Dear NHL: Thanks for the Centenary Snub in Leafland
Posted 3:18 PM ET | Comments 16
One hundred years ago, the world was in the thick of World War I.
Think about how much has happened, and changed in that time....A LOT.
Another thing that was happening one hundred years ago (and has happened every year since then with the exception of ONE year, thanks Gary) was Toronto Maple Leaf NHL games.
2017 marks the 100th anniversary of the Toronto Maple Leafs. One of the most storied and recognized franchises, not just in professional sports in North America, but in the entire world. It also marks 50 years since we last had a Stanley Cup parade in Toronto. Any long suffering Leaf fan (that isn't wearing horse blinders) will be the first to admit that we are not a good hockey team, and haven't been for a really long time. In fact, we have a terrible team, but at least we are finally seeing some light at the end of a tunnel that has many potential turns in it.
This 100th anniversary didn't just sneak up on the league, it is a known date, and a significant date for all of hockey whether or not you are a Leaf fan, you have to respect it. The Maple Leaf organization has been in discussions with the NHL head office for over six years regarding the Centenary year celebrations they would like to host. They lobbied for The All Star Game, the NHL draft, and the Winter Classic.
So far we know that the All Star game will be in Los Angeles, the draft is reported to be in Chicago, and the Winter Classic will apparently be in St. Louis.
Not only is this a massive insult to the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, and it's fans who have been INSANELY loyal through so many terrible teams (the lineup tonight in Edmonton being an all time low) - it is incredibly disrespectful to the history of the NHL. The league should be proud to have teams that have existed for 100 years, that is and of itself an incredible feat. Never mind how much money the club has generated for the league to prop up teams in totally nonviable markets for the past decade.
What do you think the Yankees, Manchester United, Boston Red Sox, and whatever handful of professional teams that have existed for 100 years would do if they had been as publicly slighted by their respective leagues? It would NEVER happen.
The NHL should be ashamed of themselves. Toronto and Maple Leaf fans deserved better in the limited amount of celebrating we can hope for in our 100th season. Our team might not be good, but you can't say the real fans aren't good. Suits in seats, whatever arguments you might have against us, that is economics not hockey talk. Consider the fact that the MTHL, now GTHL, produces tonnes of the leagues players and a lot of it's stars, Toronto is hockey.
For the NHL to have dropped the ball (again...John Scott) this year is an embarrassment. The history of the league should be celebrated, and the 100th anniversary of ANY club, is worth celebrating - more than "potential" USA TV ratings, Gary.
Disappointed is the only word, maybe insulted is the other.
Think about how much has happened, and changed in that time....A LOT.
Another thing that was happening one hundred years ago (and has happened every year since then with the exception of ONE year, thanks Gary) was Toronto Maple Leaf NHL games.
2017 marks the 100th anniversary of the Toronto Maple Leafs. One of the most storied and recognized franchises, not just in professional sports in North America, but in the entire world. It also marks 50 years since we last had a Stanley Cup parade in Toronto. Any long suffering Leaf fan (that isn't wearing horse blinders) will be the first to admit that we are not a good hockey team, and haven't been for a really long time. In fact, we have a terrible team, but at least we are finally seeing some light at the end of a tunnel that has many potential turns in it.
This 100th anniversary didn't just sneak up on the league, it is a known date, and a significant date for all of hockey whether or not you are a Leaf fan, you have to respect it. The Maple Leaf organization has been in discussions with the NHL head office for over six years regarding the Centenary year celebrations they would like to host. They lobbied for The All Star Game, the NHL draft, and the Winter Classic.
So far we know that the All Star game will be in Los Angeles, the draft is reported to be in Chicago, and the Winter Classic will apparently be in St. Louis.
Not only is this a massive insult to the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, and it's fans who have been INSANELY loyal through so many terrible teams (the lineup tonight in Edmonton being an all time low) - it is incredibly disrespectful to the history of the NHL. The league should be proud to have teams that have existed for 100 years, that is and of itself an incredible feat. Never mind how much money the club has generated for the league to prop up teams in totally nonviable markets for the past decade.
What do you think the Yankees, Manchester United, Boston Red Sox, and whatever handful of professional teams that have existed for 100 years would do if they had been as publicly slighted by their respective leagues? It would NEVER happen.
The NHL should be ashamed of themselves. Toronto and Maple Leaf fans deserved better in the limited amount of celebrating we can hope for in our 100th season. Our team might not be good, but you can't say the real fans aren't good. Suits in seats, whatever arguments you might have against us, that is economics not hockey talk. Consider the fact that the MTHL, now GTHL, produces tonnes of the leagues players and a lot of it's stars, Toronto is hockey.
For the NHL to have dropped the ball (again...John Scott) this year is an embarrassment. The history of the league should be celebrated, and the 100th anniversary of ANY club, is worth celebrating - more than "potential" USA TV ratings, Gary.
Disappointed is the only word, maybe insulted is the other.
Oh, GAWD! How can such a big city have such a little man complex?
draft would have been appropriate for toronto
nhl spared us the embarrassment of hosting the ASG.do you know what our roster will likely consist of next year?
You know what, who cares about what the team will look like. Im a habs fan and we had the whole thing for our 100th anniversary. Sad for leafs nation, they could have used a good party somewhere in there....
Quite the whining. Good lord.
Its called Affluenza. And you say you are not the Centre of the Universe? Did we forget about the World Cup? Affluenza.
Why would you want to host an asg if you have no allstar caliber players?
The league would be better off without toronto. Cry me a franking river!
Even as a Sabres fan and Leaf hater, I agree with the message you are getting across. The Leafs should have hosted the draft at the very least to honor 100 years of hockey in this great sport.
I too think we should be celebrating 50 years without a cup parade in Toronto! Here here!
Montreal had both the ASG and Entry Draft to celebrate their 100th season. Any team that survives (and ensures the survival of other franchises) for 100 years should be celebrated regardless of TV ratings. This is an embarrassment for the league. Please do not comment just because you hate the team, comment if you actually have something intelligent to contribute.
Edmonton has been a city for 112 years.
The World Cup has nothing to do with the Maple Leafs 100th anniversary. It is here because the NHL know this is where they will generate the most money to put towards HRR.
FYI af·flu·en·za -a psychological malaise supposedly affecting wealthy young people, symptoms of which include a lack of motivation, feelings of guilt, and a sense of isolation.
How about an outdoor game called the Heritage Classic Toronto/Montreal on Hockey Day in Canada?
And there we have it ...Centenial Classic.