Toronto Maple Leafs Fans Deserve Better

From the outside looking in, it appears that Toronto Maple Leafs fans are in an abusive relationship with their team. With every new season, fans think their team will have a clean slate to make a run at the Stanley Cup.

This season was no different than seasons past. The Leafs had a great start to the season and were battling for the top spot in the division. Fans had high hopes during the first half of the season. Somewhere around the All-Star break the wheels fell off, and the Leafs began to fall in the standings.

The Leafs have not been to the playoffs in six seasons, and it looks like they are about to make it seven.

Toronto is considered to be the center of the hockey universe, is home to numerous hockey events and the NHL headquarters.

Fans of the Leafs are some of the most passionate in the league. Most current fans have only heard rumors or stories about how great the Leafs have been. The Leafs do have 13 Stanley Cups in the franchise history, but most current fans see them only as old videos before their time.

Generations of previous fans enjoyed many cups, but the Leafs haven’t won since 1967. With such a long gap since the last cup win, most current fans have never experienced the franchise’s success.

Leafs fans stay loyal to their team regardless of how many times the team breaks their hearts. Understandably, there are high expectations for a team playing Toronto. The Leafs might cringe at taking advice from a longtime rival, but the quote above the door to the Detroit Red Wings locker room holds true for the Leafs.

 “To whom much is given, much is expected.”

Fans do expect a lot from the team, but the Leafs are truly given a lot.

Leafs fans pack the arena every night the team plays and are always involved in the game. The fans might be cheering or booing, but at least they are involved and not quiet.

The Leafs also play in a great hockey market. Obviously, the city of Toronto cares about hockey; it is where many important hockey facilities are located. Because the Leafs play in a large hockey market, they are not limited by being a low-revenue, small-market team.

Fans have been abused by the team for a long time, and maybe the team just doesn’t realize what they are doing or how good they have it in Toronto. Maybe the fans could persuade the NHL into a trade. The NHL clearly wants hockey in Phoenix, so maybe the NHL could just trade franchises and send the Leafs to Phoenix and the Coyotes to Toronto.

It may seem crazy to start trading franchises, but the Coyotes are tired of playing in a half-empty arena and would be grateful for the Toronto fans. Maybe sending the Leafs to Phoenix would show them how good they really had it in Toronto.

Crazy solutions aside, the fans of Toronto continue to stand by the team no matter how many times they get let down. The loyalty the Leaf fans show is remarkable and can only be commended.

While this season looks like it will be just another in a long line of let downs by the Leafs, hopefully, soon, they can at least get into the playoffs. Making the playoffs would be the first step to giving the fans something in return for their loyalty, and maybe someday soon the Leafs will break the vicious cycle and get some playoff wins for the Toronto faithful.