[Matthew Tkachuk] Leafs would be unbelievable if the team wasn't in Toronto

[BruinsFan37]

Half truth mixed with trolling.

There is more "pressure" playing in Toronto (and Canada in general) than in the southern US, but at the same time the Leafs just aren't built correctly. You flip the rosters and it's Florida that's golfing, since the Leafs roster isn't built correctly and the "lack of pressure" isn't going to fix that.

 

[tabness]

Agree, Toronto and Montreal fanbases need to chill the f*** out about their NHL teams

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Agree, Toronto and Montreal fanbases need to chill the f*** out about their NHL teams

Why? The Habs haven't won the Cup in over 30 years and the Leafs in almost 60.

It's easy for Matt to say when he bailed on a Canadian market.

 

[Mr Nogatco]

Great post from the Leafs board re “pressure” in the market there:

This is honestly such an overblown thing. This is an organization that literally has a row of statues outside of the arena for a bunch of guys who never won a thing. Toronto sports as a whole is so far buried in the dirt with the lowest of expectations, all you literally have to do is show up and give a half-decent effort on a nightly basis and people will love you.

I have seen people wearing Tim f***ing Brent jerseys, because he blocked a few shots in a regular season game once. Look like you're trying and like you give a shit out there and you will be a folk hero in Toronto, yet they can't even be bothered to do that.

All you have to do is look at some of the TML avatars and usernames on this site.
Guys beloved not because they won cups or scoring titles but because they played the game in a way that the city could be proud of.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

This would explain why the Yankees, Dodgers, Lakers, etc. never win championships. Just too much pressure when playing in front of large, fanatical crowds.

Oh, wait ...

 

[Silky Johnson]

Why? The Habs haven't won the Cup in over 30 years and the Leafs in almost 60.

It's easy for Matt to say when he bailed on a Canadian market.

Are you trying to make points for him?

 

[a mangy Meowth]

Tkachuk can't really troll the players at this point as I think most anything he'd say would be seen as in poor taste. He's trolling Toronto fans. Maybe because of the we want Florida thing still? IDK

Either way, Tkachuk is just an all-timer of a little bastard. He knows exactly what to say to get people heated, and he loves to do it. Hell, he's probably taught Marchand some new ones. Truly an agitator's agitator.

 

[ItWasJustified]

This is not normal behavior. There are other fanbases with passionate fanbases that are hard on their players, but you're never going to see them throw beer at their own players and try to do stuff to them off ice.

Lol. There are football teams in Europe who had to deal with much more pressure than the Toronto Maple Leafs. If you're going to demand millions of dollars to play hockey you should be able to deal with all kinds of pressure. Otherwise you're in the wrong profession.

This is just expert trolling from Tkatchuk, and the dumb Toronto media (like Chris Johnston and Darren Dregers) are foaming at their mouths, able to write stories about how there's too much pressure and in the end scaring players away from Toronto and other Canadian markets. Then they can write stories about why players don't want to play in Canada and Toronto.

Pure female dog move from everyone involved.

 

[TonsofPuppies]

Tkachuk can't really troll the players at this point as I think most anything he'd say would be seen as in poor taste. He's trolling Toronto fans. Maybe because of the we want Florida thing still? IDK

Either way, Tkachuk is just an all-timer of a little bastard. He knows exactly what to say to get people heated, and he loves to do it. Hell, he's probably taught Marchand some new ones. Truly an agitator's agitator.

It's quite simple why the Panthers are saying these things - they want Toronto to keep doing the same thing and being easy pickings come playoff time. Can't say I blame them, I'd do the same.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

The guy who put up 3 points in the finals sympathizes with players who wilt under pressure? Good thing his teammates didn't think like that.

sprung from magic loins that legendarily choked away three 3-1 series leads

 

[JungleBeat]

NHLers are so soft. Imagine playing for fanbases like the Knicks, Lakers, Real Madrid, Barca and United. Those are how crazy sports can get, NHL pressure is SOFT.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Are you trying to make points for him?

Calgary isn’t a pressure filled market and Florida isn’t pressure filled at all. He’s an American at the end of the day. He’s just not going to get it. Ever.

Blaming the fans is actually a braindead take. Shut up and enjoy your Cup, Matt.

 

[KAWAIlllI]

What’s all this about “outside pressure” some NHL players are talking about? That’s part of being an athlete and a public person, and something basically all top level competitors have to deal with in multiple sports. Try facing the pressure from fans and media when your famous, legendary, football team is in risk of being degregated to the second division, missing out on the Cup, missing a penalty at the World Cup etc etc.

The Leafs ”stars” just ain’t good enough.

Also, I feel like more than half of the tv personalities have the players back - like Dreger the other day arguing with O’Neill about Marner’s worth and how every team in the NHL are calling about him now

 

[Rhaegar Targaryen]

Is Marner making 18 mil?

He's going to get 12-13M. All Ottawa needs to do is move out Batherson and they'll have around 9.5 mil to spend on 4 forwards, and 1 dman. They have Leevi Merilainen as their backup for next year.

He’s going to get offers for $13M+ - Ottawa is not a desirable place to play with the weather and tax, so Ottawa will need to go north of $13M. Plus ensure you’re willing to front load the contract and offer the majority of his earnings in signing bonuses, which the Sens have not done with their current core.

You’d have to overpay Marner, move Batherson without taking any return salary, sign Kleven and Zetterlund to team friendly deals, and go bargain bin shopping to fill the holes, and just then, maybe you’re able to just squeeze under the cap in this NHL 25 fantasy.

 

[RedRocking]

My view of the Leafs and their fandom always goes back to the pre-2004 Red Sox. The “cursed losers” that found new and excruciating ways to lose since 1918. I read an interesting piece from a Boston sportswriter about how such a “curse” permeates and lives with the fanbase, which in turn affects the players.

The fanbases’ angst and anger becomes the common denominator (across the decades and eras). Like FLA scores 1 goal in the 2nd period on Sunday. Crowd goes “here we go again.” and the team unravels in a matter of minutes.

If the difference in performance between G5 & G7 in TOR vs G6 in Sunrise doesn't speak to this phenomenon, then I don’t know what does.

This isn’t to absolve the players. Someone needs to rise above, and break the cycle of losing. Ironically, for the Red Sox, it was David Ortiz aka “Big Papi.” Matthews stole that man’s nickname, and shames his legacy by being a choker every year.

 

[smakki]

He is 100% right. Toxic media and fans affect every Canadian team. Takes McJesus to overcome that.

 

[MoneyManny]

The team being in Toronto has absolutely nothing to do with them folding in the playoffs, Matt is an idiot.

The TML core made their own bed. They are so unlikeable in every possible way, can't blame the fans for hating that trash team. Falling so much behind expectations every single year is a fate worse than a perpetual rebuild for a sports franchise.

TML fans are in it deeper than Cleveland Browns fans.

 

[bicboi64]

It's easy for Matt to say when he bailed on a Canadian market.

Pretty much this. MTkachuk can't excel under pressure and bailed when he could.

He had a chance to be the bus driver in CGY but isn't built for it. He was a playoff choker until being on a roster behind Barkov.

 

[KAWAIlllI]

I know it's a hazzle and inconvenience...but shut the f*** up already.

There are football teams (soccer for you bloody yanks) in England that experience the level of pressure x 1000 compared to Toronto Maple Leafs.

It's not fun and it can at times, have bit of an effect on your team. But these are pro-athletes making millions and millions of dollars. Other athletes have managed to handle that spotlight and more. It is the core of the team, not the fans, not the media and not the city. Maybe the core would be better somewhere else with less pressure. That just means that they have weaknesses, it doesn't mean that you can't win in Toronto because of the city and the fans. That's just plain insulting to the fans who spend their monthly salaries to attend just one playoff game.

You’re speaking the truth. That core, or at least it’s “two superstars” can’t handle pressure and are content on making money and hanging out with Bieber. It’s not just them, it’s that generation of kids, or a lot of them at least. Winning is not the most important thing, money is

 

[pb1300]

The team being in Toronto has absolutely nothing to do with them folding in the playoffs, Matt is an idiot.

The TML core made their own bed. They are so unlikeable in every possible way, can't blame the fans for hating that trash team. Falling so much behind expectations every single year is a fate worse than a perpetual rebuild for a sports franchise.

TML fans are in it deeper than Cleveland Browns fans.

Are you a $10 million player on the Leafs that can confirm that? No? Then how would you know? Multiple former players, Darcy Tucker for example, have openly said that playing in Toronto requires thick skin and a certain mentality to handle the pressure. It’s not just about talent; it’s about managing relentless media attention and fan scrutiny that is unlike anywhere else in the league.

Just because these guys make millions doesn’t mean they’re immune to pressure. Going into Game 7, who had more weight on their shoulders — the Leafs or the Panthers? The Panthers played looser because they’ve been through the fire and come out on top. The Leafs, on the other hand, were not only playing their opponent but also the weight of their cities expectations, past criticism, and the fear of another media and fan backlash.

Players grip their sticks tighter in those moments. That’s not an excuse, it’s human nature under extreme pressure. To pretend the environment in Toronto plays no role is ignoring what’s been acknowledged in the past, the intense spotlight and constant scrutiny creates a pressure cooker that absolutely can affect performance.

Unless, as @KAWAIlllI suggested, some of these star players are simply content with the paycheck and the lifestyle, spending time with celebrities and enjoying the spotlight. Maybe winning isn’t the top priority for them, or perhaps they’re not willing to push their bodies to the limit in the playoffs if it means sacrificing comfort off the ice. At the end of the day, we’ll probably never get honest answers about that from the players themselves.

 

[wintersej]

None of those teams have a storied history and culture of losing that has created a fanbase that has massive resentment towards their own team.

Red Sox had it worse than the Leafs until 2004.

 

[IsThatSemin]

People don't want to acknowledge it, but there's a lot of truth to this. Chris Johnston just talked about today how Mitch Marner has been harassed multiple times throughout the years and he was harassed last night after the game by fans as well. There were Leaf fans making threats against his newborn son on Twitter.



This is not normal behavior. There are other fanbases with passionate fanbases that are hard on their players, but you're never going to see them throw beer at their own players and try to do stuff to them off ice. Toronto is different because their fanbase has a pretty deep resentment for their own team due to the repeated failures of the franchise. It's a more toxic and negative passion than say a Montreal where they mostly have high standards due to their pride. There's a harshness and brutality to Toronto due to the self-loathing fanbase and media.

The one example they are willing to give of this extreme behavior is getting yelled at once while walking his dog, and people questioning his dad’s involvement? That sounds pretty f***ing tame to me not going to lie. Do you really believe that only happens in Toronto?

 

[TheBeastCoast]

NHL players are charmin f***ing soft. Leaf fans have wildly low expectations. Effort. That is literally it. Look like you give like half as much of a shit as the fans do and people wouldn't be as angry. This narrative shift that it is somehow the media or the fans fault for the playoff failures is hilarious.

 

[pb1300]

NHL players are charmin f***ing soft. Leaf fans have wildly low expectations. Effort. That is literally it. Look like you give like half as much of a shit as the fans do and people wouldn't be as angry. This narrative shift that it is somehow the media or the fans fault for the playoff failures is hilarious.

20 mics/phones shoved in your face in Toronto, minute after minute, asking you the same questions over and over, 365 days a year, is a lot different than the 5 mics/phones shoved in your face in Florida during the season and playoffs. I absolutely think that scrutiny plays a role in the players mental structure and toughness, which can reflect their play on the ice. What percentage that plays into it though, we will never know unless players are openly honest about that.

 

[ShootIt]

Say Tkachuk isn't trolling or is speaking half truths.

IMO sure there's media/fan pressure, but that's well known. If Matthews, Marner, etc didn't want that, they should of held out for the 2nd deal to take them to UFA and a paycut if needed to get that lower term. They didn't. Both took huge deals off the bat, increasing the "pressure" on themselves.
The Leafs did look like they belonged, just got deflated in the crucial game 5 and 7 at home. Not like the fans started putting laser pointers in their eyes or throwing jerseys when down 1-0.
To me, it's the players on the ice that simply gave up at the first obstacle. That's not wilting to the media or fans, just a mental issue the Leafs FO needs to address somehow.