23 years as a Leafs fan - might 2014 bring change?
Posted 1:34 PM ET | Comments 4
If you were to physically illustrate the ups and downs that have defined my life as a Leafs fan, you would have yourself a picture of something resembling a ride at Canada’s Wonderland. From the ongoing frustrations of the JFJ era – moves like signing Jason Blake after a year we all knew he couldn’t repeat, to the excitement brought upon us by Burke and his unforeseeable acquisition of Dion Phaneuf. The truth is, my experience as a Toronto Maple Leafs fan over my 23 years has brought me more emotional stress then any hockey fan should ever have to go through.
The thing about being a Leafs fan is that the passion has never faltered. In fact, as the years have gone on I have only grown to follow my team more and more. With the Burke firing and the hiring of Dave Nonis, I felt as though another failure had been admitted for the Leafs. The once bold and empowering statements made by Burke of adding truculence and belligerence to his lineup seemed more like reassurances that we would never find success in Toronto. The 2013 playoffs brought excitement to Toronto that had not been felt in years, and yet it ended in a sense of disappointment that left me stunned. Sure we made the playoffs, and we put up a fight against one of the top teams in the league. But what does it all really mean when a 4-1 lead and an all but assured victory could be lost without logic or reason? That playoff loss was one of the most difficult moments in my lifetime as a Leafs fan, and still today I watch my team with that memory close by.
This experience defines what it now means to be a Leafs fan for me. Every positive development is accepted with the assumption that at some point something will go wrong. I can only wonder if and what type of success will change this trend. When will I ever be able to let go of the negativity I feel as a Leafs fan? We can continue to improve, add players and play a stronger lineup. But I find that I will always question the legitimacy of our team. For now, it seems as the only possibility is to look forward to the 2014 playoffs – assuming we make them. My feeling is that nothing but a Stanley cup will cure this habit. It has been 46 years since the last, and so I wonder how many more it will take. In the meantime, I suppose the small strides are all I have to cheer about while I pray for the day when my pride in the blue and white is restored.
The thing about being a Leafs fan is that the passion has never faltered. In fact, as the years have gone on I have only grown to follow my team more and more. With the Burke firing and the hiring of Dave Nonis, I felt as though another failure had been admitted for the Leafs. The once bold and empowering statements made by Burke of adding truculence and belligerence to his lineup seemed more like reassurances that we would never find success in Toronto. The 2013 playoffs brought excitement to Toronto that had not been felt in years, and yet it ended in a sense of disappointment that left me stunned. Sure we made the playoffs, and we put up a fight against one of the top teams in the league. But what does it all really mean when a 4-1 lead and an all but assured victory could be lost without logic or reason? That playoff loss was one of the most difficult moments in my lifetime as a Leafs fan, and still today I watch my team with that memory close by.
This experience defines what it now means to be a Leafs fan for me. Every positive development is accepted with the assumption that at some point something will go wrong. I can only wonder if and what type of success will change this trend. When will I ever be able to let go of the negativity I feel as a Leafs fan? We can continue to improve, add players and play a stronger lineup. But I find that I will always question the legitimacy of our team. For now, it seems as the only possibility is to look forward to the 2014 playoffs – assuming we make them. My feeling is that nothing but a Stanley cup will cure this habit. It has been 46 years since the last, and so I wonder how many more it will take. In the meantime, I suppose the small strides are all I have to cheer about while I pray for the day when my pride in the blue and white is restored.
You know, here is the thing. Did the Oilers not have to learn how to beat the Islanders? That young team got trounced a few times before they turned into a dynasty. That happens to most teams.Sure it stings to lose so. So close yet denied. That said the team learned and grew from it and is playing better now for it. Changes happened to increase experience and ability to hold leads.All of this makes the Leafs better. It is all about time, and no matter what it is having pride in the fact the team is growing, playing well, and caring as we have NOT had in a very long time is worth celebrating and enjoying.
But they are still tragic.....
For this team to really move forward, their puck possession must improve significantly. The teams that win are highly ranked in puck possession and Corsi.
Have to agree with Blueliner here, the major issue I see is a well-established fore check and lack of puck possession leading to offense. Pretty much both represented by the lack of shots this year..