We, the fans, are part of the problem

[ECYCLE]

also, the leaf fan bar is crazy-low right now...just win a f***ing playoff series

This right here. REAL LOW.

 

[Daisy Jane]

Oh no! They get $11M+ USD guaranteed every year to play a game. They had a horrible showing and now fans are calling them a "disgrace".

Poor guys, they must be hurting so bad. They're the victims! Their mental health is seriously suffering! There needs to be more awareness for them. They must be suffering so much as they're driving ultra luxury vehicles and yachts to their magnificent cottages. They can't even properly enjoy those crumbs MLSE threw them.

It's this exact attitude why this is such an easy group to hate. The entitlement and diva personas makes me sick. And they have the audacity to come off like this when the general public is legitimately suffering greatly.

you can be wealthy and suffer from mental health issues.

 

[Apex Predator]

I disagree with the fans being the problem. Look at other sports and they are just as bad if not worse. So much pressure with Yankees/Red Sox and they win.

Look at European soccer so much pressure there. It’s an honor to wear the Man U Jersey or Juvu. There’s also so much pressure. What about the Steelers in the NFL.

I’m not a basketball fan but I’m sure someone knows basketball teams who’s fans and media are tougher than ours.

 

[Bomber0104]

I highly doubt me yelling at the TV and posting on HFboards constitutes any sort of "problem" for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

 

[ECYCLE]

I disagree with the fans being the problem. Look at other sports and they are just as bad if not worse. So much pressure with Yankees/Red Sox and they win.

Look at European soccer so much pressure there. It’s an honor to wear the Man U Jersey or Juvu. There’s also so much pressure. What about the Steelers in the NFL.

I’m not a basketball fan but I’m sure someone knows basketball teams who’s fans and media are tougher than ours.

We're not even talking about winning a cup. I think Leaf fans would have been satisfied with just a series win. I don't even know why this is a thread.

 

[NinjaKick]

they fooled me... it's true

I must be the biggest idiot in the world

 

[Captain Crunch]

Sorry to say it folks, but what's happening now with the Marner bashing is part of the reason this franchise will not succeed.

Why do we do this? We will end up driving this kid out of town. Even if Dubas doesn't want to deal him, who's going to want to play here under these circumstances? That's exactly the recipe for a bad trade.

Perhaps we need to find a happy medium between Plan the Parade (a week ago?) and what's happening now.

Perhaps the fragility of this team is reflective of the fragility of this fanbase. Let's practise some patience and break this cycle?

Because you know Mitch Marner comes out of this a changed man. We've all had to learn some hard lessons in life before we changed something that needed to be changed.

What just happened might be the worst thing that happens to this franchise in quite some time, but it could be the best thing, if some patience is exercised.

Yes, let’s ease up. I mean, they only went out in the 1st round 3 years in a row, technically didn’t make the playoffs last year, and then this year, finishing 1st in the division and playing the team with the fewest points in the playoffs, getting out to a 3-1 series lead, not showing up until it was too late in games 5 and 6, and then to top it off, losing their 3rd game in a row to bow out (yes, you heard it right folks) in which round? Yes, that’s right, IN THE 1ST ROUND!!!
Dubas basically told us, the fans, that the rebuild was over and we were ready for prime time when he shelled out all that money to Tavares (we were not ready for that!) and the other 3 core players. Or maybe we should have sat back and said, now don’t get too excited, we’re still a ways off from being Cup contenders. smh

 

[CelticDruid]

Spezza says Hi!

This is a player that the fans love as he gives a 110% every time he is on the ice.

$750,000 per year, playing limited minutes.

I wish we could replicate JS and spread his clones throughout the lineup.

The fans have suffered enough, and when they see a weak effort for five years running they are entitled to call him out.

 

[CelticDruid]

People are missing the point here. This is looking forward. Noone is defending his play thus far, especially factoring in his contract.

But guess what? You trade him now...and you set this franchise back even further by selling him for pennies on the dollar.

You have to bet on self-growth and the redemption angle, because that's probably the best option you have a franchise.

And it's not a bad bet either. He's got this far because of his mind for the game. He'll figure it out. I'll take my chances on a top 5 scorer in the league figuring out how to translate his game to the playoffs.

You're obviously MM father.

 

[AllDay28]

First, he is not a kid.
Second. If you are not ready for the pressure from the fans, why hold out for that much money? If he is still a Leaf, and improve, it will probably blow over. Nylander took alot of heat for example, and did not seem all that bothered. Now he was our best player.

And yet all you see on Twitter is ppl wanting to trade nylander. .. ...

 

[AllDay28]

Spezza says Hi!

This is a player that the fans love as he gives a 110% every time he is on the ice.

$750,000 per year, playing limited minutes.

I wish we could replicate JS and spread his clones throughout the lineup.

The fans have suffered enough, and when they see a weak effort for five years running they are entitled to call him out.

Ya we should sign a team of 40 year olds to 700k. That’ll win 10 games in the nhl

 

[OppositeLocK]

you can be wealthy and suffer from mental health issues.

Yes, lot of jobs are mentally demanding. If you can't handle them don't do them.

 

[Myopic]

Sorry to say it folks, but what's happening now with the Marner bashing is part of the reason this franchise will not succeed.

Why do we do this? We will end up driving this kid out of town. Even if Dubas doesn't want to deal him, who's going to want to play here under these circumstances? That's exactly the recipe for a bad trade.

Perhaps we need to find a happy medium between Plan the Parade (a week ago?) and what's happening now.

Perhaps the fragility of this team is reflective of the fragility of this fanbase. Let's practise some patience and break this cycle?

Because you know Mitch Marner comes out of this a changed man. We've all had to learn some hard lessons in life before we changed something that needed to be changed.

What just happened might be the worst thing that happens to this franchise in quite some time, but it could be the best thing, if some patience is exercised.

What fans? There have been no fans present at games this season other than the 500 front line workers. That's no excuse and neither is the so-called mean Toronto media. It has been all zoom call meetings with the press during the pandemic. If they have thin skin those players shouldn't be reading Twitter, online opinion pieces, or going to fan forums. Go to Philly or NY...those fans can be just as brutal.

 

[Boxscore]

Ya we should sign a team of 40 year olds to 700k. That’ll win 10 games in the nhl

Of course not. However, the young core obviously needs experienced vets to inspire and mentor them. The old heads making league minimum are not the problem with the Leafs -- it's the 4 forwards who are taking up half the cap. Look, all these guys -- Tavares included -- wanted all the money they could get. They all knew that with a hard cap, the more they make the less the team can spend to surround them with top-end talent. Now they have the burden of carrying the team, period. They chose money over team success -- that's on them.

There's a reason all the stars in Tampa and Colorado have taken less when it was time to negotiate their deals -- they all, to a man, wanted to keep the team together. They all sacrificed extra salary to be an annual contender. The Leafs core, not so much.

I have no problem with the players making as much as they can. But I also have no problem with them shouldering the blame for not being able to lead an unbalanced team that constantly underachieves due to lack of depth and defense.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Sorry to say it folks, but what's happening now with the Marner bashing is part of the reason this franchise will not succeed.

Why do we do this? We will end up driving this kid out of town. Even if Dubas doesn't want to deal him, who's going to want to play here under these circumstances? That's exactly the recipe for a bad trade.

Perhaps we need to find a happy medium between Plan the Parade (a week ago?) and what's happening now.

Perhaps the fragility of this team is reflective of the fragility of this fanbase. Let's practise some patience and break this cycle?

Because you know Mitch Marner comes out of this a changed man. We've all had to learn some hard lessons in life before we changed something that needed to be changed.

What just happened might be the worst thing that happens to this franchise in quite some time, but it could be the best thing, if some patience is exercised.

Yes more patience, that's what's needed
If Mitch doesn't want to play here because the fans are hard on him - please do demand a trade and he and his agent and daddy can be someone else's problem

 

[Farsailor]

And yet all you see on Twitter is ppl wanting to trade nylander. .. ...

Lol. It's not easy being Nylander.

 

[AllDay28]

Of course not. However, the young core obviously needs experienced vets to inspire and mentor them. The old heads making league minimum are not the problem with the Leafs -- it's the 4 forwards who are taking up half the cap. Look, all these guys -- Tavares included -- wanted all the money they could get. They all knew that with a hard cap, the more they make the less the team can spend to surround them with top-end talent. Now they have the burden of carrying the team, period. They chose money over team success -- that's on them.

There's a reason all the stars in Tampa and Colorado have taken less when it was time to negotiate their deals -- they all, to a man, wanted to keep the team together. They all sacrificed extra salary to be an annual contender. The Leafs core, not so much.

I have no problem with the players making as much as they can. But I also have no problem with them shouldering the blame for not being able to lead an unbalanced team that constantly underachieves due to lack of depth and defense.

what has Spezza won... ever?

 

[CelticDruid]

Ya we should sign a team of 40 year olds to 700k. That’ll win 10 games in the nhl

That's not what I said.

WTF.

I have been very vocal about signing Thornton and Simmonds, big mistakes in my book.
Spezza has proved that he can still play, have you watched him play?

 

[keonsbitterness]

Yes, lot of jobs are mentally demanding. If you can't handle them don't do them.

All jobs are mentally demanding. It's not about the job itself.

 

[Riellyfan04]

Leaf fans arw the worst. No wonder why we are hated by all other fans. If you're sick ans tired of leafs, just leave. F off. Marner is awesome and he will be a leaf for ever. So all the haters just go away

 

[Boxscore]

what has Spezza won... ever?

What amazing veteran Cup winner can the Leafs bring in for $700k? Blaming players like Spezza, Thornton, Simmonds, Bogosian, etc. for the Leafs collapse is like blaming the receptionist at the car dealership when the service mechanic fails to fix your transmission.

If the Leafs had about $6-7 million extra to spend on depth players, they wouldn't be signing over-the-hill vets for league minimum just to ice a team. But they have no choice since 3 of the core 4 demanded $11 million each and Nylander held out all year for close to $7 million.

When half your cap is tied up in 4 players, it's nearly impossible to add high-end depth pieces. No matter how you slice it -- be it lack of production or too much money -- the core 4 are responsible for our problems.

 

[RoadWarrior]

Leaf fans arw the worst. No wonder why we are hated by all other fans. If you're sick ans tired of leafs, just leave. F off. Marner is awesome and he will be a leaf for ever. So all the haters just go away

Ok Paul.

Slow down on the wine.

 

[Canadian Finn]

Sorry to say it folks, but what's happening now with the Marner bashing is part of the reason this franchise will not succeed.

Why do we do this? We will end up driving this kid out of town. Even if Dubas doesn't want to deal him, who's going to want to play here under these circumstances? That's exactly the recipe for a bad trade.

Perhaps we need to find a happy medium between Plan the Parade (a week ago?) and what's happening now.

Perhaps the fragility of this team is reflective of the fragility of this fanbase. Let's practise some patience and break this cycle?

Because you know Mitch Marner comes out of this a changed man. We've all had to learn some hard lessons in life before we changed something that needed to be changed.

What just happened might be the worst thing that happens to this franchise in quite some time, but it could be the best thing, if some patience is exercised.

I think the apathy of the fanbase is a huge part of the problem.

Posts like this ensure our core players enjoy their "safe space".

 

[Boxscore]

I think the apathy of the fanbase is a huge part of the problem.

Posts like this ensure our core players enjoy their "safe space".

I think players and society are just different today. These kids care about their own brands, paychecks and lifestyles more than anything else -- including winning and performing for their teams. To them, it's just a job. When it's time to check out, they pack up and go to the farm, beach, lake, or vacation and enjoy their lives and millions.

Today, players are also friends with players on every other team. When they're traded, they text their buddies on their new team and it's like nothing happened. Long gone are the days when players like Esposito felt as if being traded from Boston to New York was worse than a death sentence.

It's all changed. Case in point -- McDavid scored 100 points this year and opposing rival teams were tweeting "Congrats Connor!!" from their team's verified accounts. Could you imagine in the 1980's, the Calgary Flames or Toronto Maple Leafs publicly congratulating Wayne Gretzky for carving up their team?

Do Matthews and Marner want to win and succeed? Of course. Do they absolutely hate to lose so much that they cannot enjoy their offseason? Heck no. Listen to interviews from Gretzky about losing to the Islanders as a young player. Big difference today.

 

[forecheck]

If you are unhappy you should contact the board of directors to demand change or boycott their products