Some points:
1. A Cup would still be a Cup though. Is it extra special based on where?
2. We call him a local boy but for the last decade he's been splitting time in Sarnia and then has been in the USA. Something like 40% of his life has been lived somewhere other than here.
3. How bloody likely is it that this team would win a Cup over his 7 years? From worst to Cup winner in 7 years? It took the Penguins 7 years and they weren't dead last in the NHL in year 1 (2001). And it took Crosby and Malkin and winning the draft lottery to make that happen. Took the Hawks 12 years from the start of when they missed the playoffs.
7? For this team? In an era where UFAs are typically over 30 and trades are based on caps? With 18 UFAs or RFAs not signed including both goaltenders beyond the next 2 seasons?
Normally, you have solid arguments but saying winning a Cup in TO is the same as say TB is way off. Just like KC winning the WS was great and the city love each players...but if the Yanks is to win one, it is on another level.
Local boy or not, it has more to do with the team he cheers and loves since childhood. It doesn't matter where you lived....Heck, isn't Subban a Habs fan even though he lived in TO all his life. Beside, I only visited Milan, Italy, twice in my lifetime, but due to my dad, I am a die hard Milan fans even if they are as crap as they are now. Trust me, if you think the Leafs had trouble with Burke and others running the show before, try having an owner like Berlu and a CEO like Galliani.
Lastly, you can't count this yr as Year 1, actually, we will never know when is Year 1 till Leafs win the Cup. Since I doubted any team would go, this is Year 1 of our Cup run.... When we look back at the Hawks, some say drafting Keith was Year 1, some say being out of the playoffs, some say it was drafting Kane.....it all depends on when they win the Cup. If the Leafs win the Cup say in 2018, while Bozak is still around and is the longest serving Leafs, would Year 1 be the year that Leafs signed Bozak?