From sold out to filling out, boos when Mitch Marner touched the puck for (likely) the last time as a Toronto Maple Leaf, and fans literally throwing their jerseys on the ice mid play — it was hard to watch.
Perhaps the Leafs could say they have the worst fan base in the NHL.
They don’t cheer loud enough.
Lower bowl is filled with suits.
The pressure fans put on the team is too much.
All claims made by the Leafs or passive spectators disgruntled with the culture of the city itself.
Even Brand Marchand could stand behind a few of them.
“So when you actually look and you see the pressure that Toronto faces, and everyone’s talking about whatever, the 20-, 30-year buildup, I don’t even know what it is, but you see the fans and the way they talk, they just beat the pressure into this team,” explained former Leafs fan turned Florida Panther. “It’s got to be tough on those guys to walk to the rink every day and not feel that.
“Because you see the way the fans treat them. How do you not feel that every single day?”
It’s a reasonable question if you cared to have sympathy for players unlikely to return.
Or there’s another claim to be made.
One arguing that the Leafs stars and leaders resemble something similar to a group of “spoon fed primi donas.”
Per the fans of course.
Thing is, whether it’s the fans making it to hard on the team, or the team making it to hard on the fans, several things remain clear:
The Leafs haven’t given their fans anything to cheer about since 1967.
Their top spenders are not top performers in playoffs.
Losing isn’t enough unless they’re asleep and losing.
And when the guy with only three shots on goal in his last five playoff games is yelling at his to team to “wake the f*** up” mid-game, and the Captain says “there were too many passengers on the bench” insinuting he wasn’t one of them — fans have a hard time standing behind such a team.
Say the problem lies with the leadership group or it starts in section whatever, but three provinces over and a still Canadian market, lies one team fans are still willing to get behind.
It’s not just because of last years cup run — though that doesn’t hurt — or the two star players that trade hart trophies back and forth because they’re just that good — again, also doesn’t hurt. But it’s leadership from multiple sources, push back from just about everyone, defense that scores, and offensive contributions over all lines.
I am of course, referring to the Edmonton Oilers.
Que a Canadian fan base that isn’t embarrassed to wear their jersey downtown.
“Of course. The pressure is higher here. Through media, fans, the expectations. It’s just the way it is,” explained Leon Draisaitl to questions surrounding the pressure that comes from playing in Canada. “It’s a hockey country. It starts with hockey, and it ends with hockey in this country.
“I don’t know if team feels that pressure… but we can handle it.”
It’s leadership that steps up not talks down.
Now que another Canadian fan base that can’t say the same thing.
So ask yourself this, if the Oilers can show up in playoffs, lose, but lose while trying for 60 minutes, embrace the pressure placed on the team while appreciating the atmosphere their fans create, why wouldn’t someone stand behind them?
It’s a mix of team culture blended with player performances that draws the line in the sand between the Oilers and the leafs.
Fans know that, we know that, hey, even some of the Leafs know that.
“Pressure comes from a good place, right?” asked Leafs youngish goaltender, Joseph Woll. “It comes from us having fans that care. I know that there’s nowhere I’d rather play and I’m happy how much people care”
“You probably don’t realize when you’re in it or when you’re younger, but it’s a privilege to have this many people care about how we do,” explained Max Pacioretty in the days following the Leafs’ game seven loss. “It kinda builds winners and turns you into men and helps you achieve who you’re ultimately trying to become.”
If only all those in blue saw it the same way.
