Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it is just beginning
Last night, I had a chance to be right in the thick of the craziness at Maple Leafs Square for the crucial Game 6 between the Buds and the Washington Capitals. This mostly consisted of never-ending chanting, trash talk, and slurred singing from people who had consumed a bit too much alcohol. But when Auston Matthews stuffed his crazy bounce in the top corner over Braden Holtby, I have never seen a more crazy scene. Words alone cannot describe it. And when Marcus Johannsson stuck the season-ending dagger in the hearts of the Maple Leafs, sure there was disappointment, but no one bent to their knees crying like we saw after the Game 7 collapse against Boston in 2013. Practically everyone left with their heads held high. Because they know this is the start of something very special.
It's hard to think of a Maple Leafs rookie record that wasn't broken this year. Some of these records many thought would never be touched. But Wendel Clark's record of 34 goals by a rookie was tore down by Auston Matthews' 40. The 2nd most by an NHL rookie since 2005-06 (Only Alex Ovechkin had more with 52 in his freshman year). The most by an American born rookie. Not too mention his 69 points which (you guessed it) also is a new one for the Maple Leafs record book. A campaign that has 'Calder Trophy' written all over it. Or how Mitch Marner's 42 helpers that surpassed a 70+ year old team record? Or William Nylander's 12 game point scoring streak. And don't forget Zach Hyman's 4 shorthanded goals which were also a franchise record setter for a young gun. Do I need to continue? Probably not, we would be here for awhile. I think you can see that these kids are pretty good.
These young Leafs have already been compared to the Chicago Blackhawks of 10 years ago. A former struggling Original 6 franchise that had a Stanley Cup drought that felt like an entirety that was now drafting high end talent like Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews and turning their franchise around. And as we all know in 2010, the Blackhawks won their first cup since 1961 that started a modern day dynasty for the boys from the Windy City with 3 titles in 6 seasons with possibly more on the way in the next few years. Will these Leafs be like those Blackhawks? I can't say for sure until they raise Lord Stanley over their heads. But the parallels are certainly there.
When Mike Babcock signed his 8 year contract to be head coach in the hockey capital of the world in May of 2015, he said simply 'there's pain coming'. We saw that pain when the Leafs finished dead last in the NHL standings with one of their worst records in franchise history in 2015-16. But they got Auston Matthews from that. We saw more of that pain with this 1st round defeat against the Washington Capitals despite the fact they gave the President's Trophy champs a tremendous run for their money. This series also showed us the Leafs still have some issues to work out on the defensive end which looked very shaky at times. But they have a true #1 goaltender and a very good forward core that is only going to get better with experience. The saying "Well, we always have next year" finally means something in Leafs Nation. I know that waiting til October to watch these kids again isn't the easiest thing to do. But 'the Shanaplan' that is in place here is making it worth it. We finally have things figured on like the colossal messes that are the Colorado Avalanche or the Vancouver Canucks.
Hold your heads high, my fellow Leafs fans. The Toronto Maple Leafs are finally great again.
