I’m not a Leaf’s fan. I’ve stated as much before but I’ll start with this again. Maybe it’s the rivalry between Toronto and Hamilton? Maybe it’s the fact your ownership seems content with your fan base regardless of seasonal outcomes? Perhaps it’s the rivalry between my Bruins and your Maple Leafs, or a little of all of the above. Either way, as a fan of hockey first, the playoffs are a lot more fun with Leafs faithful along for the ride. Not to mention it would be great to see a Canadian team hoist Lord Stanley.
So what is The Leaf’s problem? They have had some very talented players and teams over the years, but still they have not made the Stanley Cup since they last won it in 1967. Many have been born and died to never see their team in the biggest market in the game bring home the most sought after hockey prize.
It’s often stated how brutal both the media and the fanbase in Toronto can be. For good reasons given the history perhaps, but what if both could leave their judgment and their doubt in their sports cave thrones, and remember that you have been a fan all of your life regardless of their successes and failures.
Right now, your team needs a parent’s unconditional love. They have enough people to judge them – most notably their own internal dialogue of doubt and moral self-harm. They just need a ‘You’ve got this!’, ‘I believe in you!’, and ‘I’m with you regardless of outcome!’
The players have coaches and other supports to help them with their physical and mental game prep, but a parent says ‘Have a good game, son.’ ‘Have fun, boy.’ ‘All you can do is go out there and give it your all.’ That’s all any of us can do right? Try our best. Yes, they are paid professionals but they are still human.
Toronto isn’t choking and neither did the Bruins for that matter. They are playing last year’s President Trophy winners who picked up a super star in Matthew Tkachuk and who just came back to beat this year’s top team in the standings and in many record books.
Leafs fans wanted to play Florida over Boston – most notably because of the playoff history between these two teams, but I watched Florida unravel Boston. They will most likely go all the way and they might even win it all. Any team in the Panther’s path should take this into account before making major changes in the off-season. Nobody is choking. They are playing a team that snuck into the playoffs but are proving that they are even better than they were last year with each passing game.
The Toronto Maple Leafs just won their first playoff series in 19 years. A major curse has been lifted, but the outcome of this second round series needs to be seen for what it is – a bout with a team who didn’t live up to their own playoff expectations last year, on a major high from coming back down two games to beat a team picked to win it all.
Give your team some love tonight. I’ll be cheering along with you because like I said, every night the Leaf’s live to see another game, the playoffs are that much more fun to watch.
Go Leafs Go!