Well, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about as far as being a Leaf fan right now.
At least, as far as the team goes. They picked up the best available free agent and have some legitimately strong pieces in their lineup.
The only thing embarrassing about the Leafs is the behaviour of some of their fans who seemingly want everyone to just hand the Cup to them now without having won a series in the playoffs.
Lost in all of the rabid froth spewing “Leaf haters don’t give us respect” narrative that flows like sewage across he main boards is the fact that a lot of people will give them respect once they actually do something worthy of it. Not everyone, but enough. But they haven’t. Yet. And they’re in some kind of insane rush to have everyone worship their team before the actual results materialize.
That and the embarrassing behaviour of some of the media who can’t even pretend to be professional journalists.
But that’s far cry from the pig sty that has been doused in kerosene, lit on fire and then hurled off a cliff which is the Ottawa Senators organization.
But that's the thing, I have read Leafs fans brag about their team for such a long time but still, 15 years without winning a single playoffs round, and only made them 3 times in that period of time... Heck, Sens did a lot more in just one season 1 year ago...
Of course, with adding Tavares it changes my perspective about them but before that move I was not really a huge believer in that team (and been ridiculed for that) but ended up being right the last 2 years. So yes they added Tavares but lost JVR and Bozak, Marleau getting one year older, Gardiner UFA next year, Nylander, Matthews and Marner upcoming big contracts, etc. They ill have their own challenges. Injuries can happen too, they have been very lucky lately but if they get affected by injuries just half of what the Sens been, then it will be a huge problem. One asset I wish they didn't have is Mike Babcock though, one of the best coaches ever.
Anyway, we'll see but I think the Jets will become the new team to beat soon. Preds, Avs, Flyers, Bolts. They will have a few great teams to beat.
As for the comment about the Sens organization, I simply see this as a massive media/internet/fan over-dramatization. A situation like the Hoffman thing happens in every sport and usually it's (way) worse than that. It's already been taken care of, so I think it's easy to move on. I don't see how can anyone blame the organization for that, as I don't think it's possible yet to control wives minds. As for Randy Lee, it's ugly if true but like the lawyer said, there probably won't be any legal charge against him. It's just a disgusting/awkward modern way to "flirt" but living in a city like Montreal, that stuff ain't that extraordinary. I have been victim of that kind of stuff several times too, both by men and women. Last year, a guy standing next to me told me that he had an erection. I didn't sue him, I just went somewhere else. A women literally tried to kiss me last week, I just said sorry I'm taken. But since it's woman on a man, I'm sure many wouldn't even see that as harassment but "cool"
Anyway, outside of having probably the most dislikable NHL owner, which is nothing new, I don't see the big drama that people are talking about. We would all like him more if he was talking less and spending more instead but it's easy to say when it's not your money. In the end, it might end up as a big missed opportunity to build a great team around Karlsson, Stone, Duchene, Chabot and the current great prospect pool. Nothing happened yet so impossible to say what will happen. A sale to a wealthier owner ready to invest more would be a pretty quick fix IMO. But we can only hope for now.