Contrary to my last post, on the bright side, the Leafs look very promising next year. All Burke’s gotta do is re-sign MacArthur, Schenn, and Grabovski and sign a top six centre on free agent day (crossing my fingers for Brad Richards). There isn’t a lot of depth on the team yet but I see a possible eighth place finish and maybe a chance to take the first round in the playoffs next season.
We also have a few young players from the Leafs' farm system: Kadri, Aulie, Crabb, and Boyce are all promising players for a permanent spot on the roster next year.
And lets not forget James Reimer, a.k.a. “Optimus Reim”. I think he will be the one to revive this team and the key to their rebuild. Since Wilson announced that Reimer will be our starter, he has made saves no goalie after Curtis Joseph or Ed Belfour has ever made before. His vision between traffic in front of the net is crystal clear and he has an amazing ability to eliminate any chances for a rebound.
So for the forty-fourth year in a row, “There’s always next year”. But at least this gives Leafs Nation a little room to breathe knowing that the Leafs finished strong in the second half of the regular season with a net-minder everyone can feel confident with.
We made it through and supported the boys during their eight game losing streak and survived the frustration of “when will this streak ever end?” Us blue and white fans can withstand anything.
The countdown to the Leafs’ 2011-2012 regular season home opener begins now, Go Leafs Go!
Showing posts with label toronto maple leafs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label toronto maple leafs. Show all posts
Apr 7, 2011
Apr 6, 2011
Once reality hits, it’s over...literally
Devastation is what you can call this kind of feeling hovering over Leafs Nation right now. It’s one thing to know that your team is eliminated, but it’s another to actually see it happen.
It was just a matter of time. For the past month everyone has been be-LEAF-ing and saying we still had a chance to make it to the playoffs (no thanks to Carolina and Buffalo). But I think deep down, everyone knew it was coming but no one wanted to admit it. To support your team through thick and thin, ups and downs, injuries and controversial trades, players’ slumps, losing streaks, winning streaks, the boos from fans at home, and of course the waffle tossing, “elimination” is definitely something that’s hard to accept. It’s the worst feeling in the world and a feeling that’s tremendously hard to swallow.
The Leafs played their heart and soul out for the past few months barely clinging on to any playoff hope. Just when we thought the playoffs were out of reach, the Leafs surprised everyone after the All-Star break and began winning the games that mattered the most. Every game for the past month was a “must win” and every win brought us closer and closer. Even watching the standings and knowing that you couldn’t do anything about it except pray for the Rangers, Hurricanes, and Sabres to lose was nerve-wracking enough. Unfortunately those teams knew how high the stakes were and kept racking up points which made it even harder for us to catch up. I would use four words to sum up this season: emotional roller coaster ride.
Like I said earlier, this is definitely hard to accept. It will take a few days for Leafs fans to really process this and move on. But for now, let me crawl into my hole with my Maple Leafs jersey and cry ......
It was just a matter of time. For the past month everyone has been be-LEAF-ing and saying we still had a chance to make it to the playoffs (no thanks to Carolina and Buffalo). But I think deep down, everyone knew it was coming but no one wanted to admit it. To support your team through thick and thin, ups and downs, injuries and controversial trades, players’ slumps, losing streaks, winning streaks, the boos from fans at home, and of course the waffle tossing, “elimination” is definitely something that’s hard to accept. It’s the worst feeling in the world and a feeling that’s tremendously hard to swallow.
The Leafs played their heart and soul out for the past few months barely clinging on to any playoff hope. Just when we thought the playoffs were out of reach, the Leafs surprised everyone after the All-Star break and began winning the games that mattered the most. Every game for the past month was a “must win” and every win brought us closer and closer. Even watching the standings and knowing that you couldn’t do anything about it except pray for the Rangers, Hurricanes, and Sabres to lose was nerve-wracking enough. Unfortunately those teams knew how high the stakes were and kept racking up points which made it even harder for us to catch up. I would use four words to sum up this season: emotional roller coaster ride.
Like I said earlier, this is definitely hard to accept. It will take a few days for Leafs fans to really process this and move on. But for now, let me crawl into my hole with my Maple Leafs jersey and cry ......
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)