Randy Carlyle used to preach about drowning out the white noise.
When it comes to the Maple Leafs, those outside distractions, forever amplified by virtue of being in the so-called centre of the hockey universe, are typically prevalent from the beginning of the season to the end, whether warranted or otherwise.
The white noise may have been muted thus far — these Leafs have quietly opened the season with three losses and a single point with the Blue Jays, meanwhile, busy stealing the October thunder — but a pair of weekend games against one, if not two, former high-profile Leafs should at least bring some hype.