Toronto Maple Leafs

Time for the Leafs to clinch; rub it in Stamkos’ face
April 6, 2017, 8:54 AM ET [361 Comments]
Lucas Neilson
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Last summer there was a massive following in Leafs Nation with the thought in mind that there was a good chance that superstar Steven Stamkos may be joining the Leafs through free agency.

The Maple Leafs brass did all they could to show Stamkos what Toronto had to offer, from a juicy salary to sponsorship through Canadian Tire and likely a handful of other gigs. It’s without question that Mr. Stamkos was considering changing teams as his career has been in Tampa since he was drafted.

In some ways I can’t blame Stammer, it would be hard to leave a team that you are the superstar on and captain of. But at the same time, you are coming to Toronto where hockey is life and we rabid Leafs fans want nothing more than to see the Stanley Cup hoisted in the big city, where it belongs of course.

Stamkos quickly made his decision and cancelled his meetings with other teams like the Detroit Red Wings and made his decision to stay in sunny Tampa Bay. I cursed him in a number of ways, with words of course but also wishing him bad luck this season as he disappointed me and I’d imagine a number of Leafs fans. He got off to a red hot start but had yet another massive injury taking him out for the remainder of the season.

Seeing as Tampa Bay is in the Eastern Conference and there are no Olympics this year I was more than fine with it. Sorry Stammer, but you are in the wrong blue and white; and tonight my beloved Leafs are going to eliminate your team from the playoff hunt. Have fun in Tampa going forward while the Leafs begin their epic climb from zero to hero.

Maybe a bit bitter about it still, but nevertheless, Stamkos chose to be in Tampa over Toronto where he would have acquired legendary status.

Instead, our boy Auston has dominated all season and will likely be given the keys to the city after this year’s incredible performance.

I guess everything happens for a reason, it will be easier for Toronto to resign all their young guns going forward and with the centers we have on the team now; perhaps we wouldn’t have needed Stamkos as much as we originally thought.

Kadri 31 goals
Matthews 39 goals
Bozak 17 goals

And of course William Nylander has the skill to play center and may in the future, but for now he and Matthews are shredding it and I don’t see Babcock making any major changes here with just three games left in the season.

Three games!! Wow, what a season for the Leafs. Let’s hope the boys can lock up a playoff spot with an enormous win tonight.

After that stinker they played on Tuesday against Washington, you can be that Babcock will have the boys firing on all cylinders tonight. It was truly a pathetic display of hockey on Tuesday.

The Leafs will be going for win 40 on the season tonight as will the Lightning. Tampa is currently five points back of Toronto and must win tonight if they want to keep their hopes alive. The Lightning are 5-4-1 in their last ten, and the Leafs are 7-2-1 in theirs.

Just one point will do it.

Let’s worry about securing that playoff spot before we get all worked up about our matchup. Obviously we don’t want to play the Capitals, but I’m fine with either Boston or Ottawa; I think the Leafs could take either team in a best of seven!

If Boston: Someone needs to put Marchand in his place, I'd enjoy watching that.

Puck drop is 7:30 EST tonight so make sure you are tuned in and ready to cheer the boys on to victory!

Thanks for reading,