This may be a weird time for everyone, but things are about to pick up for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the next 10 days.
In the next 10 days, the 2020 NHL Entry Draft and Free Agent Frenzy will all take place for the Toronto Maple Leafs. After having a rollercoaster ride of emotions for five games in August, expect a lot to happen in the next few days.
Besides winning a Stanley Cup, the off-season is the most fun time of the year to be a sports fan. After the season finishes, a clean slate filled with optimism and rumors is so much fun. For the past few months, we’ve been talking about Alex Pietrangelo becoming a Leaf and even if that doesn’t happen, it’s been fun as hell talking about it.
The same thing happened with John Tavares two years ago and that actually happened! For a full season, you would crack jokes to New York Islanders fans, saying I hope you’re enjoying JT in Long Island, because before you know it, he’s going to be scoring 40 goals a season in his hometown. The fact that the Leafs were able to actually acquire a big-name like Tavares was insane and just as much fun as watching him play every night.
Free Agency is going to be a crazy few days in Toronto and so is the NHL Draft. There’s nothing more fun than watching the NHL Entry Draft and getting mad or pumped at the Leafs drafting a player you’ve never heard of. Every Draft night you talk yourself into being an expert, even though you have no idea who these 18-year-olds are and what type of player they’re going to turn into.
I remember thinking Frederik Gauthier was the biggest steal of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, but that hasn’t turned out the way we hoped. Maybe next year he’ll be that shutdown two-way centre we all hoped and win the Selke Award….
Doubtful.
Regardless, here are three things to expect from the Toronto Maple Leafs in the next 10 days.