WHAT !

Kevin it's only been 53 years, lots of time left!

I'm not a big hockey guy. I've watched the game a lot over the years since I was a kid, but I don't follow it closely these days (though I did have season's tickets for the last AHL team that played here in my hometown.  My kids and I greatly enjoyed those games.)

But I have always been surprised and disappointed that the Leafs have not been able to pull it together at least once in the last 50 years.

 

I understand that Toronto has a very loyal fan base and the arena is sold out all the time.

I know expansion has created more competition and I expect some of the competition has deep pockets, which are probably significant factors. 

I'm interested to know what you more knowledgeable folks think it will it take to get the Leafs over the line while some of us are still here. 

I agree with with Jerel. If you saw the game last night the winning goal on the Power Play was pretty much automatic. Very few teams can ice that 5 player lineup that they had on the ice for the winning goal.

Coaching is decent senior Management is good with Shanahan  although Tortorella has out coached Keefe at times.  I'd like better goaltending as well. The defense is very poor and on this team #94 and #23 really stick out to me as guys who cost you goals. To me you win with your third and 4th lines so its the cast of supporting players that needs upgrading. When your 4th line centre is a 39 year old veteran, Spezza who I love,  who shows up guys on the second and third line well you get the picture. Here's a guy who literally Said "The seasons' not ending here tonight, this isn't going to be my last NHL game"

Everyone hates Toronto, the other teams even gang up on them and get rules made against them, the "Barb Rule" being the latest and the ruling against them that they can't use pro officials for internal scrimmages are just the latest two. They are hated because they are the Big Dog and everyone is gunning for them. How would you like it to know that every Canadian Kid that comes to  play against you is living his dream and is going to play his best game all year because his family is there, or he's on National TV. On the other hand the annual road trips out West and down south fill the Arenas with fans wearing Leaf jersey and outnumber the home teams. 

Salary caps were put in place to hurt teams like the Leafs, money is no object really here and its one of the top franchises in terms of value. Another intangible which is not even a factor now because its the same atmosphere without fans. When you go to the rink its not that exciting, too many Platinum fans who go to eat and drink and be entertained by corporate buddies. Contrast that to Montreal where the entire city is electric on any game night and the building is just humming. 

I count myself lucky to have seen 4 of those cup wins and I can vividly remember two of them, I witnessed the 1993 robbery and there have been a few teams after that that were good enough. I was raised on Maple Leafs and my Dad would tell me stories about the greats from his era, Kennedy, Sloan, Gardner, Broda and hanging around outside on game night at the old Gardens hoping to get a glimpse of these guys or sneak in off wood Street. I recall one night in the 70's we were in our seasons ticket seats and he says Hey Raymond, "There's Baldy Cotton going in the press box"! That would be like me telling my kid, Hey there'goes Bugsy Watson. You get the idea, Hockey has been a big part of my life and still is. 

 

 

-- Edited by 73SC on Saturday 8th of August 2020 12:48:29 PM

In most years since the last win, the Ballards first priority was the bottom line, not winning. In recent years the owners have shown a commitment to spend money to win, but cant seem to get there. As a lifelong Canadiens fan, while we have won many times since the Leafs won, in most recent years, I see the same issues of bad drafts, not having on and off ice leadership. Both teams seem to be lousy at sourcing new talent in the draft and building from there.

Winning it all takes commitment, smart leadership on and off ice, and a bunch of luck. Hard to get it all working at the same time. But look at the new teams that have won since 1967, on paper many should not have won. I agree, a great goalie is 100% necessary, that is a common theme in all winners.

Ive always enjoyed seeing the Leafs lose but in recent years, I root for them to get over the hump, like the Red Socks and the Cleveland Indians etc.

Not looking good right now! 2-0

73SC wrote:

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Everyone hates Toronto, the other teams even gang up on them and get rules made against them, the "Barb Rule" being the latest and the ruling against them that they can't use pro officials for internal scrimmages are just the latest two. They are hated because they are the Big Dog and everyone is gunning for them. How would you like it to know that every Canadian Kid that comes to  play against you is living his dream and is going to play his best game all year because his family is there, or he's on National TV. On the other hand the annual road trips out West and down south fill the Arenas with fans wearing Leaf jersey and outnumber the home teams. 

This is something the Montreal Canadiens lived with through the 50's, 60's and 70's but still managed to win a few cups. And it continues today except they, as the number 12 seed, won their series.

Too bad, so sad. 

 

 

-- Edited by 73SC on Saturday 8th of August 2020 12:48:29 PM

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-- Edited by norontcan on Sunday 9th of August 2020 10:27:37 PM

I am not a leafs fan-I am a Jets fan-but we are out-so last night was about being a Canadian team-I was disappointed with the game.Feel bad for the city of Toronto-I just don't get how this keeps happening for so so long.