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

[Erik Alfredsson]

you are the one arguing that Toronto hates its players, not me.

A fanbase can both love and hate players. The bipolar nature of that fanbase is simply going to make it harder for players to find success there.

Leaf fans were booing after they were down 3-0. They probably wouldn't have come back anyway, but they had no chance of it once the fans turned on them.

 

[Bust]

they had no chance of it once the fans turned on them.

BS.

Try harder!

 

[Aashir]

A fanbase can both love and hate players. The bipolar nature of that fanbase is simply going to make it harder for players to find success there.

Leaf fans were booing after they were down 3-0. They probably wouldn't have come back anyway, but they had no chance of it once the fans turned on them.

They booed because they got run out of their own building in a game 7. Leafs fans cheered for the team when they took game 2 to have the 2-0 series lead like crazy too.

This was the first time we got blown out without empty netters. Even Boston would only score 3-4 and then pile on the empty netters

We got our shot 31 to 20, we got outscored 6-1 and at one point the shot attempts were 23-0.

The fans don’t hate the players or the team. We hate them losing so embarrassingly. Gilmour and Clarke won jack shit, but we love those men to death because he cared and he tried till the very end. Sundin was of the same mold, those two guys have whole ass statues infront of the arena without having won any real awards or championships for us

Many leafs fans were willing to take a 7 game loss to the panthers…if we competed. We got blown the f*** out for a combined score of 12-2 in game 5 and 7. Had we lose game 5 3-1 and game 7 the usual 2-1 with a few empty netters most of the fans would be at the very least understanding of the team.

It’s how they lose, not that they always do.

 

[SavBigMoneyAtBedards]

Honestly, if the Leafs had lost 2-1 in a tight game it wouldn’t be so bad.

Getting blown out at home 6-1 in both games 5 and 7?

They deserve the boos.

 

[Oilslick941611]

A fanbase can both love and hate players. The bipolar nature of that fanbase is simply going to make it harder for players to find success there.

Leaf fans were booing after they were down 3-0. They probably wouldn't have come back anyway, but they had no chance of it once the fans turned on them.

fun how you aren't replying to my posts with links showing bad behaviour from other fanbases that disprove your theories on TO fans.

 

[BlueMed]

I don't buy it.

Toronto is a competitive playoff team but a tier below a true contender. The consistent results every year support this. Before attempting to justify their elite status with how talented their top 4 players are, look at the rest of their roster. Their defensive core was the worst in the playoffs (sorry, but Morgan Rielly isn't elite), and their goaltending situation is subpar. You cannot beat true contenders that are deep and balanced with that.

 

[um]

BS.

Try harder!

Yep.

The excuse train never stops for the Leafs.

 

[Bust]

Yep.

The excuse train never stops for the Leafs.

Professional Athletes were talking about here correct?

Some of these trolls trying pinning this on leaf fans are more pathetic than the leafs effort in game 7. So easily telegraphed and played out.

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

Yep.

The excuse train never stops for the Leafs.

Lol it's not an excuse. I f***ing hate the Leafs. But two things can be true at once: their players aren't good enough and suck in big moments, and their fanbase & media can be extremely toxic towards their own players which adds more pressure to the team.

I don't agree with Tkachuk saying they'd be an unreal team if it weren't for the fans. But I do agree with him that the Leafs have a horrible fanbase and horrible media that does make it a tougher market to play in.

 

[Bileur]

This is pure trolling from Matthew.

 

[um]

Lol it's not an excuse. I f***ing hate the Leafs. But two things can be true at once: their players aren't good enough and suck in big moments, and their fanbase & media can be extremely toxic towards their own players which adds more pressure to the team.

I don't agree with Tkachuk saying they'd be an unreal team if it weren't for the fans. But I do agree with him that the Leafs have a horrible fanbase and horrible media that does make it a tougher market to play in.

They had the crowd behind them after the first and followed it up with a dreadful second period.

The crowd booed them after the 2nd, then they scored 2 minutes into the third.

The Leafs go as they go, it's not the fans' or media's fault.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

Idk what to tell you. They're not trolling the players. Why would they do that? And if they wanted to, why would they do it this way?
There's no deeper meaning here. Other players recognize how much it must suck to play in Toronto, and they're expressing solidarity with their NHLPA colleagues.

Why? Because it is a great way to make the narrative focus on your opponent.

Did you start watching sports today or something? They always look for a way to deflect and put the pressure on the opponent.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

Let’s call things what they are. Marchand’s a professional troublemaker. Beating Toronto on the ice is not enough and he just crushed them completely in their heart and soul with a completely disingenuous backhanded compliment.

Yeah and a bunch of Leafs fans are buying the "it's actually our fault" nonsense

I broke the damn.

NO! I broke the damn.

Actually.... I broke the damn.

 

[Derailed75]

The media is pretty tough on the Leafs and I am sure it causes some extra stress some other teams do not have to deal. I said some because I am sure that the Hab-nots, Rags, Hawks, Wings, and Bruins also deal with it more than the other teams.

That all being said the reason the Leafs constantly fail is because they are built all wrong and the FO has yet to make the move to fix them. They are way too top heavy, need better D, and more depth. Unti they shed 2 of Marner, Matthews, Tavares, and Nylander they will not make it much father than they have so far.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

Honestly, if the Leafs had lost 2-1 in a tight game it wouldn’t be so bad.

Getting blown out at home 6-1 in both games 5 and 7?

They deserve the boos.

Don't you get it?

It is the fans and media's fault, not the players. The players are stuck in Toronto, if they were anywhere else, they'd have won multiple cups and their players would have taken big discounts to stay.

The fans lost 6-1, not the poor little players! They did nothing wrong.

AND SOME PEOPLE BUY THIS CRAP haha

 

[snag]

No kidding… I remember people dumping trash on Tommy Maddox’s lawn when he threw too many interceptions for the Steelers…

I remember Mitch Williams getting death threats after losing game 4 of the '93 WS. He wound up losing sleep, which further affected his game. Then to surrender the walk-off series clinching HR....I can only imagine.

Fans do get in players heads. Professionals or not, they are human and there are some pretty f***ing crazy people out there.

 

[WarriorofTime]

The toxic nature of sport fandom is an interesting topic for sure. Naive to think it’s unique to Leafs but sure they are a good representative of it. What you have to realize is that the same toxic nature of entitled fans that take it too far is what leads to the players becoming mega rich with potentially 8 figure salaries career earnings that are capable of exceeding 9 figures. They’re two sides of the same coin. People just care a lot. A healthy relationship with sports is something I think a lot of people need to learn. The parasocial relationship with players is unacceptable for one. Gambling only makes it worse as people are putting a personal stake on outcomes. But the highest highs I’ve experienced as a sport fan would never mean anything without all the lows experienced along the way.

 

[Bust]

Don't you get it?

It is the fans and media's fault, not the players. The players are stuck in Toronto, if they were anywhere else, they'd have won multiple cups and their players would have taken big discounts to stay.

The fans lost 6-1, not the poor little players! They did nothing wrong.

AND SOME PEOPLE BUY THIS CRAP haha

Just trolls being fed their bird feed.

Don't call it out though! That's not contributing to this well curated, thought provoking thread here! Your (and my) post will promptly deleted I'm sure.

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

They had the crowd behind them after the first and followed it up with a dreadful second period.

The crowd booed them after the 2nd, then they scored 2 minutes into the third.

The Leafs go as they go, it's not the fans' or media's fault.

I don't blame Leaf fans for being frustrated but reality is reality and the vitriol towards their own team is going to make things harder for the players. You and everyone else in here are way too focused on who's "fault" it is. Leaf fans are justifiably upset because this Leafs era consistently disappoint in spectacular fashion. The players are then under more pressure because the fans are turning on them. It's not about finding excuses, it's not about trying to place blame. It's just the reality of the Toronto market and how this core of players obviously isn't the right fit for that unique market.

 

[Frank Drebin]

They booed because they got run out of their own building in a game 7. Leafs fans cheered for the team when they took game 2 to have the 2-0 series lead like crazy too.

This was the first time we got blown out without empty netters. Even Boston would only score 3-4 and then pile on the empty netters

We got our shot 31 to 20, we got outscored 6-1 and at one point the shot attempts were 23-0.

The fans don’t hate the players or the team. We hate them losing so embarrassingly. Gilmour and Clarke won jack shit, but we love those men to death because he cared and he tried till the very end. Sundin was of the same mold, those two guys have whole ass statues infront of the arena without having won any real awards or championships for us

Many leafs fans were willing to take a 7 game loss to the panthers…if we competed. We got blown the f*** out for a combined score of 12-2 in game 5 and 7. Had we lose game 5 3-1 and game 7 the usual 2-1 with a few empty netters most of the fans would be at the very least understanding of the team.

It’s how they lose, not that they always do.

Anyone who doesn't understand leafs fans frustration is just being obtuse or not worth explaining to at this point.

 

[kerrabria]

Why? Because it is a great way to make the narrative focus on your opponent.

Did you start watching sports today or something? They always look for a way to deflect and put the pressure on the opponent.

Then why didn't they say that when they were actually playing them? Instead of after the series is over, when they won't play the Leafs for several months, and some of those players aren't even gonna be there in four weeks.

 

[Oilslick941611]

This is pure trolling from Matthew.

its not trolling, its taunting and the NHL should step in. Players shouldn't be shitting on other fanbases publicly like this.

This isn't lighthearted ribbing. Leave it to the media, not the NHLPA

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

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.

Agreed.

I don't think you can link specific underperformances to it, but it doesn't change that the insane media and fan environment makes life harder for players.

And yes I get that they're paid millions of dollars. That doesn't mean that kind of scrutiny/threats/etc doesn't get to you.

 

[Gurn]

upper level Leaf management is loving this thread, and others like it.
'Blame the media, blame the fans'.
Meanwhile not much chat about what a poorly built team Toronto is.
Seriously- keep running out basically the same team-yet expecting different results.
WAY too top heavy up front.
4 guys, all highly skilled; but skill is not everything. and then a huge drop off to the next forwards, though Kneis and Robertson might grow into top liners-they aren't that yet.
And Morgan Reilly isn't really a #1 D man.

 

[um]

I don't blame Leaf fans for being frustrated but reality is reality and the vitriol towards their own team is going to make things harder for the players. You and everyone else in here are way too focused on who's "fault" it is. Leaf fans are justifiably upset because this Leafs era consistently disappoint in spectacular fashion. The players are then under more pressure because the fans are turning on them. It's not about finding excuses, it's not about trying to place blame. It's just the reality of the Toronto market and how this core of players obviously isn't the right fit for that unique market.

The Leafs players have received a lot of love and hype. They rode that hype to get the biggest paydays possible.

The "vitriol" comes from their lacklustre performance on the ice, it wasn't there when the core was starting out. It's a result of their actions.