Fansided

Three Ex-Toronto Maple Leafs in the Conference Final

By James Tanner |
May 6, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) watches a goal by Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Phil Kessel (81) during the second period in game five of the second round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
May 6, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) watches a goal by Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Phil Kessel (81) during the second period in game five of the second round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Sports are nothing if not ironic.  Today Toronto Maple Leafs fans are getting a  double dose of irony from two old friends.

This week the Ottawa Senators advanced past the New York Rangers and they, along with ex Toronto Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf will be going to the Conference Finals to face the Pittsburgh Penguins.

You might remember the Penguins? They won the Stanley Cup last year. Who was on their team? None other than the best player the Leafs had between Sundin and Matthews, Phil Kessel.  Phil was so good last year that he was robbed of the Conn Smythe by teammate Sidney Crosby.

Of course, the irony comes from the constant, non-stop, 24/7 narrative that used to blow through these parts like a cold wind: You can’t win with Kessel and Phaneuf.

Well, it turns out you can.

Ex Toronto Maple Leafs Succeeding:

Personally, I couldn’t be happier for these guys.

Like many Leafs fans, I was pumped when we got Kessel and absolutely shocked, psyched and excited when we got Phaneuf.  I remember thinking the Phaneuf trade was comparable to Gilmour trade at the time.

Oh the things we think when we’re young!

So it didn’t turn out.  They still gave us some good times. The fact is, it wasn’t their fault the team sucked while they were on it.  Both Kessel and Phaneuf were great players for the Leafs.

Kessel for sure is an all-time great.  Dion might not rank that highly, but he deserves at least a top 100 placement in franchise history.  These are two great players who entertained us for five years while the management fumbled their way to Auston Matthews.

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It definitely turns out you can win with both. Now, maybe it wasn’t the best idea to fail to surround them with other quality players, but what can you do?

It’s great to know that in back-to-back years since leaving the Toronto Maple Leafs, at least one of Kessel or Phaneuf will have made it to each Stanley Cup Final.   It is especially nice to see Phaneuf doing well because I do not think he ever was properly appreciated here. As for Kessel, he’s the gift that keeps on giving.

And, of course, the news can’t be all good:  Worst Coach Ever  Randy Carlyle is also making an appearance in the final four.

While it’s nice to see Dion and Phil having success, I can’t say the same thing for Carlyle.

Sorry.

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