I want to preface this blog by saying that I have a lot of respect for the Toronto Maple Leafs as a National Hockey League franchise.
They have won Stanley Cups, have had a ton of Hockey Hall of Famers as part of their franchise, have one of the most passionate fan bases in the league, and of course, they are a part of the Original Six.
I get all of that and even appreciate those facts as someone who loves hockey. I also appreciate what they have accomplished so far this season.
After struggling out of the gate, the Leafs are currently (Tuesday, January 24) second in the Atlantic Division and third in the league with a 29-11-8 record and 66 points. They have shown time and time again that they know how to win in the regular season.
With all of that said. However, I am still not sold on this team accomplishing anything when it matters most – the Stanley Cup playoffs. In fact, the Leafs have not really accomplished anything in crunch time since they last won the Cup in 1967. Yes, you read that year correctly.
It is the same thing every season for this once-proud franchise. They play well in the regular season, much like they are this year, and then they promptly get knocked out in the first round.
The last seven or eight years have been really disappointing for this organization. For example, last season, they finished the regular season with 115 points and were second in the Atlantic Division while also being fourth in the entire league.
What did that lead to? Well, predictably, the Leafs were knocked out in the first round by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Now, losing to the Bolts is nothing to be ashamed of. With that said, it was yet another first-round exit.
Something else that is noticeable about this franchise is the fact that its management group expects a different result every season. It seems like they put the same roster out on the ice every year and hope that things will change.
Does that different result ever happen? The answer to that is a resounding no.
Kyle Dubas is the team’s current general manager. He has been at the helm since the 2018-19 season and, for just over four years, has not turned this franchise into a true Cup contender.
Instead, Dubas has poorly constructed the roster season after season. Even with talented players like Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and others, he has not been able to get the Leafs within a sniff of hockey’s Holy Grail.
Does one really think that a goaltending tandem of Matt Murray and Ilya Samsonov is the answer to the Leafs Cup dreams? Yes, they have both played well this season, and yes, Murray won two Cups as the goaltender for the Penguins in 2016 and 2017.
With that said, this tandem is playing behind a team that really does not know what it is like to advance in the playoffs. All they know is what it is like to play in one round and then get knocked out.
I know what this franchise means to the league in terms of its history and whatnot. With that said, in today’s world, it’s all about what have you done for me lately.
Well, to answer the question above, the Leafs have done nothing and might end up doing the same thing again this year.
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