Rivalry Cooking Between Bruins And Leafs

The rivalry between the Bruins and Leafs is not even in the same stratosphere as the one with the Habs, not yet anyways.

But it definitely is picking up steam.

The Bruins and Maple Leafs haven’t had any reason to really hate each other since the Toronto’s return to the Eastern Conference (why were they ever in the West, is beyond me).

They are division rivals.

They are an “Original Six” franchise.

But when you think Bruins rivals, you think the red, blue, and white of Les Canadiens.

Sure Montreal and Boston has some ties, Claude Julien, Michael Ryder, and Glen Metropolit.

However, Toronto and Boston will be connected for the foreseeable future.

It reminds me of the Jets-Patriots rivalry.

There was the NY-Boston thing before the early 90’s but there was no heated rivalry.

Then Parcells jumped ship to the Jets after the ’96 season.

You had the Tuna Bowl. Tuna Bowl II. Tuna Bowl III.

Curtis Martin bolted to NY to become one of the best running backs arguably in NFL history.

The rivalry was hot and the hatred was deep.

Then the Patriots got some revenge when Bill Belichick was head coach for the Jets for one day before he slipped out the back door to New England.

Draft picks were given to the Jets and New York hired former Patriots coordinator, Al Groh.

How did that work out?

Since 2000, the Patriots have won three super bowls and the Jets zilch.

Then in 2007 you had “Spygate” and the whistle was blown by former Patriots coordinator, Eric Mangini on his old boss.

I think the Bruins and Leafs have a similar recipe for a rivalry in place.

First Ingredient: Phil Kessel

He was the fifth overall pick of the Bruins in the 2006 draft out of the University of Minnesota.

He was a flashy and gifted sniper that showed growth in his first two years in the league.

Kessel beat testicular cancer and returned from it.

In 2007, Kessel won the Masterson trophy for perseverance and dedication to hockey.

He had his best season in 2008 with 36 goals, but all wasn’t well.

Head coach, Claude Julien and Kessel locked horns. Julien wanted him to be more two way than flashy.

Then in the summer of 2009, he made it known that he didn’t want to play in Boston.

Bruins GM, Peter Chiarelli, granted him his wish and shipped him off to Toronto.

The Bruins received first round picks in 2010 and 2011 as well as a second rounder in ’10 draft.

A he said, she said broke out between Kessel and Bruins management on the reasons why he requested a trade.

He allegedly told Marc Savard not to sign his contract to stay in Boston.

The flames of a rivalry were being fanned.

Second Ingredient: Tuuka Rask        

The young Bruins goalie phenom was, you guessed it, a former Maple Leafs prospect.

I bet they wish they had him right now.

The Bruins traded goaltender, Andrew Raycroft for Rask in 2006. Rask was Toronto’s first round pick in 2005.

The Maple Leafs needed goaltending help right away and couldn’t wait for Rask to materialize.

Patience is a virtue Toronto!

Raycroft went on to win 39 games in two seasons (37 wins in ’06-07) before being moved to Colorado.

He is now with Vancouver meandering in mediocrity.

Third Ingredient: Toronto is the “New York” Of Canada

The press in New York is relentless when it comes to their football and baseball teams.

Toronto is the equivalent of pressure and expectations when it comes to the Leafs and hockey.

The Leafs ARE Toronto.

Kessel went from the background with Boston to the spotlight in Toronto. The expectations for him to save the franchise and bring their first Stanley Cup since the 1960’s will be suffocating.

The Maple Leafs gave up the farm for him.

Seeing him face the press after his team’s 7-2 debacle against the Bruins was sad to see.

You ALMOST felt bad for him.

He looked uncomfortable and wished he could be home playing his PS3 with his buddies.

Phil, time to sleep in the bed you made and the mattress isn’t going to be comfortable!

Ingredient Four: Keeping Up With The Joneses

The Bruins are the cream of the NHL crop and the Leafs are blowing around in the basement.

The Leafs will have something to prove to the Bruins everytime they play.

Toronto will have to prove that they made the right decision on Kessel.

They have to prove that shipping away Rask will not come back to haunt them (pssst….it already has).

The Leafs have to prove that they will not be an easy 2 points for the Bruins.

Well if last night was any indication of Toronto proving anything, they proved that they are no better than a junior team.

They got blown off the TD Bank Garden, 7-2.

Kessel was booed and heckled.

He was outscored by former Leaf prospect, Tuuka Rask (1 assist) on the score sheet.

Everytime they tried to be physical or intimidating, the Bruins put them in their place.

Well the Leafs don’t have to wait long to get their bells rung again.

They face the Bruins again on Thursday night.

Same Bat time.

Same Bat channel.

This rivalry is baking nicely and Toronto will enjoy the humble pie.

Joe Gill is a featured blogger for Boston Sports Then and Now, Rootzoo.com and Trufan.com