![Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Sydney Crosby (87) lifts the trophy after defeating the United States during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_4947,h_2782/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/121/01jrdmtja5zqynz8hw47.jpg "Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Sydney Crosby (87) lifts the trophy after defeating the United States during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images")
The Toronto Maple Leafs are in the middle of the season's supposedly most exciting part - the stretch run.
Unfortunately, the hockey is boring and sub-par compared to what we were treated with earlier in the year. The fact is, that the Toronto Maple Leafs playoff run is just not that interesting this year.
Yeah I know I should be pumped about the drama of a potential first-place finish, a Battle of Ontario, or re-matches against the Florida teams.
But I'm not, and there are two reasons why.
The 4 Nations was so good it ruined the Toronto Maple Leafs regular season
I thought that shutting down the NHL to have a fake-tournament that didn't even include Russia was a terrible idea. When the 4 Nations was getting underway, I could not have cared less.
Then, a huge orange mascot-like figure, though one not nearly as intelligent or good looking as Gritty, talked about taking over my country. Suddenly imbued with a patriotism heretofore undreamt of, I rabidly cheered for Team Canada and can honestly say that the 4 Nations was more or less the Hockey Highlight of my life.
Watching those three losers start pre-meditated fights and then getting their asses handed to them was one of the greatest things I've ever seen - other than Connor McDavid's game and series winning goal, that is.
Team Canada's victory was glorious and the NHL put on a hell of a show. Only problem? The rest of the regular season.
I can't speak for anyone else, but I can barely sit through a full regular season game at this point. I love watching hockey, don't get me wrong, but after the intenseness of the 4 Nations, everything else seems like training camp.
Adding to this problem is the fact that pretty much every Toronto Maple Leafs fan has made a secret pact with themselves to stop caring about the regular season. After making the playoffs for eight straight seasons (nine now) and losing in the first round, or worse, seven times, we no longer really give two hoots from an owl if Marner scores 100 points or if the Leafs finish first, second or third.
We only want to see them succeed in the playoffs. So, the Leafs recent history coupled with the 4 Nations made the regular season seem like it was about 400 games long. I seriously hope I never hear about Ovechkin or Gretzky ever again. I just want to watch playoff hockey - at this point, I just want to watch a game that matters.