It wasn’t long ago that the Toronto Maple Leafs were one of the worst franchises in the NHL, making the playoffs once in just eleven seasons and suffering an epic collapse in that one postseason appearance. Therefore, it was fittingly a surprising and exciting story line when the young 2016-17 Maple Leafs made the playoffs and even gave the President’s Trophy-winning Washington Capitals a run for their money in the conference quarterfinals. Toronto had finally turned it around.
This season however, expectations have changed. In an especially weak Atlantic Division, the Leafs have, for all intents and purposes, already locked up the third Atlantic playoff spot and are simply looking to strengthen their roster for what seems to be a collision course with the Boston Bruins in the first round, a rematch of their 2013 blunder. While much of that preparation will simply be maintaining a healthy roster and polishing their play through the rest of the regular season, there is also much anticipation that further additions to the team are in order to give the team a shot at the Stanley Cup this spring.
Trade speculation is natural for contenders, but it isn’t always rational. There has already been a notion among many sources that impending unrestricted free agents James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak, and Leo Komarov will be used as the team’s own “rentals” and that the Leafs could be unlikely to add a forward. There’s also the fact that Toronto has next to no cap space to make a typical picks/prospects-for-player rental deal. Yet, fans are still eager to grasp at any rumors of the Leafs adding a big-time defenseman or another depth piece up front.
Case in point: Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston reported earlier today that rookie defenseman Travis Dermott’s number was suddenly changed from #3 to #23 without his approval. The reaction from Toronto fans was overwhelmingly that the team was set to acquire a veteran player with the #3. Even SB Nation’s Maple Leafs blog Pension Plan Puppets was quick to post a somewhat laughable list of potential former Leafs whose #3 could be saved for retirement alongside a more serious list of current #3’s throughout the league who could be future Leafs. The vast majority of that list are defenseman, which lends some credence to the theory, but many – Seth Jones, John Klingberg, Brayden McNabb, Tucker Poolman – are likely untouchable and others – Kevin Bieksa, Chris Bigras, Nick Jensen – are likely of no interest to Toronto. Could the Pittsburgh Penguins really be ready to move on from Olli Maatta? Would the Leafs really be willing to take on the Keith Yandle contract or the risk of uber-physical Radko Gudas? Or was the number change simply due to some other decision that carries far less weight than Toronto fans would like it to?
Only time will tell what moves the Maple Leafs make prior to the Trade Deadline, but the expectations are not going away any time soon. Toronto’s Stanley Cup window has only just opened, but the hockey-crazed city is ready for their first title since 1967 and fans will be eager to see the club add additional pieces to strengthen the roster. The Leafs will continue to be a team to watch through the next month and a half, but that doesn’t mean every little piece of information on the rumor mill is worth taking seriously.
I could see Maatta but not for Bozak who has been on the Pens radar all season supposedly
Gudas would be nice this team needs some sandpaper
Might make polak dumb penalties look good tho
Is there really people that still watch hockey
There should be. I’m a fan of all four major North American sports, been to a game live, and watch games on TV and hockey is the only one that keeps me on the edge of my seat the entire game. Constant action where anything can happen. Football goes through its lulls and the timeouts can be long and cause you to lose attention, baseball is usually too slow, and basketball only gets you on the edge of your seat in certain situations (late in games, shootout between two hot teams, or an in-game dunk contest). Hockey is also the only sport where I actually don’t mind watching a game that doesn’t involve my favorite team.
Well said JT. I’m a fan of 3 major sports, football being the exception. Hockey has movement and a flow unlike any other sport.
Have you ever played hockey ?
I’m gonna bet your parents wouldn’t let you
Better question… have you ever even ice skated. Playing hockey isn’t easy and people take for granted it’s done at high speeds on skates.
Yes, there are. In fact, pro hockey is the only remaining watchable sport among the big four. Football and baseball in particular are totally unwatchable – way too many commercials and fooling around. Games that were completed in 2 – 2 1/2 hours now take 3 – 4. Does anyone really enjoy watching a QB standing around at the line of scrimmage and yelling “Omaha” ?
Having said that, the money is killing pro sports – ticket and concession prices are out of control. Growing up, you could buy a pro sport ticket for a workingman’s hourly wage. Now, it is getting close to a whole day’s wage. I am starting to think that a strike by the fans is in order – with the desired result being a reduction in ticket and concession prices of at least 25%, maybe more. If the players and owners object, OK, fans stay home and turn off their TV’s, like has happened to the NFL the last few seasons. Maybe empty seats and plunging TV ratings will get some attention.
IC, Actually I have played hockey, my brother played travel and went onto division 1 college hockey, so yes we are from a hockey family where my parents “let” us play we are friends with 2 NHL players and I still have no interest. Use to play everyday after school. Played when it was zero degrees out and had our hot chocolate to stay warm. Skated on the frozen ponds. Yup did all that and through the years I started to lose interest
And because you lost interest, it’s some big surprise that the millions of other hockey fans all didn’t lose interest too? Get over yourself bro.
Let me know when you crawl out of your shell and figure out that hockey has been declining in popularity and attendance for the past 4 years. It’s not just me that lost interest. I respect that you like hockey but if you are man enough to admit I guarantee that hockey isn’t even your favorite sport.
Hahahahahaha. Lots of people don’t like hockey and that’s fine, but “if you’re man enough to admit it” is the greatest line today. I hate tomatoes and if your man enough to admit it I bet you do too. Takes a big man to admit that.
It takes a big man to admit your a blue jays fan too