The Toronto Maple Leafs’ world turned upside down in the past year. This time last year, the Leafs were about to close their first-round series in the Battle of Ontario versus the Ottawa Senators. Fast forward to today, and they are either on vacation, golfing, or soaking in a terrible season at home.
This year’s team couldn’t pull through and make the playoffs, the first time since the 2016 season (Matthews’ draft year) that they missed the playoffs. But no one could have predicted it, as most people had them at the very least making playoffs coming off a division title last season.
There have been very few good moments and a lot of bad moments from this season. This was a year to forget and hopefully a one-and-done. The Buds already have aspirations of making the postseason next year, as the playoffs aren’t the same without seeing postseason hockey in Toronto. Reflecting on this year’s disaster, here are some of the best and worst moments.
Beating the Avs in Colorado
The Colorado Avalanche this season were a wagon, winning the Presidents’ Trophy with 121 points and already sweeping their first-round opponent in the playoffs. As for the Leafs, who were trying to find their way in this tough Atlantic Division, beating the Avalanche was going to be a tough task in Ball Arena.
The Avalanche dominated this season on home ice, so seeing that the Maple Leafs would be coming into town would bring a lot of attention. Matthews vs. MacKinnon: Can the Leafs beat the number one NHL team?
And in a hard-fought back-and-forth game, the Leafs pushed the Avs into overtime with William Nylander scoring the winner, handing Colorado one of 15 home-ice losses on the year. One of the few amazing moments from this season was beating the best team on the road.
Worst: Leafs vs. Kraken, October 18
The Leafs had the NHL schedule play to their advantage at the beginning of the year, as they had a lot of home games against weaker teams to start the year. One of those is the Seattle Kraken, 10 days into the season.
This game, in many Leafs fans’ eyes, was the start of how this season was going to play out. In the game, one of the Seattle players crashed into the starting goalie at the time, Anthony Stolarz, which normally would spark a reaction out of the team. “Goalies are untouchable” is an unwritten rule in the NHL. If you touch the goalie, we will come for you, but not in this case.
No Maple Leaf on the ice had the guts to do something and stand up for Stolarz, which led to him calling out his team in the post-game press conference, challenging the team’s lack of urgency on the hit that was laid on him.
Worst: Matthews’ Injury
The Stolarz moment was the start of how this season played out for the Buds, as things like this continued to happen later in the season, but looking back, it was a reflection of the team presented on the ice, which really was scared. Similar situations have happened later on in the year, which have caused major discussions.
Specifically, the Auston Matthews injury, where Ducks captain Radko Gudas intentionally hit the Leafs captain’s knee, ending his season. The lack of response from the team seeing their captain down and out on the ice was pathetic, and truly, this may have been the start to a change that needs to be made with this culture and this organization.
Best: Home Opener vs Montreal
Death, taxes, and an opening night match between two divisional, original six rivals in the Leafs vs. the Montreal Canadiens. With the Habs looking much stronger heading into this year, the Leafs knew they had a tough task ahead of them.
Based on the past few years, the home team on opening night has won all the games; this one was in Toronto. As history favoured Toronto in this matchup, the Buds were down early in the game 2–1, but goals from unlikely heroes in Morgan Rielly and Calle Jarnkrok pushed the Leafs past the Habs to win their home opener.
Best: Winning the draft lottery
All of these terrible moments led to one thing: the draft lottery. And with less than a 10% chance of winning, the Leafs did it.
The whole season was worth it if this No. 1 pick becomes a franchise player. Whether it’s Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg, if they turn out to be a gamebreaker, this dreadful year will be a blessing. Winning the lottery was easily the best moment of the season in Toronto, and it’s not close.
A season to sort of remember?
There were some fun moments from this crazy Leafs season, but sadly, there were many more bad. Leafs fans will remember this season, but not in the way they make like it. Although they can draft highly ranked prospect Gavin McKenna, it’s safe to say what was put onto the ice was something never to forget, as this year’s Leafs may have been one of the worst in franchise history.Â
