I've been a fan since I could crawl. I lived through Allan Bester's fivehole. I saw grown men cry when Gretzky scored a hat-trick in THAT game 7. I drove 160km/hr to get to a Yonge Street parade. I remained a Leafs fan even though Ottawa got a team. I spent an entire paycheque to see Game 3 against the Canes in 2002. I'll make it through these bad times and it'll make the successes that much sweeter.
The feisty Leafs' winger is currently weighing his options including a return to the KHL champion Dynamo Moscow.
They do happen to lose these once in a while.
The Maple Leafs became quite familiar with game sevens during the 90s and early 00s. Here are the best ones; the wins.
What do YOU do to help the Leafs win?
Some links on the best morning.
This is a fantastic video of the crowd at Maple Leaf Square reacting to Phil Kessel dramatically launching the monkey off of his back against Boston to give the Leafs a 3-1 lead.
The evidence is clear: Henrik Lundqvist has a weak glove hand. Look at those heat spots! The book is out on him. Courtesy of ESPN.
Morning links
Boy, that was not as much fun as I had expected. Still, the first couple of minutes were pretty awesome.
Leafs fan and philantropist David Pereira (@djp55) shared this great video from his time volunteering in Rwanda when he was able to get 150 kids chanting "Go Leafs Go!". Good to see the new converts.
Jump right in and read the first ever From The Branches on a Leafs' playoff game day.
Here is the Phil Kessel interview that changed the landscape of the Toronto media. They were able to ask their thoughtful questions and were given insightful answers. Just kidding. Rosie DiManno demonstrated just how remarkably thin-skinned she is with her little hissy fit over Kessel pointing out that it's not his first game in Boston.
Dave Kennedy (TheAncientDirtbag) put together a 15 minute video that recaps the Leafs' season to date. Hopefully they put together a decent playoff run that lets him add a few more minutes to it.
Book these dates in your calendar and don't schedule any meetings for the morning after
Man about town @FlandersBreivik renamed the 43 Kennedy TTC in honour of the Leafs' breakout sensation. I highly encourage these kinds of shenanigans. Full size here.
Freeman Dre & The Kitchen Party have recorded the first of what will presumably be many Leafs playoffs songs. It's a tribute to Stompin' Tom Connors and is kind of catchy. You can download it here if you're so inclined.
Morning serving of links to help everyone get their day going.
Get in the game thread
Breaking down why adding Kiprusoff to the Leafs just doesn't make any sense.
The sun is shining a little bit brighter today.
Let this video get you going for the run in to the playoffs
Setting the stage for tonight's Leafs-Jets game
And with that tweet Ben Hankinson, Jake Gardiner's agent at Octagon Hockey, launched a sorely needed hashtag...
All your morning links needs satisfied
Daily links from around the internet
Breaking down the Maple Leafs' re-signing of Korbinian Holzer and why a blase attitude can be acceptable but why the deep divers have a reason to be concerned.
The Leafs have moved Mike Brown to the Edmonton Oilers for a conditional 4th round pick. It's the rare lose-win/lose trade!