The Outlook Is Beyond Optimistic
Under the circumstances of the last three years, Leafs fans should be pumped for the new season. Add in the fact that they are a team that never quits and always comes back for more, and they should earn your devotion.
But hey, some guy who works for the Toronto Sun told you they suck, even though they failed for 50+ years while following conventional hockey wisdom, they should totally bail on a team who has gotten demonstrably unlucky at every turn, despite setting an Original Six franchise record in points and wins.
If you aren’t pumped for this team, I’m afraid that maybe you’ve been brainwashed by the media’s ceaseless campaign to punish Kyle Dubas for having the temerity to re-think what the Old Boys Club has told us was set in stone.
Hockey hates innovation, and the media hates being ignored. You can trace the Leafs current perception right back to the fact that they chose a The Kid over The Stegosaurus, then hired a rookie coach, over a different Stegosaurus, then ignored the demand to trade William Nylander.
Just keep in mind the following:
The Leafs now have about $10-12 million or so in cap space with Murray and Muzzin on the LTIR and likely not coming back soon, if ever.
Auston Matthews shooting 3% just means more goals later when time and the law of averages correct him back to 15%.
Everyone wants to trade Pierre Engvall, but he is coming off a high-ankle sprain, and the Leafs are yet to pair him with Kampf (due to Kerfoot, but they will eventually). His numbers are great, but the save percentage and shooting percentages are crazy-low, so let’s just forget that he was the NHL’s best defensive forward last season (along with his partner, Kampf).
David Kampf leads the team with 2 5v5 goals. Did I already say that? I am repeating it for emphasis. The team has a winning record and Kampf leads them in goals. That is the sign the team is insanely good.
Barrie Trotz might look like Dr. Robotnik, but that doesn’t make him the right coach for this team. Sheldon Keefe is a coach for the future. The last thing this team needs is to look to the past.
Stay the course. Play the kids. Be patient.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are the NHL’s best team.