting the Habs on October the 7th.  It’s definitely a schedule different than last season’s as the Leafs don’t make anything that remotely resembles a home-stand until they host the Canucks, Predators and Devils from Saturday November the 13th until Thursday November 18th.  And again, that’s barely a home-stand considering that’s only three games.

As for a road trip, there isn’t one that lasts more than two games until a Western-Canadian road-swing that sees the Leafs play the Oilers, Flames and Canucks from December 14th-December 18th.

The Leafs make a bit of a longer road-trip in mid-January when they play the Thrashers, Sharks, Kings and Coyotes over the course of six days.

The Buds next so-called “home-stand” takes place all the way in March, when from the 10th to the 14th the Leafs will host the Lightning, the Sabres and defending Eastern Conference Champs, the Philadelphia Flyers.

The blue and white will close out the regular season against their most hated of rivals, facing off against all other four teams in their division once apiece in their last six games of the season.

The longest break from action will be five full days without hockey as the Leafs play the Atlanta Thrashers at the ACC on December the 20th and don’t pick up again until boxing day in New Jersey.

Games of Note:

Montreal Canadiens at Toronto Maple Leafs – Thursday October 7th, 2010

The Buds kick off their 2010-2011 campaign on home ice against their most hated rivals.  Carey Price will be in net for the Habs and Lars Eller will go head-to-head against the fabled Tyler Bozak.  Yep, it’s got classic written all over it.

Ottawa Senators at Toronto Maple Leafs – Saturday October 9th, 2010

Colton Orr and Matt Carkner will undoubtedly duel it out in the pre-season, but if the team’s pre-season record doesn’t matter then why should the result of the fight?  The Battle of Orr-err, Ontario, makes it’s 2010-2011 season debut on the first glimpse of hockey on Saturday since game one of the Stanley Cup Finals.  The Leafs have won four straight against the Sens and Orr is one win away from clinching the series against Ottawa’s triple-OT hero.  This one should be killer.

Toronto Maple Leafs at Philadelphia Flyers – Saturday October 23rd, 2010

The Maple Leafs play the defending Eastern Conference Champs in their own barn for the first time of the new season.  Potentially the NHL’s two toughest teams going head to head here, so look forward to seeing some gritty action.

Toronto Maple Leafs at Boston Bruins – Thursday October 28, 2010

Phil Kessel continues his push to finally score against the Bruins as the Leafs play the Beantown Bears for the first time of the season.  Expect whoever is covering the game to make a big deal over could’ve-been-Leafs Tyler Seguin and Nathan Horton.

Buffalo Sabres at Toronto Maple Leafs – Saturday November 6th, 2010

Not only is it the first time the Leafs play the Sabres this season, but it’s the annual Hall of Fame game that this year will honor such legends as Dino Ciccarelli and allegedly nobody else.

Edmonton Oilers at Toronto Maple Leafs – Thursday December 2nd, 2010

Barring Steve Tambellini’s deeper venture into all-star retardation, Taylor Hall will play his first game in Toronto and apparently Pat Quinn won’t be there to see it.

Toronto Maple Leafs at Calgary Flames – Thursday December 16th, 2010

In case you can’t put two and two together, the Maple Leafs’ captain Dion Phaneuf, as well as Fredrik Sjostrom and maybe even Keith Aulie will return to Calgary for the first time since the big trade went down on January 31st, 2010.  Matt Stajan, Niklas Hagman and Ian White will play their old team, the blue and white, for the first time since the trade as well.

Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senators – Saturday January 1st, 2011

The Leafs grind it out in the battle of Ontario for their first game of 2011.  Starts six hours after the puck-drop of the NHL’s other marquee event, the Crosby vs. Ovechkin Classic.

St. Louis Blues at Toronto Maple Leafs – Thursday January 6th, 2011

Just because Client Jaroslaugh HAHAHalak left the conference doesn’t mean he doesn’t exist.

Calgary Flames at Toronto Maple Leafs – Saturday January 15th, 2011

This time it’s #1 center Matt Stajan’s turn to make the long flight home to the team that drafted him.  Expect Mikka Kiprusoff to continue to have the Buds number.

Anaheim Ducks at Toronto Maple Leafs – Thursday January 20th, 2011

Jason Blake makes his much-anticipated return to the Air Canada Center and J.S. Giguere faces off against the team he won a Stanley Cup with.  Jonas Gustavsson also got his first ever NHL win against these guys but it’s hard to imagine Jiggy doesn’t get the start.  Also, Brian Burke will laugh at the Ducks blueline.

Montreal Canadiens at Toronto Maple Leafs – Saturday April 9th, 2011

The Leafs conclude their regular season but hopefully not their season all-together as they cap off the NHL’s most legendary rivalry at home.

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