When I think back to when I first became a Maple Leafs fan I recall being on my best behavior so my Dad would let me stay up to watch the third period of the game. It was rare if never on a school night, but the Saturday game was another story, it was Hockey Night in Canada after all.
Sometimes those third periods would turn into massive line brawls and the game would go on a lot longer than it should have. I miss those days, the bench clearing brawls, fights almost nightly, huge hits whether they were head shots or not. That was hockey. Don Cherry’s “Rock’Em Sock’Em Hockey… videos were watched whenever my hockey friends would come over to hang out. We would all have our favorite hockey players, whether it was Gretzky, Lemieux, Gilmour or Clark we would pretend we were those players when we played road hockey or mini-sticks.
Back then I thought the Leafs had a great team, even if they didn’t win the cup I can remember them in the playoffs throughout the early 90’s and again towards the end of the 90’s and into the early 2000’s.
Here we are in 2015/16 and there is a huge void of disappointment from my beloved Maple Leafs. I was lucky enough to attend two of the playoff games in the shortened season (2012/13), but a round one exit in the fashion that took place was painful. To the day it’s still a sour topic in Leafs Nation, and soon it will all be forgotten when Shanahan’s plan unfolds and the Leafs are back to their winnings ways, hopefully being a dominant force for years to come.
If you ask me, now is the time when everything starts to change for us Maple Leafs fans.
I still wear my Leafs hats, golf shirts and sport a Maple Leafs golf bag. Nothing wrong with supporting the blue and white, I’m proud and always will be. That’s my team, if I had to pick one team out of any sport; it’s going to be the Leafs every time. That’s who I am, and I enjoy listening to fans of other teams chirping me for supporting my 30th place team. Bring it on.
We all know the upper management of the Buds is top notch, likely the best it’s ever been. Babcock has seven more seasons behind the bench for Toronto, which is huge for the Leafs and their fans. Toronto has surrounded themselves with winners and in time, we will win and I feel it’s going to be within that seven year span. Babs said when it’s safe they will come, and with Zaitsev joining the Leafs the effect is slowly starting to trickle in. Perhaps the big fish in Stamkos is next? We will know one month to the day and I get the heebie-jeebies just talking about Stamkos in a Leafs jersey.
Continue the positive thinking and the results will follow, just ask that lucky number 13 (Mats) ping pong ball that landed in the Leafs lap to win the number one pick. How good is Matthews going to look in the blue and white? Unbelievable!
The Leafs management is surely planning their attack for this year’s draft and I sure hope they plot to add a goaltender through trade. Having a reliable goalie between the pipes when having such a young and upcoming roster can make such a huge difference. It really allows the forwards and defense to play their game and adapt well to the coaches game plan with quality breakouts and keeping a deep cycle that results in quality scoring chances.
Soft goals or a poor attitude could be detrimental to the growth and confidence of the younger players, and of course really frustrating to watch as a fan. It’s vital for Shanahan and Lamoriello to narrow in on a number of potential goalies that could help the Leafs out in this department, and sooner than later. With the potential of another team or two being added into the fold of the NHL, goalie’s will become cheaper and likely more readily available than normal, since teams will only be able to protect one. It would be wise if the Leafs could jump on a goalie they see fitting now, rather than wait for the expansion to take place where other teams may be looking to do the same if they are not happy with their goaltending. Now is the time for Lou to strike, a General Manager who has never had a bad goaltender.
I’ve been saying all season long the Leafs should be perusing one of Gibson or Andersen from Anaheim and see if they can work out a deal to move them some offensive help. Perry and Getzlaf are only getting older and Anaheim seems to have a number of quality young defensemen as well as the goalie tandem. They have certainly had some trading history; don’t be surprised if Toronto takes a stab at one of the two.
Now that the Marlies season is done and the Knights (Marner) have won the Memorial Cup, it’s time to begin focusing on the upcoming 2016 Draft. Toronto as we know has the first pick, but will also have a number of other quality picks. This year could be quite a frenzy at the draft, it’s the year we hold onto our seats and watch the magic unfold. There is a very good chance we see some of our prospects and picks turn into something of higher quality. Moving up in the draft, trading for a goalie or a defender; nothing will surprise me this off season. Expect Hunter to do another phenomenal job drafting in all rounds, which is what puts him above many scouts in the NHL, especially of the Leafs past.
Steven Stamkos just may be coming home, and if he does; expect the CN Tower to come crashing down.
Thanks for reading!