Thanks for your insight Kathleen.In a word... Location.
I have met many players at charity dinners put on by the organization, and its quite easy to see them play live. Since becoming Leafs fan around '92 sure there has been ups and downs. But the organization has always tried to compete.
Cliff Fletcher made me a fan for life bringing in Gilmour, but even though JFJ or Burke made no such magic.. they still tried. The past 20yrs for me has seen some fantastic memories
Toronto Maple Leafs 2013/14 Season
- Thread starter Ironhead
- Start date
I get what you are saying...but if someone is like 15 or 25 years old...have they truly experienced any of that heritage in the same way someone who is in their 50's or 60's has?
Then I guess that person would discount Montreal's hockey heritage as well.
Just because someone didn't see it, doesn't mean it has no value.
Maybe they can't fully appreciate it as it happened, but there is no reason in the world to just pretend that it didn't happen at all.
I put a curse on the LA Lakers, they won't win a Championship for the next 20-30 years.
Well forget catching the Red Wings they beat Boston. Rask played against the Red Wings so the Leafs may face Boston's backup who is just as good. However, Columbus faces the Flyers and have never beaten the Flyers in Philadelphia.
The Celtics suck. They will suck for a long time. I put a curse on them. Will Celtic fans become Nicks fans. LOL!!!the guys just making an opinion, nothing wrong with that. he didn,t make any degrading remarks about the team or the city. I really liked his comments about the BRUINS!
So we can come back then and talk about why their fans support them.
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have absolutely no time for kadri. the first right move Carlyle has made in awhile, sitting him for as long as he did. he doesn,t backcheck, is knocked off the puck all the time, and has absolutely no heart whatsoever, and scores meaningless goals. but he scored to-nite' the mouse that roared'. what a joke those last 2 penalties were. kulemin barely tugs lucic, and krug in ot, makes a great play on bozak and gets called. no wonder Carlyle and julien complain.
Maybe they will not fire the coach after all.
Remember last season? Not really, it is long ago. I remember that one point that was made last season, was there was internal competition, within the roster to keep guys on their toes. If you want ice time, you play hard.
This year, the story was really injuries. Long term injuries. There was no internal competition because there were not enough bodies. Since the coach could not take anyone out of the lineup, everyone started to float.
Tonight, Carlyle rolled four lines. Some got more ice time than others. Still a lot of defensive miscues, however the Leafs played a good game in the first & second periods. Then pulled it out in OT.
Some players won't be back with the Leafs. Colton Orr won't be back. he has exactly zero points in 57 games. Yeah, I am looking at the stats. The Leafs were winning witout Orr in the lineup, and lately they have been losing without Orr in the lineup.
Leading scorer, Phil the Thrill. JRV having career year too with 30 goals. Still more upside to these two.
Their center man having career year too, at 18 goals watch for Kessel to try to set him up the last four games.
Another player who will reach career highs is Kadri at 19 goals. One more for 20. What I like most about Kadri, he scores or is involved in the play for big goals, such as tonight. One game earlier this season in New York against the Rangers, a 1-0 game late in the 3rd, and Kadri pokes home a strange goal to salvage a point for the Leafs. Last season, in the playoffs, game 6 and game 7, Kadri got points. He's still only a immature kid, but shows flashes of big game potential.
On defense, Franson leads the Leafs with 33 points, not Phaneuf who has 31 points. Then Gardiner with 29 points and Rielly at 27 pionts.
Holy shit. Can you believe those youngesters got that many points?
The team has not quit on the coaching staff.
The young players are developing.
Also, we have to remember that Ron Wilson was here four years and was not even close to a playoff spot, yet he lasted four years.
Rob Ford and the Toronto Maple Leafs are the two most interesting things in this city. That's no joke.
Remember last season? Not really, it is long ago. I remember that one point that was made last season, was there was internal competition, within the roster to keep guys on their toes. If you want ice time, you play hard.
This year, the story was really injuries. Long term injuries. There was no internal competition because there were not enough bodies. Since the coach could not take anyone out of the lineup, everyone started to float.
Tonight, Carlyle rolled four lines. Some got more ice time than others. Still a lot of defensive miscues, however the Leafs played a good game in the first & second periods. Then pulled it out in OT.
Some players won't be back with the Leafs. Colton Orr won't be back. he has exactly zero points in 57 games. Yeah, I am looking at the stats. The Leafs were winning witout Orr in the lineup, and lately they have been losing without Orr in the lineup.
Leading scorer, Phil the Thrill. JRV having career year too with 30 goals. Still more upside to these two.
Their center man having career year too, at 18 goals watch for Kessel to try to set him up the last four games.
Another player who will reach career highs is Kadri at 19 goals. One more for 20. What I like most about Kadri, he scores or is involved in the play for big goals, such as tonight. One game earlier this season in New York against the Rangers, a 1-0 game late in the 3rd, and Kadri pokes home a strange goal to salvage a point for the Leafs. Last season, in the playoffs, game 6 and game 7, Kadri got points. He's still only a immature kid, but shows flashes of big game potential.
On defense, Franson leads the Leafs with 33 points, not Phaneuf who has 31 points. Then Gardiner with 29 points and Rielly at 27 pionts.
Holy shit. Can you believe those youngesters got that many points?
The team has not quit on the coaching staff.
The young players are developing.
Also, we have to remember that Ron Wilson was here four years and was not even close to a playoff spot, yet he lasted four years.
Rob Ford and the Toronto Maple Leafs are the two most interesting things in this city. That's no joke.
With Columbus' brutal schedule they should falter as some point but if they make the playoffs, it will be an impressive run only to get slaughtered by Boston.Agreed. They could really cause some headache for any team providing they make the playoffs..
... Leafs Win!
Can no longer worry about Philly, Detroit or Columbus. Just go out and play to win. Frustrating first period, Franson was just brutal giving Marchand a perfect pass. He has got to be better. Shortly after, Phaneuf knowing how slow he is give a cute behind the back pass which is easily picked of by a Bruin. There is much potential to the Toronto Defense, yet the usual suspects continue to falter.
I was surprised Bernier took himself out of the game, and more so was limping on the leg which didn't seem to be leaned on. Seemed a harmless incident, and certainly hope he is ok. Have not been impressed by Kadri too much, but could Clarkson be considered better by RC? Neither are playing gritty or physical, but Kadri is the better play maker. So all too fitting he scored the OT winner.
Lost the lead, but come on, this is Boston.. a win is win
Even though I have my money on the Jackets to win tonight at home,I hope that they would get lots penalties called against them Tonigt's night refs could be the Leafs fan
Tonigt's night refs could be the Leafs fanI think there is more to say about heritage when you are part of it. Like watching the Jays win in the 90's. You remember the excitement and memories of watching them win. It becomes a part of your personal history. Same goes for anyone who remembers the Leafs win in the 60's. All I'm saying is that heritage can get watered down over the years if less and less people feel connected. Most kids I know are fans of superstar players around the league, ie Crosby, and as a result follow those teams. I'm seeing less and less kids passionate about the Leafs as a team. I think it's natural if there's nothing really in it for them so to speak. I mean, a 9 year playoff drought had an impact on younger people who don't remember them ever being in the playoffs until last year (and it was a short season, out in round 1).
What contributed to the heritage was being able to go down to the Gardens and buy tickets for a reasonable price. Experiencing the magic of sitting in the gardens and having a hot dog and being part of the event. Can the average lower-middle class family of 4 in this city afford to go to a game or maybe a few games and fork out $1000+ for the night? Not many any can. This of course doesn't only apply to the Leafs but sports in general.
However, the distinction I would like to make is that the Leafs are the most lucrative NHL team and sell the most expensive tickets (http://www.forbes.com/pictures/fjlg45mhf/1-toronto-maple-leafs-avg-price-368-60/) .
We must separate heritage from value at some point. Value means investing in a team to garner respect from fans. Value means having a long term plan, making good acquisitions (ie Jays, Raptors, TFC), keeping ticket prices reasonable, winning a championship at least once per generation, and making the playoffs fairly consistently.
So the question in response to your feedback is, do the Leafs provide value, or are they catering to the ones who can afford to spend money on a mediocre product regardless of performance?
Would that strategy work in any other industry whereby the brand takes precedence over the quality of the product?
Cubs are loved.
Red Sox were loved through all the bad years.
Cleveland still loves the Browns.
