The guy who ran away from Calgary to a market that had 10 fans, because he couldn't stand the pressure of playing McDavid his entire career, is the last guy I'd be listening to for advice on pressure, tbh.
I do think the Leafs need to be careful though - hockey is a fraternity. One big extended group chat. If it starts getting around that Toronto is no longer a desirable place to play, it's no longer lip service. The optics of all these comments coming just a short time before Marner walks for nothing after facing years of abuse and criticism here, is going to continue sending ripples across the league with players and their agents.
Remember - Ryan O'Rielly wanted no part of the circus here. David Perron reportedly felt Ottawa had "less noise" than Toronto and opted to be a Senator. The Leafs are really on the precipous where they need to get ahead of this before it starts really effecting their ability to build a team.
so my thing would be flat out what is the noise? because I also feel they want it both ways. they want the attention because I remember they complain when the fans aren't loud enough. Like what exactly. is "the circus" what is "the noise?"
because honestly, i'd rather these people just open their mouths and say what it is. then dance around the subject. you want to be able to be 'invisible' like you are in the states (which if i were Gary Betteman that would piss me off to no end. trying to grow the game and increase revenue but yah players don't; want to be recognized or talked about)
They want less interview time? open your mouth and say that.
They want the fans not to be so rabid okay cool im pretty sure the countless hundreds of people who travel all up and down the eastern seaboard and the Midwest to support you would want to save some money and the hassle going to the states right now.
You don't want people to show up during home games and be quiet? Cool. then don't whine about how quiet it is that you also can't be
motivated. just tell management to make announcements at intervals that "the Maple Leafs would kindly like to remind you to not show passion for the team."
is it because sometimes there are deluded, demented people out there who do crazy crap? That happens everywhere. that's not a Toronto thing - that's a you are a public figure paying a popular sport thing. sorry that crap happened to you that you were famous.
So basically the fanbase is being blamed because for the
most part we know what a good game is supposed to look like. We
know when a player is not putting on a good performance or having a bad season and simply instead of owning it and going you know what it's a bad season i hope to get it together and i hope people are patient (which i would have to say a good chunk of people probably would appreciate the honesty) it;s oh no i'm fine we're good the fans are mean.
All this fanbase wants is this team to play well, own their poop and win the cup. that's it and apparently that's too
much for these people? but it's not too much when they COME to Toronto and leak out their salary demands and preferences where they want to play and the fanbase/media spreads it around because they can't do it where they acutally play because there's not enough traction.
I really have to say this is really something else.
We get kicked on beause we cheer on a franchise who hasn't won anything two years before the moon landing how stupid are we.
We get kicked on because we want them to win the cup just like everyone else, but apparently we want them to win
too much? like we're just supposed to go "Oh it's okay that you didn't win this year, and you embarrassed yourself woo, woo woo. woo woo woo."
We get kicked on when we
don't show emotion at home games so they can't get motivated
these people can get bent.
