What about those Leafs?

C

Canadian Speed

563
In all of sports, there have always been great rivalries, and hockey is no exception. However in hockey, there is one team that has the infamous title of most hated sports team, as named by SI last year; and they are known as the Toronto Maple Leafs. This title is not small accomplishment seeing as how they’ve beaten out teams such as Manchester United and even the New York Yankees. The question is why? Why doe people feel so strongly against this team. What’s even more surprising is the loyalty of the fans they DO have. Their fans are arguably the most optimistic and proud sports fans there are, at least in the hockey world. So again, I ask you, how and why do you feel the way you do about the Leafs. And what’s more, what would it take for them to change your opinion of them?
 
I’ll get us started off… I’m neither for nor against this team, but I’ve heard some of the major arguments and will bring them up in a “versus” style. Feel free to add or ignore either of them, as these are just to get the ball running. Please try to keep it nice and easy… nothing personal.

FOR: The Leafs have consistently made the playoffs for many years and gone to the second round. They’ve always been fairly consistent and play a rough style of hockey most hockey fans like to watch. They’ve also amassed 12 cups in all of their years, a better then average record.

AGAINST: The Leafs have consistently over achieved in the first round only to fall short in the second, removing other teams from the playoffs, most usually another Canadian team. It’s also been 37 years since the last time they won the cup and the league only had six teams. Of the original 6 teams they’re the only ones not to have won the cup.

FOR: The Leafs games have always been on, so most people have grown up watching them with their dads and uncles since they were kids. It’s only natural to keep cheering for them now. They also always seem to make the playoffs year after year.

AGAINST: The Leafs get too much coverage for there production which tends to take away from smaller market Canadian teams. Some say they’re potentially responsible for smaller market teams, such as the Winnipeg Jets, folding due to lack of support. It’s also annoying how announcers always seem to cheer for them and how Harry Neil nearly always cries when they get eliminated for the playoffs.

So there you have some things to ponder, please feel free to add your comments regarding this topic.
 
I don't feel strongly for or against the Maple Leafs. Their fans are passionate, but not annoyingly so, and their front office is not run by Satan. (By contrast, the New York Yankees are, and that's why I'd say that they're the most hated team in the United States in any sport.) I do think the Maple Leafs get too much media coverage (how many HNIC games don't have the Maple Leafs in one game or the other?), but seeing as how they're in Canada's largest market, that's not surprising. There are some good rivalries with the Leafs, namely the Senators and Canadiens (though Ottawa has destroyed Toronto this year). Those games are fun to watch.

I view hockey rivalries as fun. I wore a Flames jersey to GM place a few years ago for a Calgary/Vancouver game, and nobody was even remotely rude to me.

This is not true in baseball, basketball, and football, where fans of opposing teams are often very hostile towards each other. Wear a Red Sox jersey to Yankee stadium, and you'll likely end up doused in beer, and have several death threats levelled at you by the end of the game. Fans in the U.S. sometimes take rivalries to the extremes, and that is not fun. Someone was shot and killed in the parking lot of Dodger Stadium after a Giants/Dodgers game last year. That's more like a gang war than a sports rivalry. I don't see this kind of crap in hockey, so even if the Maple Leafs are the most hated team, it doesn't evoke the raw, pure hatred that exists in other sports.
 
I wish I could find the link to the article that was talking about the Leafs in SI. It was quite good... And it stated "in professional sports" meaming world wide. They also went on to say just the opposite about Leafs fans. It goes on to say that Leafs fans "expect" their team to win it every season... And that the organisation held a ticker tape parade (cup included) when they moved buildings a few years back... Those two things might lead people to believe that the team, it's managment and fans are all bit too cocky for some. I personaly think that the only reason the Leafs haven't won the cup is because Jesus dosen't want to world to end, just look at what heppened when the Blue Jays won the World Series or even what took place when the Montreal Canadians won (and I personaly think there are more guns in Toronto then in Montreal). I realise that this sounds super "against" the Leafs, again, I'm not realy against them, they aren't my team, but my two friends are bitter rivals, one for and one against, so I've heard all of the arguments... Good post though... Keep em coming guys...
 
Canadian Speed
They also went on to say just the opposite about Leafs fans. It goes on to say that Leafs fans "expect" their team to win it every season... And that the organisation held a ticker tape parade (cup included) when they moved buildings a few years back... Those two things might lead people to believe that the team, it's managment and fans are all bit too cocky for some.
Click to expand...
Leaf fans are quiet little choir-boys compared to Yankees fans. Maybe that's why they seem tame to me :lol:
 
The Maple Leafs are my favorite team in the NHL, and I was born and raised in Pittsburgh. I've only even been to Toronto once, and that was to see a Leafs game. Living in Pittsburgh, I never really thought that anybody had any particular hate for the Maple Leafs, I just get crap from my friends because I cheer for somebody other than the hometown team (but unless the Penguins are playing against the Leafs, I cheer them on every game too).

I started liking them when Felix Potvin just started playing. I kept seeing him on tv and during games and he quickly became my favorite player. I started liking the Maple Leafs because of him, and even after he left they were still my favorite team. Unfortunetely, with a season like this one, it looks like we're going to have to wait a bit longer for the cup.
 
Yes... not unlike what they did with Felix, they're holding onto Ed Belfort a little too long and ruining his confidence... Until they can fix that, and a few other key issues they're going to have a realy hard time of doing anything really good anytime soon... Perhaps it's Quin's time to go... Who knows? Last night's loss was a bad one in my opinion... Why would you let a guy get three of four whacks at your goalie like that in over time? And why the stupid holding penalty in the first place... bad execution there. The defenceman dropped the ball there... You can't really blame Telquist for that loss last night... Even though he did let a few bad saves go by...

What do you think about this?

1. Trade Sundin while they can still get a little something for him, make some cap room and go for either LeCavalier or Richards who will become free agents this year from Tampa (I doubt they'll be able to afford both of them).

2. Trade Belfort while he can still maybe be an impact goalie for another team, again freeing up some critical cap space and try to get a decent young/rookie goalie next year in the draft. Develop Telquist

3. Fire Pat Quinn at the end of the season and start a new season with a fresh new look with a coach that knows how to coach a finess game and less of a hard nosed style like they used to play. The league has changed and it's time to make the changes (for the better IMHO) and it's time to change with it...
 
Toronto's biggest problem is that they don't develop players well, and rely on free-agency to build their team. I'm tired of them bringing in all of these geezer veterans as a quick fix, they need to rebuild their system from the bottom up, and get some better prospects. I don't think they'll make it back to the Stanley Cup Finals until they do this.

I do think it's time for Belfour to go, but I think Tellqvist is good enough to start next year. They need to give him as much experience as they can this season. From what I've read, the Maple Leafs actually have several good goaltending prospects, so I don't think the position is the biggest worry.

I don't agree with #1, I just couldn't see Mats wearing another teams sweater. He hasn't played a full season, and he is averaging just below 1 point per game. I still think he has a few years left in him. He has been reliable every single year he's played for Toronto, and every guy is entitled to one bad season.
 
Matts (as was Douggy before he left, which should have taken place a few years earlier as well while he was worth something, in my opionion) is just too much of a capital drain on the team, one of the many reasons they can't afford anything but Amercian League players at the moment, as is Belfort. They could easily sign either LeCavalier or Richards (Both under 30. aka. a long term fix, not a short term fix, not that this was what you were suggesting about old veterans, this is pretty much going to be the same as when the 80s oil had to break up Gretz and Moose, both players can easily go on and make a franchise anywhere they play) for well under the 6 million Matts is getting this year, throw in Belforts contract and you've got a large portion of your cap reduced giving them much more wiggle room then they presently have... In my opinion it's better to have 5 decent players with one or two slightly above average players, then one or two super stars (capital hogs) surronded by poor/substandard players, that realy should be in the American league. The season is far from over, but if they miss the chance to develop Tellqvist, they've really missed the boat this time. As for developping talent and players... isn't that Quinn's job? In professional sports, as a business, there is little room for centimental feelings towards older players. Green Bay has been doing this for the past few years and look where that has gotten them as of late... "Hey, you had a good run, we'll always remember the good time Cap. Now take one last one for the team and get us some young talent for your ageing body."
 
I think they'd be in the exact same position, but it would be less shameful. It was funny listening to the CBC broadcast of the Leafs on Saturday. They kept making it sound like the Leafs could still make the playoffs (7 points out with only 10 possible points left....yeah, that sounds do-able).

On a happy note, later that night Calgary clinched a playoff berth by not losing outright to Vancouver :)
 
The Maple Leafs are still in the race, it looks tough, but they can still do it.

How about Mats Sundin singlehandedly winning the game against Florida last night? 4 Goals and 2 assists, washed up? Not yet.

I take back what I said about McCabe though, he wants way too much money, they need to dump him.

I don't know what Pat Quinn's fixation with Aki Berg is, but year in and year out, he's been one of the most worthless players on the team, he needs to go too.

Other players worth getting rid of.

Nik Antropov - I used to give him slack since he's young, and the Leafs need youth, but he's been around too long now and has done almost nothing

Tie Domi - He's too old, he's a hothead, and he's not helping with any stat other than the penalty minutes. They can find a better enforcer.

Belfour - Obviously, he's just too old, although they pretty much already dumped him.

Jeff O' Neill - 37 points in 71 games, and he's just 30 years old. That's inexcusable, especially after the numbers he put up in Carolina.


Also, Quinn and Ferguson both need canned. Maybe if they do that and get some young talent, they'll be cup contenders again soon.
 
Max Powers
The Maple Leafs are still in the race, it looks tough, but they can still do it.

How about Mats Sundin singlehandedly winning the game against Florida last night? 4 Goals and 2 assists, washed up? Not yet.
Click to expand...

I think the answer to both of these points can be "soon enough both will be done". I never said that Matts was washed up, only that they should trade him while they can still get return for him... And sorry, the season IS over... They're on the brink of falling out of the race... One bad game and it's pretty much over for them...
 
Pat Quinn just got
owned.jpg


Oh, how quickly Toronto forgets...
 
kylehnat
Pat Quinn just got OWNED!

Oh, how quickly Toronto forgets...
Click to expand...

They forget what? That's they've done nothing with Quinn at the helm? Or that he lost at the olympics with a team full of stars... Or that they should have done it when I called it back at the halfway mark of the season...

Now if they could have only gotten something for Belfort, and can only get something for Matts... Maybe they'll do something in a year or two... They should have put forth a bid for Jose when the "snicker snicker" Canadians got rid of him... If the Avs make it to the finals, we'll all know why...
 
Aki Berg is gone. :)

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=164035&hubname=

I guess it was only a matter of time after Pat Quinn left, I don't know what Quinn saw in him, but he consistantly played poorly for a long time. What a bust too as a former third overall pick. I guess he's going to play in Finland now, I feel bad for the fans of whatever team picks him up. So basically I'm pleased this offseason so far, even though they haven't made any major moves, it was good to get rid of Quinn and Berg. Hopefully they'll get some young talent soon, and also some fast players, the team as a whole doesn't have enough speed.
 
/\/\/\ Very true, about the speed I mean. It's a new league now... You can pound and ground all you want, but in the end, speed kills. Burns has shown that he was unable to cope with a fast paced game, both in the league and on the world's stage.... All I can say is it's about time!
 
GOD I HATE BRYAN MCCABE SO MUCH. What kind of moron clears the puck directly onto Crosby's stick. He needs to go, one of the most overrated players in the league. I thought all of this was over when Aki Berg left, but instead JFJ decides to pay McCabe and Kubina more than the best player on the entire team, Tomas Kaberle.
 
Hey, they did win, you know. Granted, they blew a 3-goal lead, and had serious problems keeping Pittsburgh at bay (Hal Gill gets bonus points from getting a penalty for sending the puck over the glass at the other end of the rink), but ultimately, they won. And yes, Bryan McCabe is overrated.
 
No lead is really safe against the Penguins, I've seen them come back so many times that I still get nervous with 3 goals on them. Their defense is pretty weak, but they have one of the most explosive offenses in the league.

I am very happy about the win, but there is still no excuse for McCabe's blunders, for every instance where he saves the team with a nice goal or assist, there are several more where he leaves his team out to dry by either taking an unneccessary penalty or being out of position.
 
Don't worry, the rags will be one and done.

You really think that prima donna Jagr will take you anywhere?
 
Max Powers
Don't worry, the rags will be one and done.

You really think that prima donna Jagr will take you anywhere?
Click to expand...

Nope. Ive got all my beans on shanny. I hate Jagr. Trust me. I hated him in pittsburgh, he was overrated in washington, and now he has funked up my team by being a little bitch. But aquiring avery and shanny with lundqvist looking good in net I think they will at least go two rounds. I just want them to play the devils, and beat them, thats all.

Who do you think wins it this year? I think it will be another eastern conference team. Or San Jose.
 
As much as I can't stand Lindy Ruff and the Sabres, they're the most complete team in the league, I think it'll come down to Buffalo and New Jersey in the East. I have a feeling that the west is going to go to Vancouver, Luongo is incredible and a great goalie is definitely the biggest part of making a nice playoff run.
 
Wow Max powers I had a teacher(I live in Toronto)and he loves pittsburgh :P

Anyway I love the leafs, have since I was about 5 and I watch every game, and watch every highlight. I would say the most hated team of all would be the Leafs because of all the bad guys we've had. Tiger Williams, tie Domi, and Wade Belak to name a few. Its that style of play that we used to bring to the table in the old NHL that got us that title, now with Jason blake, that title will be evaporated. Domi's gone, quinn's gone, and soon Sundin will be as well, this will just take away from the grit we have and our players will start being developed into scorers. We have a team others should watch out for in the next 2-3 years.
 
I doubt it.

It appears that the Leafs will only get anywhere if Ferguson resigns as GM. HE created Bryan McCabe's contract and the no-trade clause, HE drafts all of the NHL's stars AFTER their prime, and the only good players he drafts turn to have illnesses, such as Jason Blake. All this, and the Leafs are the richest team in the league (sell-out crowds EVERY TIME!). So, why not divert money from McCabe's contract to lure a skilled prospect like Evgeni Malkin or Alexander Ovechkin. And how about a consistent goalie?
 

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