Toronto Maple Leafs: Get Used to the Outdoor Games
By Eduardo Razo
With consecutive appearances; the Toronto Maple Leafs are becoming the new “it” team for outdoor games.
For the past decade, the Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, and New York Rangers have carried the baton for the outdoor games. Before last seasons Centennial Classic, the Toronto Maple Leafs lone outdoor match came in Ann Arbor versus the Detroit Red Wings.
Perhaps it was due to the product on the ice, but now the team is trending towards being perineal contenders. Furthermore, the team has all aspects of being a marketable team in the United States because let’s face it, the lack of Canadian teams in the Winter Classic or Stadium Series is due to not moving the television needle south of the border.
Starting with the fan base, Toronto doesn’t face this issue as their fans travel and hold a following in both countries. Like many teams that take part in multiple times in outdoor games, Toronto’s fan base travels, whether it’s within Canada or crossing into the US; which is vital.
The reason why the likes of Florida Panther, Arizona Coyotes, Carolina Hurricanes, and other markets aren’t apart of this event is due to their small fan bases. With a little following, the television ratings would reflect that, and for outdoor games, it’s about ratings and putting butts in the seats.
Whether they’re from Canada or the US, Toronto fans come out in droves in any city. They are known for taking over buildings in Ottawa and Detroit. Thus they do their part in helping fill stadiums for outdoor games seeing travel is no issue for some.
Ushering in a New Guard
On the national stage, the league wants to make sure the best is on display to gravitate casual fans and those scrolling through channels with nothing to watch. Outdoor games are hard to watch, so to try and offset this the league attempts to insert teams with as much talent; which again is something Toronto can check off with the likes of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander.
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Aside from New York, skill is the name of the game for these marquee teams. Marner and Nylander provide that dynamic, game-breaking ability from the wing ala Patrick Kane. At any moment while they’re on the ice they can create a play from nothing to get fans out of their seats; which Marner did in the Centennial Classic with this beauty, so lousy ice hasn’t kept them from displaying their talent.
Finally, there’s Matthews who possess both elite skill and is a marketable commodity for the NHL since he’s American. For those not from the US, Matthews presence alone has catapulted Toronto into a few regular season games on NBCSN along with the Stadium Series against Washington. The NHL knows it’s a business and what’s right for business is to put out the best American player in the game and franchise with the most massive following.
Chicago is a mainstay in these outdoor games, they’ll be playing in their sixth outdoor game when they play at Notre Dame next season. Nonetheless, the team is in the backend of their “championship window” as there’s a lot of mileage on the core. It’s a matter of time before they surrender their status as the marquee team. If Toronto can add a Stanley Cup in the next couple of seasons, then expect them to take that title.
Next: Leafs Roundtable Trade Deadline Review and Wrap Up
Yes, seeing teams recycled in these outdoor events can get tiresome especially for fan bases who have yet to experience this. Nonetheless, it’s a business, and if the NHL is looking for a new team to become that cash cow, well Toronto is a sexy option going forward.