Maybe it’s the snowy landscape I’m currently stuck in? Maybe it’s the fact that I’m lonely Oakland Los Angeles Oakland Las Vegas Raiders fan living in New England, where the Patriots are heading back to the Super Bowl? Maybe it’s because the Boston Bruins are playing way above expectations and there’s no real problem with the local team here in the Hub of Hockey?
Maybe the Maple Leafs are just too pathetic to ignore?
You mean the NHL team that is the ‘center of the hockey universe’…
The NHL team that has more media attention and publicity than any other team in the league…
The NHL team that has “the face of US-born hockey players” as its captain…
That team? Yes, the team that gave the world Wendel Clark, Dougie Gilmour and Mats Sundin is currently 2 points out of last place in the Atlantic Division. The Leafs are currently 6 points clear of the Wild Card with a payroll of what again?
According to Puckpedia, they currently are -$149,511 in the salary cap hole, with two players eating up $24.75 million.
That seems like a lot for little. The captain of this team, Auston Matthews, currently sits at 25-17-42 in 46GP. Pretty good I think? I spent about 5 minutes searching for comps to see how he’s doing so far this season…
Matthews: 25-17-42 in 46GP with a max hit of $13,250,000
Player A: 19/29/48 in 52GP with a cap hit of $5,500,000
Player B: 16-43-59 in 52GP with a max hit of $7,875,000
Player C: 18-40-58 in 51GP with a max hit of $8,075,000
Who would you like? Let’s also be clear that none of the other players mentioned above shied away from interviews (both pre- and post-game) when his best friend Mitch Marner returned to Toronto as a member of the Las Vegas Golden Knights (TOR lost 6-3). That’s the leadership you definitely want Team USA to take to battle at the Olympics next month.
Those other players on the list?
Player A: That’s BOS Morgan Geekie – signed for another 5 years: 27 years old
Player B: That’s MTL Nick Suzuki – signed for another 4 years: 26 years old
Player C: That’s DET Lucas Raymond – signed for another 6 years: 23 years old
Not exactly household names outside their own homes. But your husband? He has two years left at $13,250,000 at age 28.
But at least he makes the effort, day and night. Right?????
Leafs Nation, come get your boy.
All that would be enough to warm the cockles of my inner hating heart. But no, the Leafs keep giving us more. At least William Nylander is earning his salary. He currently stands at 31-17-48 in just 37GP due to injury. At least while he’s at IR, Nylander is making an effort. I’m sure he’s doing what he can to help the team. Without causing any disruption or doing anything to send the Toronto media into a frenzy…
That’s a quick $5,000 fine and let’s move on. Even as an avowed Leafs hater, I respect Nylander’s play. Maybe not his timing to flip the bird, but the man can play.
Well, at least they have a firm hand on the tiller. A tough coach in Craig Berube, who steers the ship safely among all these rocky waters. Do the work, put in the time and put out fires. He doesn’t raise any eyebrows and is a true professional.
But what… what is actually going on here???
Apparently Berube was attacked by a shark fought a grizzly bear had a weight room accident (let that be a lesson to all the kids out there, you should always avoid the weight room). Berube also dropped the punch on the players, along with his weights on his dome. Yesterday (1/26/26), Brock Nelson dropped the Leafs twice in the first period in the span of less than two minutes, prompting Berube to call a timeout to (checks notes) “emphasize the importance of cheering for the teammates.” Per Jesse Blake of SDPN Sports: “Right now it’s quiet and that’s not going to help. You have to cheer for your teammate. You have to have energy no matter the situation.”
Holy schnikes Leaf Nation, Berube coaches how to be a good teammate?
Look, I sincerely hope this never gets resolved. I love seeing this idiocy and selfish behavior from the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Things like this make the Bruins’ front office more tangible.
Keep up the good work Toronto, at least Matthews is still cashing those checks.
You can read more about Brownie in his bio below or follow him on:
Twitter: @abrow28
Insta: @a_brow28
blue sky: @abrow.bluesky.social
#Browse #Continue #browsing