Every Toronto Maple Leafs fan wants their team to win, but can we remember just how bad it used to be?
Being a Toronto Maple Leafs fan is painful, but it’s not as bad as it used to be.
Just five years ago, Toronto was named the second most miserable sports city in North America. Since then, every team in the city has been successful. The Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC, Toronto Argonauts, Toronto Marlies and even Raptors 905 have won a championship, where the Toronto Blue Jays and Toronto Maple Leafs have at least made the playoffs.
The city is at an unbelievably high state of success and there’s no better time to be a Toronto sports fan. However, some people put the Toronto Maple Leafs on-top of the pedestal for sports fandom. They’d give all of those other championships back, just for their beloved blue-and-white lift the Stanley Cup.
I love the Toronto Maple Leafs, just as much, if not more than some of you reading. However, I’m a realist. I’m incredibly optimistic about this team, but I’m not somebody to say the team is going to win the Stanley Cup, when they’re the worst team in the league.
So let me say this, LOUD and clear. This is the best window the Toronto Maple Leafs have to win a Stanley Cup since 1993. I know the NHL has more parity than ever and the team has been unsuccessful recently, but this roster is immensely talented and can get the job done.
For the better part of the past 20 years, the objective was to make the playoffs. We’re at a point now that the regular season doesn’t even matter. The season starts Game 1 of the First Round, every year until Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner no longer play for this team.
The Team Is In Such a Better State Than 5 Years Ago
If you’re reading this website, I’m going to assume you’re a die-hard Toronto Maple Leafs fan. You may be more pessimistic than optimistic, but you bleed blue-and-white.
Although this team has broken your heart more times than not, your passion keeps bringing you back year-after-year. The Toronto Maple Leafs are currently a really good hockey team, but for whatever reason people bash them like they’re the 2020 New York Jets.
Look at the Toronto Maple Leafs 2015-16 season opening night roster:
Forwards:
James van Riemsdyk – Nazem Kadri – P.A. Parenteau
Joffrey Lupul – Tyler Bozak – Brad Boyes
Shawn Matthias – Peter Holland – Leo Komarov
Daniel Winnik – Nick Spaling – Mark Arcobello
Defense:
Morgan Rielly – Dion Phaneuf
Jake Gardiner – Matt Hunwick
Martin Marincin – Scott Harrington
Goaltenders:
Jonathan Bernier (Starter)
James Reimer (Back-up)
How can you look at that roster and be upset about anything today? I know this core hasn’t won a playoff round, but they’re so close. The more this team fails, the sweeter success will taste when it actually happens.
If you’re arguing that the Toronto Maple Leafs aren’t tough enough, they’ve recently added Zach Bogosian and Wayne Simmonds to help fill that void. If you don’t think the goaltending is strong enough, the Toronto Maple Leafs now have four NHL goaltenders on the current roster.
Or if you’re still not convinced about the defense and depth scoring, just look at the Toronto Maple Leafs roster from five years ago. They had three AHL defenseman in the starting line-up and P.A. Parenteau led the team with 20 goals that season.
You know how may 20-goal scorers the Toronto Maple Leafs had in their last 82-game season? Seven! How in the world can anyone complain about anything when the team has grown so much in such a short time.
Most rebuilds in professional sports take anywhere between 3-5 seasons. And for that rebuild to be called successful, that only means making the playoffs.
For those of you keeping track at home, the Toronto Maple Leafs rebuilt their franchise in one season. Yes, one! They finished in last place, won the 2016 NHL Draft Lottery and selected Auston Matthews. Since then, the team has made the post-season in four straight years. Obviously this pandemic year was different, but they technically qualified for post-season hockey, although it was just a Qualifying Series and not the playoffs.
When the 2020-21 season eventually begins, just remember how bleak things looked a few short years ago. Only four of the 20 players from that opening night roster would have a chance at cracking the current Toronto Maple Leafs roster.
I know it’s been difficult, but it’s time to stay optimistic. Good things are on their way Leafs-Land, just trust me.