Stephen
Moderator
- Feb 28, 2002
- 79,429
- 55,071
One thing that has consistently bugged me about the Toronto Maple Leafs over the years is the phenomenon of hometown Torontonian and Ontarian NHL stars, many of whom grew up as Leafs fans, returning to Toronto with their NHL clubs and just laying waste to the Leafs. Usually, they play in non-hockey hotbeds, toil in relative media obscurity, and when they return to play in front of family members, they relish their time in the spotlight and put in a show.
Perfect example was tonight with John Tavares and Matt Moulson. Other common examples from recent years include the Staal brothers, Jeff Skinner, Rick Nash, the ever hate-worthy Tyler Seguin, Steven Stamkos, Jason Spezza, and the list goes on. Perhaps the most nausea inducing example of this is Wayne Gretzky coming into Maple Leaf Gardens in Game Seven of the 1993 Conference Finals and you know the rest...
Point is, star players like coming here to put on a show, and quite often, the Leafs are willing to oblige as gracious hosts.
Anyway, as the Leafs are now consciously trying to restore the reputation of the franchise and earn the respect of the league, as noted by Carlyle and Kadri, as well as the real effort to become a difficult, tough team to play against, should the Leafs not also try to build a reputation as a difficult team to come home to, specifically against so many of those Ontarian superstars littered around the NHL? It comes down to "If You Can't Beat 'em In The Alley, You Can't Beat 'em On The Ice."
I mean if John Tavares wants to put on a show at the Air Canada Centre in front of family and friends, that's natural. But guy of his ilk has to pay a price. Hard heavy hits on every puck possession, facewashes, scrums, the full pest treatment above and beyond what's necessary. Not only to get him off his game, not only to satisfy frustrated fans like us who have to watch them torch us all night, but to really establish the reputation of Toronto and the Air Canada Centre as a place you don't really want to go home to. Make these guys come in the building and play like Phil Kessel going back to Boston, basically.
Anyway, there's my rant for the night. Stop letting these hometown kids come in here like they own the Air Canada Centre ice. Don't want to see these hometown heroes coming home and leaving the ice all smiles. I want to see them demoralized, a little banged up and ready to get the hell outta dodge.
Perfect example was tonight with John Tavares and Matt Moulson. Other common examples from recent years include the Staal brothers, Jeff Skinner, Rick Nash, the ever hate-worthy Tyler Seguin, Steven Stamkos, Jason Spezza, and the list goes on. Perhaps the most nausea inducing example of this is Wayne Gretzky coming into Maple Leaf Gardens in Game Seven of the 1993 Conference Finals and you know the rest...
Point is, star players like coming here to put on a show, and quite often, the Leafs are willing to oblige as gracious hosts.
Anyway, as the Leafs are now consciously trying to restore the reputation of the franchise and earn the respect of the league, as noted by Carlyle and Kadri, as well as the real effort to become a difficult, tough team to play against, should the Leafs not also try to build a reputation as a difficult team to come home to, specifically against so many of those Ontarian superstars littered around the NHL? It comes down to "If You Can't Beat 'em In The Alley, You Can't Beat 'em On The Ice."
I mean if John Tavares wants to put on a show at the Air Canada Centre in front of family and friends, that's natural. But guy of his ilk has to pay a price. Hard heavy hits on every puck possession, facewashes, scrums, the full pest treatment above and beyond what's necessary. Not only to get him off his game, not only to satisfy frustrated fans like us who have to watch them torch us all night, but to really establish the reputation of Toronto and the Air Canada Centre as a place you don't really want to go home to. Make these guys come in the building and play like Phil Kessel going back to Boston, basically.
Anyway, there's my rant for the night. Stop letting these hometown kids come in here like they own the Air Canada Centre ice. Don't want to see these hometown heroes coming home and leaving the ice all smiles. I want to see them demoralized, a little banged up and ready to get the hell outta dodge.