Deep Dive: Death, taxes, and the Maple Leafs

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This is my first annual post mortem report for the Toronto Maple Leafs. I feel like this will be my favourite article to write each season. I must be honest, I am truly disgusted with myself for picking the Leafs to beat the Habs. I should have known better.

Where it all began

Before I dive into the series between Toronto and Montreal, I should fill you in on where my deep hatred for the Leafs comes from. Growing up in Saskatchewan watching Hockey Night in Canada it chapped my ass that the feature game ALWAYS involved the Leafs. It didn’t matter if Wayne Gretzky was playing in Montreal or Ottawa, CBC was showing the Leafs game. I get that they have the largest following of any team in Canada, but change it up once in a while. This is what started my fire. The media coverage for the Leafs is what now fuels it.

Again, I understand TSN and Sportsnet are based in Toronto. They need to cater to their fans. What I don’t like is how they over blow the talent of every player that dons the Maple Leaf. Felix Potvin, Tomas Kaberle, Nik Atropov, Bryan McCabe, Vesa Toskala, and Luke Schenn. All serviceable NHL players, but not a star in the bunch. Yet the media in Toronto would have you believe they were top end talent. They try turning every day players into something they are not. This is what makes the Leafs so polarizing.

I think every hockey fan should either love or hate Toronto. If you are neutral in regards to them, I don’t have time for you.

Now let’s take a look at their most recent failure.

Who

The Toronto Maple Leafs. That’s literally the only thing this article has been about. Keep up.

What

The massive failure of Toronto to get out of the first round for the first time since 2004.

When

This time around it was May 31st. Normally it takes place sometime between mid and late April.

Where

Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. If you’re going to blow a 3-1 series lead and disappoint all your fans, you might as well do it on home ice.

Why

Well it’s the Leafs. Choking in big moments is what they are known for.

There was several factors that lead to this collapse. The top dogs didn’t come to play. When you are paying Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner over 22 million dollars you expect them to produce more than 1 goal between them. To me this was their downfall. Had either of those two been a difference maker in games 5, 6, or 7 they would have won the series. Marner has not scored a goal in his last 18 playoffs games. I love it.

You can’t blame the secondary scoring. William Nylander was their most dangerous player the entire series. Hell even the ageless wonder Jason Spezza chipped in with 3 goals.

Jack Campbell wasn’t at his best in game 7, but he certainly played well enough earlier in the series to get the job done. He just didn’t have the goal support. After witnessing him steal the gold medal at the 2010 World Juniors in Saskatoon I certainly don’t feel bad for him.

Losing John Tavares in game 1 was a huge loss. I won’t understate that. He is their captain and a huge offensive contributor. However, even without him they still had a sizeable skill advantage. They were simply too soft and didn’t match Montreal’s desire to win.

Clearly Carey Price played a big roll as well. He stole this series.

Closing

I wish I could feel bad for a few of the Leaf players, but I just can’t. I am a big fan of Joe Thornton, Jason Spezza, and Wayne Simmonds. Unfortunately, once they signed on the dotted line and agreed to wear the Maple Leaf I could not stomach cheering for them.