The Toronto Maple Leafs regular season has been effectively cancelled.
The Toronto Maple Leafs haven’t played since March 10, when they beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1.
If that was their last game of the season, then it was a fantastic one to go out on.
But I don’t think it will be, as there seems to be great support throughout the league for at least getting some kind of playoffs in, eventually.
Finishing the Season
Last night, the Leafs would have played the Senators. Instead they had their ninth straight game postponed.
If the Leafs had played, the leafiest thing I can imagine happening is that they lost 4-0 to the Senators in bizarre fashion after recently beating Tampa and Carolina on back-to-back nights, earlier in the week.
We can only wish.
Image in how hilarious it would have been to see everyone melt down over a loss to Ottawa while ignoring victories over Tampa and Carolina? Hell, as frustrating as it is to see people froth at the mouth over things they imagine are happening, I must say I miss Toronto Sports Talk Radio and all its’ (in)glory.
But it will be back. Eventually. No matter how long it takes.
It’s funny – you find yourself so frustrated over someone’s unimportant hockey opinion, then you realize you how much of a fun distraction something so annoying can be.
All talk out of the NHL so far has centred on resuming the season and having playoffs, even if it means delaying next season.
I think that’s a good thing. Never give it up.
The CDC told us a couple of weeks ago that we wouldn’t be able to meet in groups over 50 people for two months, and that now seems like an underestimate.
But even if we are locked down for until September (which I’m just using as an example) the NHL could realistically still hold the playoffs for this year. Finishing the season would be nice, but really, who cares?
Give me playoff hockey and mainline it to my veins.
The Playoffs would take two months, and you just open the new season late. It’s not ideal, but I like the idea of not giving up. I like the idea of finishing regardless.
Even if we are locked down until January, the NHL should finish this season. Even if doing so is just a symbolic act of defiance in the face of tragedy.
Of course there’s tons of logistics to deal with, contracts that otherwise would have expired, arena dates, etc.
And we still don’t even know the full impact of the crisis. It may not be possible, but it’s still fun to hope.
I don’t care if there is a 99% chance that this season will be canceled, the idea of resuming it gives me hope of a return to normalcy. Writing about the Toronto Maple Leafs every day helps keep me sane.
Sports are funny. People who aren’t interested in them make fun of people who are. The idea of grown men going insane over people (often) younger than they are playing a game is comedic, if you think about it. (And I often do).
But at the same time, sports bring us together. More importantly, sports distract us. I remember watching (noticing it was on would probably be more accurate) the World Series in 2001, after 9/11, and thinking it was pointless.
But then later, the way in which the city of New York embraced that team, after all that had happened, it gave me an entirely new perspective on sports.
Like music, sports are a kind of medicine for the soul. Sorry if that sound’s overwrought or ridiculous, but I think it might be true.
As I watch my 33rd movie since they canceled hockey, I’ve got to say, I really, really miss the NHL. A distraction in these crazy times would be very welcome.
I’m not really sure I’ve got a great point to wrap this up, other than to just say that the Toronto Maple Leafs are going to finish their season, one way or another.
And knowing them, the leafiest thing they could do is win the Stanley Cup in the NHL’s weirdest ever season.
And afterwards, I look forward to tuning into the Fan 590, or this very comment section even, and hearing how even though he won the Conn Smythe, the Leafs can’t hope to be a dynasty while paying so few players so much money, and therefore have just got to trade William Nylander while his value is at it’s highest.
xxoo