Biggest Chokers Showdown: Toronto Maple Leafs VS San Jose Sharks

[Hockeyville USA]

First, I don't think its fair to label the Sharks as chokers. They were a legitimate threat every year - the fact they didn't quite get the cup shouldn't give them a label like "choker". It's really hard to win the cup. Not every contending team will get there. They came up short, but to label them as "chokers" is wrong.

The Leafs? As others have said in this discussion, their story isn't over yet. I enjoy watching the Leafs lose, but I don't anticipate that this core from the Leafs is done contending yet, unless they decide to move in a different direction or something.

The Sharks choked in 2006 against the Oilers, 2007 against the Red Wings, 2009 against the Ducks, 2014 against the Kings. They massively underachieved in 2008 against the Stars, but they did fight back in that series so I'll give em some credit. 2010 against the Blackhawks, 2011 against the Canucks, 2012 against the Blues, 2013 against the Kings, 2016 against the Penguins, they just fell short against equal or better teams. 2019 against the Blues, they ran out of gas and were hurt to hell to end that series.

 

[BenningHurtsMySoul]

Sharks have at least made a Cup final.

 

[Oneiro]

Sharks were a much better and competitive team, deeper at most positions and much more uptempo than then last 3-4 years in Toronto.

 

[coooldude]

The Sharks choked in 2006 against the Oilers, 2007 against the Red Wings, 2009 against the Ducks, 2014 against the Kings. They massively underachieved in 2008 against the Stars, but they did fight back in that series so I'll give em some credit. 2010 against the Blackhawks, 2011 against the Canucks, 2012 against the Blues, 2013 against the Kings, 2016 against the Penguins, they just fell short against equal or better teams. 2019 against the Blues, they ran out of gas and were hurt to hell to end that series.

Good analysis, but I would quibble with choking 2007 against the Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Lidstrom-Hasek Wings. Sharks only led 1-0 and 2-1, but the Wings evened it up and took it away in 5 & 6. Then lost in the WCF to the cup winner Ducks. Hard to be ashamed of losing to those Wings.

Definitely were big favorites vs. Ducks in 2009 but with a lot of hindsight it's not too surprising they lost against a team that still had Pronger, Niedermayer, peak Getzlaf, peaking Corey Perry. At the time though, felt like a huge bed shitting for sure.

As you said, ultimately the 2007, 2010-13, 2016 years were just getting beat by better teams despite the star power on the Sharks. We lacked depth, which is why the star players were shut down / "didn't show up." The choker rep came from 2006, 2009, the 2008 DAL series early underperformance as you pointed out, and obviously cemented by 2014.

 

[Mrfenn92]

Sharks had a very good team and a very good run.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Good analysis, but I would quibble with choking 2007 against the Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Lidstrom-Hasek Wings. Sharks only led 1-0 and 2-1, but the Wings evened it up and took it away in 5 & 6. Then lost in the WCF to the cup winner Ducks. Hard to be ashamed of losing to those Wings.

Definitely were big favorites vs. Ducks in 2009 but with a lot of hindsight it's not too surprising they lost against a team that still had Pronger, Niedermayer, peak Getzlaf, peaking Corey Perry. At the time though, felt like a huge bed shitting for sure.

As you said, ultimately the 2007, 2010-13, 2016 years were just getting beat by better teams despite the star power on the Sharks. We lacked depth, which is why the star players were shut down / "didn't show up." The choker rep came from 2006, 2009, the 2008 DAL series early underperformance as you pointed out, and obviously cemented by 2014.

Go back and watch the highlights of the 2007 Sharks Red Wings series (AWood40 has it on YouTube): the Sharks outplayed the Red Wings in 4 or 4.5 of those 6 games. Sharks threw away Game 2 in the 3rd period, threw away Game 4 up a goal, under 40 seconds left, defensive structure breakdown, Nabokov gives up a goal from Lang that he'd want back. Should have gone up 3-1 in the series. Instead, delay of game penalty in OT, Hannan failed clear, Schneider clapper deflects off Rissmiller and under the bar, Wings win to tie the series 2-2. Detroit only really outplayed San Jose in the 2nd half of Game 5 and then all of Game 6.

 

[Beukeboom Fan]

Ehhh, depends. Two different styles of choke artists.

The Sharks had tons of VERY good regular seasons, finishing 1st or 2nd in their conference. They would win some playoff rounds, but could never get over the hump and win a Cup. They also had a lot of embarrassing losses to low seeds, or blown series leads.

The Leafs had good regular seasons, but have never been the favourites in their division (except the Canadian Covid year). Unlike the Sharks, they don’t win rounds, but choke by losing every single Game 7 imaginable.

If you look at any individual playoff run, Sharks are the bigger choker. But if you look at their playoff careers as wholes during their ‘choking era’, I think it’s the Leafs.

Leafs won the Atlantic this year.

SJ also made it to the WCF several times and the Finals once.

I do think it's to early to call.

 

[HockeyWooot]

Sharks don’t belong here

 

[FinlandPanther]

Leafs AINEC