The problem with that is that they kick these guys when they're down.

The Toronto media is insatiable.
Fans should protest by not going to the games for the rest of the year.
But they won't.

Next year, when they start the true rebuild, the media will whine about the lack of wins, and that the GM should do something about it.

Sound Familiar?
- Climuster

Fans boycotting the games to protest the media!? That would give the media tons of fodder for stories, and benefit them while hurting the team.

It's always been that way and it will always be. Yes, they kick them when they're down, but they also raise them up on litters and hand feed them peeled grapes when they're up. They need to realize this and deal with it accordingly.

I used to defend him. I guess it was the blue and white glasses. Boston knew he was a heartless poison, which is why they traded him. And then won the cup after they traded him.
- cesareborgia

I just think fans are way to up and down... when they win he is great when they lose (at ton latley) he is poison and doesnt care or try.

the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

Boston won a cup after trading him yes, but I dont think it came completely from calculated moves. having Chara at his peak is a huge advantage, no player like him. Also Bergeron is criminally underrated as a complete player... honestly he is the best overall player the past 5+ years.. he does everything right that you don't notice. Add in Thomas who was unreal.. thats 3 elite pieces.. Boston has traded away thornton, Kessel and Seguin for not much return. Chara is fading Boston will start to struggle to replace him and eventually Bergeron.

To all REAL Leafs fans:

Stop buying tickets.
Stop watching games.
Stop buying merchandise.
Encourage the tank. Make sure we get a top 4 draft pick and guaranteed impact player in this draft (please lord let it be McDavid).

These are steps that need to be taken by REAL fans if you want the team to start succeeding. Stop being sheep.
- cesareborgia

They're finally doing what we've been begging for nearly 10 years - a draft centred rebuild, and you're calling for us to boycott them!? We should be supporting them as much as possible to help them stick with this long term plan.

Well with Mark Hunter on board, hopefully he can finally put together a couple of good years of drafting....not use your first round pick on bad skating, no offence type player like Gauthier, guys like him should be picked later on in the draft...talent, skating, hockey smarts, and more are your first picks, not projects.

but that is the problem the fans and media are taking 11 or 48 years of failure and dumping it on guys that are only partly responsible for the last 2-3 years.
- vermie22

it's not justified?

I just think fans are way to up and down... when they win he is great when they lose (at ton latley) he is poison and doesnt care or try.

the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

Boston won a cup after trading him yes, but I dont think it came completely from calculated moves. having Chara at his peak is a huge advantage, no player like him. Also Bergeron is criminally underrated as a complete player... honestly he is the best overall player the past 5+ years.. he does everything right that you don't notice. Add in Thomas who was unreal.. thats 3 elite pieces.. Boston has traded away thornton, Kessel and Seguin for not much return. Chara is fading Boston will start to struggle to replace him and eventually Bergeron.
- senstroll

the return wasn't great, but that's because Boston had a gun to it's head (cap wise). As good as seguin and kessel are offensively, Boston realized they aren't winners and are simply one way players. They kept the krejci's, bergeron's, etc and IMO it was the smart move.

Canucks fan here...
Followed the NHL since the 60's.
Let me spell it out...
Leafs printed money for decades n fans payed it willingly.
Putting up with Ballard n every other owner(s) has the Leafs where they r n been for decades. Gone r the days of trying to buy a winner n even that was screwed up by owners. Ontario is the hotbed of hockey as in OHL. Blaming the media is lame. Blame those who paid 1st...Fans.

They're finally doing what we've been begging for nearly 10 years - a draft centred rebuild, and you're calling for us to boycott them!? We should be supporting them as much as possible to help them stick with this long term plan.
- 1979AD

exactly...

continue to reinforce with "constructive criticism" about hockey

don't indulge in non-hockey related topics

keep the focus on avoiding band-aids


and to someone's point earlier - the Leafs are not the Yankees quite simply because the cannot spend twice as much as the median of other teams salaries - although I would expect - as a Leaf's fan - that the management of MLSE would begin to take advantage of the fact they support half of the rest of the league - and should be rewarded for that.

Canucks fan here...
Followed the NHL since the 60's.
Let me spell it out...
Leafs printed money for decades n fans payed it willingly.
Putting up with Ballard n every other owner(s) has the Leafs where they r n been for decades. Gone r the days of trying to buy a winner n even that was screwed up by owners. Ontario is the hotbed of hockey as in OHL. Blaming the media is lame. Blame those who paid 1st...Fans.
- Nighthawk

absolutely... blame the guy who's been a fan for 20+ years because the team had a border line nut-job as an owner.. that's sound reasoning. I guess the Dallas Cowboys fans are to blame because Romo chokes and Jerry Jones is bonkers.