Fansided

Toronto Maple Leafs: Finally Getting Back to the Future

By Andrew Boehmer |
Apr 6, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) talks to center Tyler Bozak (42) on the bench against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Air Canada Centre. The Lightning beat the Maple Leafs 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) talks to center Tyler Bozak (42) on the bench against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Air Canada Centre. The Lightning beat the Maple Leafs 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Toronto Maple Leafs are on the brink of clinching playoff berth.

Toronto is considered to be the mecca of the hockey universe and the entire Toronto Maple Leafs community is on edge right now, minus the team itself.

Good.

I’d rather be on edge about the possibility of making the playoffs than on edge about winning the draft lottery. Let’s not forget the past two years, don’t lie, you were on edge about that.

However, this is a new team, a better team.

They’ll have their third straight shot at cementing a spot in the playoffs on Saturday night when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Leafs were once a great team and after long endured suffering, it’s time they reclaim their rightful place among the league’s best.

It’s time to get back to the future.

Standings Recap

More from Editor In Leaf

Let’s take a stroll down memory lane, something I like to call pain lane. We won’t go too far back, just one year after the Leafs collapse in the 2013 playoffs and up until last season.

2013-14: 84 points and 23rd overall (missed playoffs, drafted Nylander 8th overall)

2014-15: 68 points and 27th overall (missed playoffs, drafted Marner 4th overall)

2015-16: 69 points and 30th overall (missed playoffs, drafted Matthews 1st overall)

Now, at 80 games complete in the 2016-17 season, the Leafs have accumulated 93 points and are 16th overall with a chance of making the playoffs. This represents the highest point total the team has reached since their last full 82 game season that they made the playoffs, which was in the 2003-04 season with 103 points.

Great Scott, now I’m feeling old.

If you don’t attribute smart drafting and developing to the success of a franchise then you’re missing something,*cough* the Chicago Blackhawks.

What an improvement from years past.

And to think, I among most of the Leafs community didn’t even picture them making the playoffs this year.

You have to be asking yourself what this team can do with greater expectations compared to our lackluster ones that made up the framework for this season.

Reassurance

Here’s the last thing I’m going to touch on and I want to make this crystal clear.

If the Leafs don’t make the playoffs this year, there’s still reason for optimism looking forward. I know it would be a hard blow, but this is just the beginning of something great. Let’s not forget that they still have the best shot to clinch out of the remaining team’s looking in.

However, all will not be lost.

It’s a new dawn, a new era and being a Leafs fan has never been so sweet.

So, sit back and enjoy the ride.

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