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The Toronto Maple Leafs and Blue Jays Are Great at the Same Time

By James Tanner

TORONTO, ON - MAY 4: Brayden Point #21 of the Tampa Bay Lightning gets set to take a faceoff against Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during Game Two of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 4, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Lightning defeated the Maple Leafs 5-3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MAY 4: Brayden Point #21 of the Tampa Bay Lightning gets set to take a faceoff against Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during Game Two of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 4, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Lightning defeated the Maple Leafs 5-3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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There has never been a better time to be a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

I guess you could say that the 1960s were a better time for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but if you are 52 years old or younger, how would you know?

The Leafs currently possess the two best players in the history of their franchise, in their absolute primes.  They are entering the season with the best roster in the NHL and as a Stanley Cup favorite.

The Toronto Blue Jays are in a similar situation, and appear to be heading to the playoffs on the back of a recent 8-1 hot streak.

Like the Leafs, the Blue Jays also have two of the best players in the history of their franchise, In Vladdy and Bichette, although thanks to Paul Molitor, Ricky Henderson,  Roy Halliday and Roger Clemens, Jose Bautista and Roberto Alomar, the Jays stars can’t claim to be the best their franchise ever had.

Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Blue Jays

Last year the Jays missed the playoffs by one game after playing half their season in Buffalo.  It is 100% guaranteed that playing in Toronto would have let them win at least one extra game.

Like the Leafs, their inability to win so far has mostly been about luck.   Like the Leafs, if things had of gone perfectly, they might already be champs.

And also like the Leafs, the Blue Jays are likely going to be a top team for the foreseeable future and have a very good chance of winning their league’s championship.

This is a fun time to be a Toronto Sports fan, because even the Raptors are pretty good (though I have to say my enthusiasm dwindled when KD decided to stay in New Jersey).

Ultimately, winning in hockey, like baseball, comes down to much more than just assembling the best roster.  You also have to get lucky.

You must avoid injuries, luck-based slumps, and get lucky with the teams you have to face in the playoffs.

But, even though most people won’t want to hear this, winning isn’t everything? It would be nice, but it’s not guaranteed, and it doesn’t need to happen for you to enjoy yourself.

The Leafs and Jays are both currently giving us amazing, star-stacked teams that are among the best in their respective leagues.  It’s all we can ask for.  They are competitive, fun to watch, and easy to cheer for.

Do I secretly wish that Auston and Mitch weren’t bucket-hat wearing bros who were more like the cool longhairs that Bichette and Vladdy are?  Hell yeah I do. But bros they may be, they are still the two best players in the Leafs history and I cannot wait to watch them for another 89 games this year.

Next. How Close to the Leafs Are the Sens?. dark

Should they win I will be ecstatic, but I’m from Toronto, winning isn’t central to my enjoyment of things.

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