A season that could have been
3 min read7 months ago the dreams and aspirations of a playoff birth and a fresh start for the Toronto Maple Leafs had fans running out to support the boys in blue with jerseys, caps, tickets scarfs and any thing they could get their hands on. We are 7 months into the season and those jerseys fans purchase have found the ice and the leafs are one step closer to missing the playoff once again and fans are calling for heads to roll.
Out is coach Randy Carlyle and as fans believe this was a major downfall for the boys in blue it actually proved this wasn’t the case.Toronto currently sits 7th in the east and only 12 point out of the basement in the NHL overall which is currently occupied by the Buffalo Sabres.
So what went wrong in a season filled with such high hopes? Ask fans who they thing is to blame and you might hear the words the 7 million dollar man.The seven million dollar man making reference to current captain Dion Phaneuf.Is Phaneuf really to blame?
A quality team has the support of a captain who can lead by example and 8 put of the 10 fans we asked all said the same thing,dion must go. Then we look at high profile Phil Kessel who entered training camp overweight and as the season progressed he played as if he was playing for bonus incentives and the lone man on the ice. What about Joffrey Lupul,a guy who developed in the Vince Carter of Toronto and spend the majority of the season on the sidelines. The trade deadline has now come and gone and nor Lupul,Phaneuf or Kessel were able to find new homes and save us from seeing them in Toronto for the 2016 season.
In 2016 this trio stand to make over 19 million in salaries so hopefully management can work some magic over the off-season to free us some hard cash and grab a few young kids that will play for the love of the game and not just the money. As a fan this season required the help of Diamond and Diamond accident lawyers because we feel like just needs to be server for what we have witnessed in 2015. I was asked if I felt Toronto would ever see a playoff game and my simple answer was,”yes only if we have another strike plagued season” because that’s the only reason we made it there a few years ago.
Now before we jump all over those fans who have either tossed a jersey on the ice or have jumped off the band wagon,do remember if it wasn’t for them those seats would be empty and those contracts would be far from what they are today. If you want us to cut you some slack please deliver a product on the ice which will bring back the support of those who spend their hard earned money to buy your tickets,jerseys,caps and what every else makes them a maple leaf fan.
Till next years dream!