The Toronto Maple Leafs are about to embark on an other season of hockey after yet another playoff failure.
Training camp is about to start for the Toronto Maple Leafs yet all I keep thinking about is the 1993 Bill Murray film, “Groundhog Day.”
There is a scene partway into this movie where Murray’s character, after reliving the same day for what is an undisclosed but obviously significant period of time, sits plopped in front of the television set in his pajamas amongst the elderly motel inhabitants taking in the nightly episode of ‘Jeopardy’ in the common room.
As Phil (Murray) dejectedly snacks on popcorn he recites the correct response to each clue aloud without emotion, much to the bewilderment and, ultimately, delight of the fellow onlookers. At the end of the scene, Phil provides the correct answer before the question is even asked whilst staring directly into the eyes of the woman sitting next to him. He then proceeds to chug a mouthful of liquor straight from the bottle.
It’s a great scene (and movie) and it is pretty much exactly how I feel about the start of training camp and ensuing 2021-2022 NHL season for the Toronto Maple Leafs. What is: What is the point?
Yet Another Toronto Maple Leafs Regular Season
I mean seriously, I have never been this more apathetic towards an NHL season since I watched John Mitchell dress as Phil Kessel’s number one centre. Exactly what are we supposed to be excited about this year?
We watched the Leafs torch the North Division this past season with nearly a .700 points % ; saw the emergence of a starting goaltender who only lost three games in his 22 games played and almost witnessed a Leaf player hit 50 goals in 50 games, an absolute ridiculous milestone in this day and age of hockey (stats from hockey-reference.com).
This was the easiest path to a Stanley Cup berth possible for this Leafs squad and yet, unbelievably (or, perhaps, believably, at this point) this team still found a way to bow out in the first round.
So, again, I ask: What’s the point?
What’s the point of assessing the team’s offseason acquisitions? They could have literally acquired any top free-agent and still there would be the same level of apathy, trepidation and pessimism, wouldn’t there have to be?
What’s the point of predicting line combinations? What does it matter if Bunting or Ritchie solidify themselves as legitimate, top-six forwards if Toronto ultimately blows a 3-0 first-round playoff lead to Linus Ullmark and the Boston Bruins?
And what’s the point of following training camp storylines and identifying Leaf break-out candidates? Nick Robertson can win a spot on the big-club and score 30 goals this year and it is all meaningless if Mitch Marner gets goose egged again and Sheldon Keefe refuses to adapt to his playoff opponent’s playing style.
I know, I know, some people may be stoked about this upcoming season but I’ve been racking my brain to come up with interesting articles and/or topics as the NHL season approaches and all I keep thinking is- What is the point?
So that is where I leave you as I sit in my pajamas, hunched over a desktop computer with a half-finished tumbler of brandy sitting to my right (it won’t be half-finished for long). I am as beaten-down, dejected and in woefully dis-array as Bill Murray’s iconic Phil Connors- a man who has re-lived the same day over and over again for his entire life who has no will, hopes, dreams or any sort of emotion left. Go Leafs Go?
What is the point.