Why the Toronto Maple Leafs Need to Play Hard

As always, the players on the Toronto Maple Leafs still believe they have a shot at the playoffs, despite many critics disagreeing.

It is very unlikely that they will make the postseason, given their rank in the standings, but mathematically there's still a slim chance.  As long as that possibility remains, the Leafs players will not give up. 

A common thought is to is ditch the remainder of the season by giving minimal effort and preparing to load up young talent for the future.  It may seem like a good idea, but is it something you can actually expect a professional hockey player to do?

You can't!

It is not in the nature of any good hockey player to give up.  You must keep battling. You must do the impossible.  A hockey player, or any athlete for that matter, doesn't know the phrase give up -- It's all or nothing.  If you know your team can't make it, then make it as hard as possible for everyone else.  

The saying: "If we can't have it no one can!" is embedded into both the sport of hockey and it's players, with even the fans believing it to a certain extent. 

For instance, years ago when the Canadians were the defending Stanley Cup champs and weren't in the finals, a Montreal fan broke into the casing of the Stanley Cup during the deciding game and tried to steal it.  When asked by the police why, he responded by saying that he couldn't bare to see the Cup go to any other team.

This passion for the game is why neither the Leafs nor any other struggling team would ever purposely drop games to increase their draft location and prepare for the future, even when they are no longer in the playoff race.  For the players, it is a matter of honor,  pride, and of sheer defiance to anyone that will try and put their team down.

Players who give up on their team when they are no longer in the playoff race are ones who should be slotted to be sent elsewhere.  These are the players that you don't want on your team. 

Hockey is a tough sport.  Arguably the toughest sport around (maybe besides football), hockey is the game that doesn't allow the faint of heart to win the big prize. The Leafs need to stay determined during this rough stretch and find out who on the team are quitters and who are the ones willing to fight for every game.  Once they identify their players, they can then trade the quitters for non quitters, and make any other changes necessary to become a strong winning team.