Once again, Toronto Maple Leaf players and fans get to watch from the playoffs from the comfort of the golf cart. The once-great Blue-and-White failed to make the playoffs for the sixth season in a row. The last time they smelled playoff ice was 2004.
I say “once-great” in a historic sort of way. They haven’t won the Stanley Cup in my lifetime. I was too young to know Lanny McDonald and Darryl Sittler. I cheered for Mike Palmateer, Borje Salming and Rick Vaive as a kid because I didn’t know any better. And sure, I long for the days of Mats Sundin and Wendal Clark. But the truth, there is very little to be excited about with the Leafs since then.
In my humble opinion, we need either a fan revolt or a new winning strategy.
There’s really no incentive for Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment and the TML business management to win. Their broadcast revenues are always a sure thing, as is their corporate revenue. The Air Canada Centre seems to be sold out each and every night. Why take any risks when the business model is working?
I’d recommend that the Toronto Maple Leafs clean house and announce a new winning strategy. I mean real Charlie Sheen #Winning!! Let Leafs fans know that they will be cheering for a developing team for the next two seasons. Come season three, we will have a team ready to compete for the Stanley Cut.
Ask for some patience, and lay out the strategy. Leafs fans, although insanely demanding, have been patient since 1967. The Toronto Maple Leafs will put together a whole new team dedicated to re-building, improving scoring, special teams and developing Reimer as the long-term goalie of the future.
Clean house, right from the Team President, Management, Coaching Staff, right down to the stick boy. How about using those big-bucks to hire the best General Manager, Head Coach and development staff a team can get? I’m pretty sure there’s no salary cap on team officials. Set the tone and hire some inspiration like Wayne Gretzky.
Put some real research and development investment into the scouting and the development process. Send a re-invigourated scouting staff across the planet in search of the biggest, the fastest and the best.
Turn conditioning into a team philisophy. Conditioning, not as individuals, but as a team. We need a Toronto Maple Leafs machine of youth, stamina and ability.
I may not be cheering for the Maple Leafs on a regular basis. They seem to be grasping at straws year after year. But if MLSE and the Toronto Maple Leafs were to put together something so exciting, outlined a winning strategy and they ensured a Stanley Cup contended within a certain timeframe, I’d cheer them on… even if it took a season or two.