Now Is the Time for the Toronto Maple Leafs to Turn to Esports

The Toronto Maple Leafs aren’t playing games anytime soon but there is a way to bring their energy and excitement into living rooms around the nation.

Sports worldwide are on hiatus which leaves a giant void in the entertainment industry. The Toronto Maple Leafs should take advantage by venturing into a new sector, Esports.

The idea is simple. Keep hockey fresh in the minds of fans by televising  “NHL 20” games with heavy intrigue.

The Maple Leafs should host E-gaming for multiple reasons.

The popularity of the medium currently exists primarily with a younger demographic. It’s exactly what the NHL could use to help grow their game. Grabbing new fans is important as a practice to grow the business of hockey. That would be good for both the league and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Getting into a different medium could also be a money-making opportunity for the Leafs. Without actual games being played, MLSE would surely love to generate cash flow. With the organization treating its employees exceptionally well compared to others in the NHL, continuing to generate revenue would hopefully allow the Leafs to ensure their full-time and part-time staff continue to be paid.

How It Will Work

League 1

The Leafs should set up two leagues. The first would find its competitors by having members of the public enter into a random draw. The lottery winners would play two untelevised games in a single-elimination format where they would need to win both games in order to make it to televised matches.

For those that qualify, they would then face one of the players on the Maple Leafs. Brackets would be set up that had an equal ratio of Leafs to fans. This would add to the excitement to see which professional player is also the best gamer. It would also have the built-in depth, measuring whether on-ice talent translates enough to beat gaming enthusiasts.

Bragging rights would be big for one of the Leafs to win a tournament like this. It would also be the thrill of a lifetime for a fan to get to play against their hockey heroes. And the potential for storylines would be vast. Imagine how gripping it would be if one of the better players was also a teenager or younger.

League 2

While the first league and tournament would be filled with recreational gamers along with the actual Maple Leafs, the second league would consist of just professionals. While this already does exist, the Leafs have the means to find the best gamers living in the GTA and have them compete against one another.

Keeping things local is what would make this unique for the Leafs. They could then keep the top finishers and find replacements for those who were ousted early in order to keep things fresh for future NHL 20 tournaments.

While the Leafs fans are itching to watch Auston Matthews attempt to make history, their hunger for hockey may be satiated, at least temporarily, by getting creative.