SB Nation User Blog: MapleLeafs85

Why the NHL is Struggling and teams like the Leafs are suffering.

MapleLeafs85 — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:39:20 -0000

After reading the analysis on From the Rink about the Boots mess and then about the Islanders potentially needing to be sold or re-located has made me think about the state of the NHL. I live in the States much like a few of us loyal readers here at PPP. There is a huge reason why the Leafs haven't won a cup since the Original 6 has turned into the Original 30 something.

There is a huge dearth of talent in the NHL. After looking at a bunch of the 4th line players and healthy scratches in the league right now I've noticed that many of these guys really don't belong in the league. There are just too many teams in the league. We all know that the NHL needs to contract a few teams in the South.

This problem is compounded by the fact that the NHL is more than happy to take money from potential owners who want to own a team. Unfortunately wanting to own a team shouldn't be enough to actually own a team, however in this day of the NHL this is all that is needed. Because of this phenomenon there are (were) owners like Boots owning a team in a town like Nashville. Here's a thought, name another league (other than the NFL) that has a team in Nashville. The answer is none because it's a town that can't support a team for 40 something games a season. Why can't the NHL realize this. Furthermore, it's been seen over and over again that Florida can not handle a major franchise in any league for more than a few years at a time, yet they keep on gaining teams. Two years of good revenues is not worth 5 years of bad revenue multiplied by multiple teams. It's not fiscally sound and it destroys competition in this league.

Now how does this relate back to our beloved Leafs?

We are a team that like the Rangers and the other Canadian franchises that are the glue to the NHL. What is the thanks we get? Lower quality players later in the draft, higher competition for free agents, and idiotic ownership groups handing out idiotic contracts that teams cannot compete with (15-year deal worth $67.5 million for DiPietro.) It's no surprise that we haven't won a cup since 1967. Even though Toronto has had moronic owners, they simply weren't idiots who were willing to throw away the franchise by hog-tying themselves with ridiculous contracts with players and arenas.

All I have to say is I'm 23 biology student with no interest in business whatsoever and I'm smarter than Gary Bettman and about 40% of the Owners in this league, which is why this beautiful game will be locked into mediocrity for years to come.

Not so Oilers Nation the Oilogosphere Insanity

MapleLeafs85 — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:05:26 -0000

After seeing a little interesting diddy on another sports blog about an Oilers blogger that got kicked out of the game, I clicked the link over to Covered in Oil. I've never heard of the blog and I don't really have any personal opinions about the Oilers other than they're another Canadian team which means when the Leafs are in the playoffs I may root for them but otherwise I don't really like them all too much. After what happened to David Berry, I was disgusted not so much by the Oilers but more by how they allow their employees to act. Now of course, there are multiple sides to the story, but from the way David wrote I could tell he was pissed but that "I'm pissed but I'm not going to lose my cool because I know I was in the right this time."

Honestly the part that is really screwing with me isn't the fact that certain people are taking the side of the Oilers while the fans of CiO are taking the fans of David Berry, it's the fact that Oilers Nation doesn't think that this is a big deal, in fact, they think it's hilarious and David is just throwing a hissy fit. If something like this happened to a Barilkosphere blogger, I think every single of one of us would have our hands up in the air screaming and shouting in their defense. Hell, I think if this happened to Jay Jardine or Don over at PPP's old (current-ish?) stomping grounds at BoO we'd be screaming and shouting and they write for the Sens. WE HATE THE SENS AND WE WOULD FIGHT FOR THEM!!

The simple fact that the big guns such as KuklasKorner, Puck Daddy (Wyshynski even though I don't know you, you stink apparently), OffWing and Mirtle (By the way can be found at fromtherink.com now) have talked about this in a fair manner and have all highlighted the fact that a lot of the blame should be fixed squarely on the Oilers organization, tells you that maybe there's something to it. However, other Oilers bloggers think it's like "Having a ten-alarm hissy fit and announcing to the world that you are “quitting forever” in a dramatic scene worthy of an Oscar nomination is lame."

In all reality, what's really lame is that even though you don't care nor do you think he was right, you didn't stand up for your own kind. YOU ARE OILERS FANS THEREFORE YOU STICK UP FOR OTHER OILERS FANS!

Tired and Sick, not Sick and Tired Anymore

MapleLeafs85 — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:54:41 -0000

As many "die-hard" fans, when the team you root for hits a rough patch there is an emotional gambit that gets run through. First despair, then anger, then hope, then despair once again.

At the beginning of this slide, I sat thinking, "Ok the injury bug has hit again....once we get healthy, all will be good but this SUCKS." (Despair and anger all into one) Then I realized when Quinny was leading this team injuries only meant more wins, not losses. (Hope) That's when I turned into a jaded hopeless fan. (Where'd the despair go??) I'm from Chicago so I don't get to see the games and the way I stay updated are text alerts from the games. When I saw that the Leafs lost 5-2 my normal response to a Leafs loss with an expletive was nowhere to be found, instead, I said good. The top brass need to realize that even though as Leafs fans we are automatons, the trance that this team holds over us will break (as it did for me), and losing streaks like this will make fans not care about this team (which is much worse than calling for the heads of JFJ, or Paul Maurice) anger, despair and hope mean we still care about this team. I'm starting to realize that all the energy I put into rooting for this team is becoming null and void. I'm no longer Sick and Tired of this team I'm Tired and Sick of it.