Let's Relax Leaf Fans

 

Photo From the Athletic

 

Alright I am going to take a different approach with this article the Leafs have lost their last two games and the fanbase is in full panic mode. The game against Calgary I’ll admit I saw a few minutes of it before falling asleep but after losing 5-2 I saw fans ranting about how Jack Campbell is not a starter and the Leafs should have kept Freddie Andersen. Andersen after his performance in the shortened season was a non-option for Dubas and Toronto. He got hurt during the season and Jack Campbell was fantastic when taking over in goal and during that run he set a franchise record for consecutive wins to start a season. Jack Campbell has earned an All-Star honor and his play this season is the reason. Heading into the All-Star weekend Campbell’s play had dipped slightly where he and the team were giving up at least three goals a game but in that stretch the team still managed a record of 8-3-1. If that was any other team like Pittsburgh or Boston, you would hear “oh they’re on a nice streak right now” but because it’s Toronto 8-3-1 is a reason to panic and worry. I have said time and time again I love the Leafs, but I hate being a Leaf fan and it’s simply because the fanbase is more frustrating than the team at times. I understand fans are passionate they care for the team there’s nothing wrong with that obviously, but Maple Leaf fans are looked upon as a toxic fanbase and it’s embarrassing at times. This fanbase overreacts with everything this team does and in my opinion the media in Toronto is to blame. The Toronto papers and media coverage are in my opinion they are to blame for the way the fans react. In the mid-90s the Leafs added Larry Murphy to their blueline. For those who don’t know Larry Murphy is a Hall of Fame defenseman who in 91-92 won back to back cups with the Penguins before joining Toronto. Once in Toronto he was the centre piece of the teams play and didn’t perform at the level that was expected. If you look at the rosters the Leafs had in 96 and 97, they weren’t very strong. In his two seasons as Maple Leaf Larry Murphy collected 100 points. Despite a playoff appearance in 1996 that saw the Leafs fall to the St Louis Blues in round one those Leaf teams weren’t very competitive and that was because of financial and legal issues brought on from the Harold Ballard era but the media focused on blaming Larry Murphy and the fans followed along and basically forced him out of Toronto. What did Murphy go on to do after leaving Toronto? He went on and won two more cups with the Detroit Red Wings. How about an example that is a little more recent? Dave Nonis the one-time Leaf GM gave David Clarkson a seven-year contract after he had a thirty-goal season with the New Jersey Devils. So, Toronto signs Clarkson and right away the media hypes him up as the second coming of Wendel Clark and once again the fans bite and think Clarkson is going to be a great addition too the team. In two seasons that saw him play 118 games as a Leaf he would manage just fifteen goals and twenty-six points. With the Leafs and Clarkson struggling fans were wondering why he wasn’t performing like the thirty-goal scorer he was built up to be. Dave scored thirty goals ONE TIME in his career and in that one season he was on a line with Patrick Elias and Ilya Kovalchuk two stars that were able to Dave look like a star. This shouldn’t have been something new to Leaf fans because for years we watched Mats Sundin play on a line with Nik Antropov and Alexi Ponikorovsky two wingers that on any other team would had been third line at best. My point hear is just because one player looks like a superstar on one team doesn’t mean he will be a star on another sometimes you have to look at who they’re paired with. With this Leaf team I have seen the captain get criticized by a writer that seems to be hated by every Toronto sports team who writes for the Sun and somehow still has a job and fans have once again bit and joined in on claiming John Tavares isn’t worth the money, he is getting paid. The simple answer to this is yes, he is worth it because the owner the man who pays the bills and the General Manager Kyle Dubas feel that Tavares is a valuable asset at the price tag he carries. It’s no different than those who work a 9 to 5 job if you go to your boss and ask for a raise your boss will either say yes or no. If you ask for a raise and your boss agree to it, they feel you are worth the investment but if your boss says no then it’s some incentive to work harder. Since joining the Leafs in 2017 in a total of 327 games Tavares has registered 326 points. He has practically scored a point a game since becoming a Leaf but because one clueless reporter says he isn’t producing fans seem to think it’s true when all they need to do is pay attention and watch the games. Does Tavares have nights where he’s off his game? Of course, he does no player is perfect even the great one had scoreless games, but John Tavares always pays attention to detail and does the little things that don’t show up on the scoresheet but have a big impact on the game. Tavares is the kind of player that in a race for the puck he may be second to it but because of his strength on his skates he will likely win a battle in along the boards or in the corners and come out with the puck. John Tavares is a player that when the opponent is looking to breakout of the zone, he will come out of nowhere with a stick check causing a turnover keeping the Leafs on the attack. Anyone who reads this honestly if you’re one of those who feels Tavares isn’t producing Monday night in Seattle is the next Leaf game stay up late and just focus on his play with and without the puck but also keep in mind and this is important, in 44 games this season he has 44 points.

 

With me defending Tavares I am by no means saying this Leaf team is perfect and there is nothing to worry about because this team does need improvements and moves are being worked on as we heard last night when it was reported that teams have interest in Nick Ritchie. Ritchie to state the obvious didn’t work here in Toronto a player of his size couldn’t keep up with the play and when in the lineup for some unknown reason he would never play physical. Look at Wayne Simmonds he isn’t here to score goals he’s here to provide a physical presence for the team and whether that means throwing a hit or dropping the gloves to protect a teammate Wayne will do it and if he gets a point from a goal or an assist that’s a bonus.

 

In my opinion the Leafs need a stay-at-home defenseman, and some options are Josh Manson from Anaheim who happily throws his weight around for the Ducks a lot like what his dad Dave did throughout his career including two years as a Maple Leaf. For me the issue with acquiring Josh is his contract is 4.1 million dollars, but he is a free agent at the end of the season. If Toronto does move Nick Ritchie that frees up 2.5 million dollars because you likely only get a few late picks in return, but Dubas would need to move a defenseman to financially make a trade work. If it was me running things I would see if there’s interest in Justin Holl. We have heard this past offseason teams have a lot of interest in his services and moving him would free up another two million dollars. Now if you’re the Ducks GM are you willing to part with an important piece of your blueline when you are likely going to have the Ducks in the postseason. Once again if you’re Kyle Dubas are you willing to take a risk on a rental player who will help your team short term but it's unknown if he will stay with your team once free agency opens. Also, if Toronto trades for Josh Manson that will likely be the only addition made due to the team’s issues caused by the frozen cap.

Another option for Toronto could be a reunion with former draft pick Luke Schenn. Now I know what your thinking “why bring him back? It’s simple he’s only worth 850K which will give the Leafs some breathing room financially, but he is also a reliable shutdown defenseman. Luke when he started with the Leafs was dealt a terrible hand. He was an 18-year-old kid who instead of going back to junior for one final season was thrown into the lion’s den and told to figure it out. He was an 18-year-old kid who was on the ice for every situation, powerplay, and penalty kill often in the top four and he was exposed because his game wasn’t developed enough to transition into the pro ranks. His post Leafs career saw him put into situations too succeed it didn’t happen overnight, but Schenn would find his footing in the league and gain confidence in the role as a shutdown defenseman that would see him win back to back cups as a member of the Lightning. If Toronto was to bring back Luke Schenn, he would slide into the Leafs defense a lot like Zach Bogosian did in his stint with Toronto, Luke will be an addition that will provide occasional offense but in the Leafs end of the rink will make simple plays and relieve the pressure hopefully allowing Toronto to spend less time in their end of the ice.

Despite losing again last night in Vancouver the Leafs for the most part played well and honestly with the effort they brought last night nine times out of ten the Leafs win that game. This Leaf team is 6-2 in their last eight games, does losing suck? Of course, it does but no team will ever go 82-0 strong teams are going to lose occasionally. The good thing about this team is they always get back on track and I am sure Monday night in Seattle will be no different so for now Leaf fans lets just take a deep breath and relax.

Thanks as always for reading.