Toronto Maple Leafs

[T-Bone]

If you think the blue jays bandwagon is full, wait 2-3 years and watch what happens when the Leafs win a few playoff series.

I was actually having a conversation about this with a friend. There appears to be a lot of Leafs haters in Toronto, more than Jays haters. Plus, the Leafs don't get the same national support (It helps there is only one Canadian baseball team.) that the Jays do. So I wonder which bandwagon is fuller.

[Double Dare]

... and unicorns are going to fly out of my ass.

[T-Bone]

... and unicorns are going to fly out of my ass.

Very insightful. Keep up the good work.

[AngeloV]

I was actually having a conversation about this with a friend. There appears to be a lot of Leafs haters in Toronto, more than Jays haters. Plus, the Leafs don't get the same national support (It helps there is only one Canadian baseball team.) that the Jays do. So I wonder which bandwagon is fuller.

It's just fashionable for people to crap all over the Leafs. Just a bunch of yuppies trying to act cool. Guaranteed they would be the most popular team around if they were a playoff team.

[R.J]

I hope for the future of the team that the Leafs don't make the playoffs this year. While I'm not a Leaf fan, as a Canucks fan I see very similar issues, both teams need a true slow and steady rebuild.

[argolio]

The Leafs will cross over to the West in November and will win in Edmonton.

[ArgoRavi]

If you are a Leafs fan, which game were you supposed to watch last night? There was one on TSN4 and another on Leafs TV. When did they start with these split squad games in hockey?

[Argo57]

It's just fashionable for people to crap all over the Leafs. Just a bunch of yuppies trying to act cool. Guaranteed they would be the most popular team around if they were a playoff team.

They deserve all the crap they get Angelo.
However if and when they actually get to the playoffs and have a decent run Leafs fever will take over.
The Leafs are #1 in Toronto and they know it sold out tickets (with huge waiting list) huge merchandizing $$ and mediocre to shit management for the last 5 decades with minimal backlash=life's good for them!!

[PullTogether73]

If you think the blue jays bandwagon is full, wait 2-3 years and watch what happens when the Leafs win a few playoff series.

Cue the Jim Mora post-game interview tape...

PLAYOFFS!!
Playoffs??
Don't talk to me about playoffs!
I just hope we can win a game.

[AngeloV]

They deserve all the crap they get Angelo.
However if and when they actually get to the playoffs and have a decent run Leafs fever will take over.
The Leafs are #1 in Toronto and they know it sold out tickets (with huge waiting list) huge merchandizing $$ and mediocre to shit management for the last 5 decades with minimal backlash=life's good for them!!

Don't disagree. Very similar to the Argos from 53-81, and a few seasons since then. I just find that the majority of people that make fun of them when they are losing, are the same people that crap on the Argos/CFL in this city. Wannabe yuppies that only voice the "fashionable" opinion.

In any event, Argos and Leafs are the only teams that I really passionately care about.

[1argoholic]

I'd love to see some of the young 1st rounders make the team. I'm sure Babcock will do the same as he did in Detroit and send guys to the minors until you just can't avoid using them. I do not want to see this team filled with the same type of player in different sizes. All so so NHLers who can muck and grind but have no finishing touch. We have three draft choices in the last two years who can wheel and deal but are all pretty small. Last time we finished dead last we ended up with Clarke. We seem to finish just low enough to end up with guys who need plenty of time in the minors until they improve or the Leafs send them packing to thrive elsewhere.

[ArgoRavi]

I'd love to see some of the young 1st rounders make the team. I'm sure Babcock will do the same as he did in Detroit and send guys to the minors until you just can't avoid using them. I do not want to see this team filled with the same type of player in different sizes. All so so NHLers who can muck and grind but have no finishing touch. We have three draft choices in the last two years who can wheel and deal but are all pretty small. Last time we finished dead last we ended up with Clarke. We seem to finish just low enough to end up with guys who need plenty of time in the minors until they improve or the Leafs send them packing to thrive elsewhere.

I made the point last year that while the Leafs have often been bad, they have not been bad enough to get the first overall pick and an impact player at that pick. The last time they were that bad and able to pick first and get an impact player was in 1985.

[Ballstothewall]

To almost not look silly. haha. Well at least we swept Ottawa in split preseason games. Just had a hard time getting into watching yet.

COULD BE LEAFS YEAR. That is the funniest thing you ever posted on here 1argoholic.

[Argo57]

I made the point last year that while the Leafs have often been bad, they have not been bad enough to get the first overall pick and an impact player at that pick. The last time they were that bad and able to pick first and get an impact player was in 1985.

During the early 2000's in the Quinn then Ferguson Jr era (pre-cap) the Leafs constantly screwed themselves with free agent signings and trading first round picks for the likes of Shayne Corson, Gary Roberts, Owen Nolan, Ed Belfour, Brian Leetch, Joe Nieuwedyk, Eric Lindros and Ron Francis who Toronto paid like they were in their prime but we're basically running on fumes but were still good enough to leave the franchise in the middle of the standings and further to your point Ravi drafting too low to get any blue chip prospects, although with Toronto's futile drafting record higher pick guaranteed nothing.

[Will]

Not all of those players were traded for first-round draft picks, but yes the general strategy seemed to be a team with older players. Those teams were better than middle of the pack, but not quite good enough to win the championships. The Maple Leafs were extremely ill-prepared to handle the new reality of the NHL when play resumed in 2005-2006, and they have never mastered the new reality. Hopefully, they have finally figured it out and a proper rebuild will be done. All I frankly ask for for the 2015-2016 season is a team that plays hard and competes even if they aren't going to get the results in the standings.

[1argoholic]

It won't be fun losing to Buffalo who is plenty closer to the playoffs then The Leafs will be. What a great draft this was and we just could lose enough.

If Edmonton doesn't improve they should just shut it down.

[Will]

I made the point last year that while the Leafs have often been bad, they have not been bad enough to get the first overall pick and an impact player at that pick. The last time they were that bad and able to pick first and get an impact player was in 1985.

They have still squandered plenty of good draft positions over the years: Luke Schenn, Brandon Convery, Drake Berehowsky, Luke Richardson and the Belleville Bulls 3 of 1989!

It was always that tendency to rush guys to the NHL before they were ready. An early 1980's example of that was Jim Benning, Bob McGill, Gary Nylund and Fred Boimistruck.

[AngeloV]

They have still squandered plenty of good draft positions over the years: Luke Schenn, Brandon Convery, Drake Berehowsky, Luke Richardson and the Belleville Bulls 3 of 1989!

It was always that tendency to rush guys to the NHL before they were ready. An early 1980's example of that was Jim Benning, Bob McGill, Gary Nylund and Fred Boimistruck.

Of that group, Richardson ended up having a pretty good career as a stay at home, hard hitting defenseman, and Scott Thornton a good shut down center.

[1argoholic]

Holy CRAP, Leafs Win, Leafs Win, Leafs Win. Plus they actually beat a very good Dallas team. Stop winning so we can get the next Connor McDavid you TOOLS!

[AngeloV]

Holy CRAP, Leafs Win, Leafs Win, Leafs Win. Plus they actually beat a very good Dallas team. Stop winning so we can get the next Connor McDavid you TOOLS!

Trust me...the lottery is fixed. Toronto will NEVER win the NHL draft lottery. They had 4 of the last 10 balls in this years McDavid lottery, and Edmonton only had 1, yet Edmonton won.