Toronto Maple Leafs: The Shanahan Rebuild So Far
By Robb Ellis
Apr 13, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan talks to the press during a press conference at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Change.
We’ve waited a long time for it Leafs Nation. Even when Brendan Shanahan promised it to us five months ago, we didn’t really believe it did we? We’ve heard it all before from others before him. Cliff Fletcher. Ken Dryden. Pat Quinn. John Ferguson Jr. Brian Burke. All had their own “plans” on how they were going to turn around an organization in turmoil and lead us to the promised land. They had different methods but ultimately, they all failed.
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Don’t get me wrong. There were some bright spots. Conference Final appearances in 93, 94, 99, and 02 brought some excitement to town but we watched all four of our opponents (L.A, Vancouver, Buffalo, and Carolina) move on to play for the Stanley Cup. Of course, none of those teams went on to actually drink from Lord Stanley’s mug.
Instead we watched as the Habs, Rangers, Stars, and Red Wings all defeated the teams that had taken our beloved Leafs out of the cup picture. Those playoff runs under the leadership of a couple of Pats (Burns and Quinn) may have given us some great memories but it doesn’t change our wants and needs as Leaf fans. The goal remains the same – WE WANT A CUP!
In less than five months, Brendan Shanahan has given us a reason to believe that his approach may in fact be different. A new kind of plan designed to eventually “get us all the way” rather than just the “close” that we’ve seen before. After all, “almost” only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
With all due respect to Gary Roberts, Joe Nieuwendyk, Eric Lindros, and Brian Leetch, the new President of the Toronto Maple Leafs is not signing and trading for players who are on the wrong side of 30 and at the tail end of their careers. He has been in town for just 15 months, but in that short period of time he has completely changed a dark and gloomy organization. To quote the band Timbuk 3, an 80’s one-hit wonder, “the future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades!” (Did I really just do that?)
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