Leafs GM Brian Burke declined Ron MacLean's request to be interviewed on Hockey Night in Canada. (Canadian Press)

The Tall Boys are on us today.    

This afternoon Hockey Night in Canada kicks off its holiday schedule - which will include three extra broadcasts in December - as we feature the San Jose Sharks in Montreal to face the Canadiens for a 2 p.m. ET matinee.

Thus begins the invasion of the Tall Boys, led by 'Jumbo' Joe Thornton, who's been reunited with six-foot-four-inch Dany Heatley and Patrick Marleau, to re-establish the Sharks' bite. Bob Cole, Garry Galley and Bruce Rainnie report from Bell Centre.  

Scotiabank Hockey Tonight hits the air at 6:30 p.m. ET. I was hoping to have Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke join me to answer question we've been raising on the show, but he declined.
 
I asked if I could give the exact quote he gave me for his decision to opt out. He said no. After giving him my views on the importance of the dialogue, Brian said "Explain it, then. I have no obligation here. Write and say whatever you want." That would be fine, except that saying and writing what we want is the reason Brian's not coming on the show. 

He made it clear he did not like what has been said on our show. I explained a few bits about the balance we've brought, and explained the value of his appearance to our show and his fans. 

Brian quipped, "Methinks, the lady doth protest too much". Got me there. Funny it was on his mind in the hours after his vote of confidence for Ron Wilson.  

Gary Bettman has been in the crosshairs countless times. He always shows up. He goes on the XM radio every week at 6 p.m. ET. I truly admire Gary for doing the shows. It's too many things to get into here, but it reveals a lot about Gary, and that's never lost on me when I'm sitting in the cozy position of appearing to be "giving it to the boss" and earning kudos for something as unworthy as that. 

I realize the corporate style of thought has no use for free speech but not Gary. He tries hard to stay "on message", but in the end you get a lot of the real Bettman. Sometimes, as I find with myself, those moments can be unflattering, but they reflect a simple point we're working toward: your respect.  

• So we'll tee up the two early games, with an eye towards the state of the Leafs as they host the six-foot-nine-inch Zdeno Chara and the Bruins. Jim Hughson, Craig Simpson, Glenn Healy and Elliotte Friedman will be at the ACC. 
• In Ottawa, six-foot-eight-inch Tyler Myers leads the Sabres against the Sens. Dean Brown and Greg Millen will be in the capital.
• On Inside Hockey, Elliotte Friedman has a report with Marc Savard. 
• Peter Pucks tells us about #1 NHL Draft Picks.
• Game two tonight sees Mark Lee, Kevin Weekes (Weekes-side I call him - watch out for that Zamboni!) and Scott Oake cover St. Louis at Edmonton.
• The Blues have five players who are six-foot-four-inches or taller. But they'll have to face the Oilers' kid corps. Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Magnus Paajarvi ripped through Eastern Canada this week and are the talk of the NHL.
• Taylor will be Scott's guest on After Hours.  

Are you up for 12 hours of hockey? 

Tall order. Enjoy! 

Ron