To find success in the future, Toronto looks to its past
As the post-season continues in Major League Baseball, and the Toronto Blue Jays are struggling to stay in the running for the World Series, the NHL season is just getting underway with the Toronto Maple Leafs hoping to return the franchise to their past glory.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have, for years, been the butt of countless jokes and the target of plenty of mockery within the National Hockey League. From their underwhelming performance in the regular season, in which they don’t even make it to the playoffs, to their tendency to choke during pivotal games, it’s been difficult to be a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“…hiring a successful coach was not enough for the Leafs to make the playoffs last year…”
Last season’s hiring of head coach Mike Babcock, who coached Team Canada to gold in both 2010 and 2014, was the first major shake-up that signalled a potential shift in the fortune of the Leafs. Unfortunately, hiring a successful coach was not enough for the Leafs to make the playoffs last year and an indication that more significant retooling of the team had to be done. Since Babcock was hired, the Leafs have gone through a dramatic reconstruction of their roster, with players like former captain Dion Phaneuf being traded to other teams in a hope to reinvigorate the team and bring success to Toronto.
The Toronto Maple Leafs finished this past season in dead last, the first time in their franchise’s history since the 1984-85 season, which gave the team a 20 per cent shot at getting the first pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. The Leafs ended up securing the first overall draft pick, centre Auston Matthews, as well as eight other additional players to their roster.
“…Leafs finished this past season in dead last, the first time in their franchise’s history since the 1984-85 season…”
The 2016-17 season has also reinvented the Toronto Maple Leafs logo, which celebrates the centennial of the team and their past Stanley Cup wins. While the Toronto Maple Leafs have gone to great lengths during the off-season to set themselves up for success, there is still speculation on whether the franchise can deliver.
During their season opener against the Ottawa Senators, rookie Auston Matthews had a historic four-goal game, the most goals ever scored by a player in their NHL debut. Despite Matthews’s performance, the Leafs still failed to secure the win, losing to Ottawa 5-4 in overtime.
“…rookie Auston Matthews had a historic four-goal game, the most goals ever scored by a player in their NHL debut.”
The Leafs were more successful in their home opener against the Boston Bruins. After retiring the number of all-time Leafs great Mats Sundin, Toronto went on to defeat Boston 4-1, with rookie Mitch Marner scoring his first goal as a Toronto Maple Leaf.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have, so far, seen a positive response to their efforts in bringing younger players into their roster, and reinvigorating the long flailing franchise. Though it is too early in the season to say for certain, 2016 could be the turning point for one of the NHL’s most celebrated teams.
Photo by Kylie Armishaw.