« There was a time when free agents from the Toronto area often found themselves signing cushy deals with the Leafs, usually with their best days behind them. But now, the crown jewel of free agency this summer, John Tavares, doesn’t appear to be an option for Toronto if he does hit the market, largely due to the fact it would be difficult to find a suitable role for him on this roster because of all the current talent. » – Ken Campbell, The Hockey News, Spring 2018
Drew_You_To_91
I’m convinced there’s people in this sub who aren’t actually leaf fans but some weird cross breed between fans and masochists lol
CodeFoxdie
Nah, this was on the media not us.
FromDwight
I just noticed « Better Goalie: Ilya Samsonov or Carter Hart », this image just keeps getting more cursed.
Ok-Working3714

Oh what could have been.. Back to the dark ages we go fellas!
SupplyGuy997
Those were the days.
manoman42
And then they went to be spoiled brats. Should’ve kept Babcock to whip em in line
Monst3r_Live
hey leaf fans don’t feel so bad mcdavid hasn’t won a cup either. and he’s arguably the best player ever and draisaitl is arguably the best play off performer ever. a few more years (60 of them?) of pain.
MsAbsoluteAngel
I said even before they lost game 7 to the habs that this version of the leafs will be the biggest flop/let down in the history of the leafs and yep here we are. You could just tell that these guys had no heart and were paid before getting anything done.
Jayrab_The_Arab_
It sucks, and I never in a million years thought it would come this but, I no longer care how this team does. And oddly enough, I don’t even feel upset about it.
That’s quite a difference from just a couple of years ago when I would watch nearly every game and be screaming at my television.
Madacon
It’s my turn to post this tommorow
DevOpsMakesMeDrink
Go ahead and post the Winnipeg Jets cover too
Shawnaldo7575
FUTURE WATCH 2026

Rabbidextrious
Buddy Its to early for this
KillPunchLoL
Oh we planned the parade, alright. Even down to paying them all like they won it already.
ilovetrouble66
Writer needs to do a follow up story…
bruiser_blade
I blame Shanahan more than anyone.Here’s a guy who was a proven winner as a player.Won multiple cups,gold medals and multi-time all star.Yet,how could he not recognize by the time this team lost to Montreal or Columbus that the core players were never going to deliver when it mattered the most and they were never going to get near a cup?
Available_Summer_418
No way opp is a leafs fan. Hopefully this gets taken down
Any_Fan_5320
Its shit like this cover that is actually the cause of the Leafs issues.Toronto Fans and media anoint players star status and fictitious awards when they havent accomplished anything yet. How about you just let a player grow for a few years instead of claiming that because you signed a good player to a huge contract when hes young = guaranteed cup. I remember when Mat Stajan was the key to the cup then Kadri now Mathews and Marner. It gets old quick. And the suit fan base doesnt help. Why would these guys play hard for a bunch of suits sitting in the front rows that dont know the difference between a hockey puck and shinola. They are just filling those seats for status and corporate clout. I would just put on a horse and pony show myself and drive home with my fat paycheque.
Wingnut8888
I have to admit I was certain the Leafs would challenge for at least one Cup. I thought they were the new Blackhawks. That it came to this is almost unbelievable to me. Everyone made mistakes but I think, ultimately, the blame lies at the feet of Brendan Shanahan. He was there the whole time, pulled all the strings, OK’d all the trades and nixed the ones they needed to make (Marner). Shanny built the house, then lit the match that burned it down.
reevoknows
We all really thought at minimum a cup final appearance was a lock.
Imagine finding out in 2017 that we would have 2 playoff series wins from 2018-2026. I would have assumed 34 had a career ending injury or something else catastrophic.
Old_Canuck
Before all the hype and big Dubas contracts ruined these three.
Evenspace-
I’ll be honest the fact that this core turned into 0 conference finals appearances let alone a cup win is such an embarrassment for all involved.
yycoding
Adam Proteau’s 2026 takes are about as accurate and well reasoned as this one.
25 Comments
« There was a time when free agents from the Toronto area often found themselves signing cushy deals with the Leafs, usually with their best days behind them. But now, the crown jewel of free agency this summer, John Tavares, doesn’t appear to be an option for Toronto if he does hit the market, largely due to the fact it would be difficult to find a suitable role for him on this roster because of all the current talent. » – Ken Campbell, The Hockey News, Spring 2018
I’m convinced there’s people in this sub who aren’t actually leaf fans but some weird cross breed between fans and masochists lol
Nah, this was on the media not us.
I just noticed « Better Goalie: Ilya Samsonov or Carter Hart », this image just keeps getting more cursed.

Oh what could have been.. Back to the dark ages we go fellas!
Those were the days.
And then they went to be spoiled brats. Should’ve kept Babcock to whip em in line
hey leaf fans don’t feel so bad mcdavid hasn’t won a cup either. and he’s arguably the best player ever and draisaitl is arguably the best play off performer ever. a few more years (60 of them?) of pain.
I said even before they lost game 7 to the habs that this version of the leafs will be the biggest flop/let down in the history of the leafs and yep here we are. You could just tell that these guys had no heart and were paid before getting anything done.
It sucks, and I never in a million years thought it would come this but, I no longer care how this team does. And oddly enough, I don’t even feel upset about it.
That’s quite a difference from just a couple of years ago when I would watch nearly every game and be screaming at my television.
It’s my turn to post this tommorow
Go ahead and post the Winnipeg Jets cover too
FUTURE WATCH 2026

Buddy Its to early for this
Oh we planned the parade, alright. Even down to paying them all like they won it already.
Writer needs to do a follow up story…
I blame Shanahan more than anyone.Here’s a guy who was a proven winner as a player.Won multiple cups,gold medals and multi-time all star.Yet,how could he not recognize by the time this team lost to Montreal or Columbus that the core players were never going to deliver when it mattered the most and they were never going to get near a cup?
No way opp is a leafs fan. Hopefully this gets taken down
Its shit like this cover that is actually the cause of the Leafs issues.Toronto Fans and media anoint players star status and fictitious awards when they havent accomplished anything yet. How about you just let a player grow for a few years instead of claiming that because you signed a good player to a huge contract when hes young = guaranteed cup. I remember when Mat Stajan was the key to the cup then Kadri now Mathews and Marner. It gets old quick. And the suit fan base doesnt help. Why would these guys play hard for a bunch of suits sitting in the front rows that dont know the difference between a hockey puck and shinola. They are just filling those seats for status and corporate clout. I would just put on a horse and pony show myself and drive home with my fat paycheque.
I have to admit I was certain the Leafs would challenge for at least one Cup. I thought they were the new Blackhawks. That it came to this is almost unbelievable to me. Everyone made mistakes but I think, ultimately, the blame lies at the feet of Brendan Shanahan. He was there the whole time, pulled all the strings, OK’d all the trades and nixed the ones they needed to make (Marner). Shanny built the house, then lit the match that burned it down.
We all really thought at minimum a cup final appearance was a lock.
Imagine finding out in 2017 that we would have 2 playoff series wins from 2018-2026. I would have assumed 34 had a career ending injury or something else catastrophic.
Before all the hype and big Dubas contracts ruined these three.
I’ll be honest the fact that this core turned into 0 conference finals appearances let alone a cup win is such an embarrassment for all involved.
Adam Proteau’s 2026 takes are about as accurate and well reasoned as this one.
At least we have Carlo