Are the Toronto Maple Leafs Making The Playoffs?

 
So; after a long hard day of working in construction you sit down and crack open a six pack to share with your buddies. Or, after a strenuous day at the office you sit down with a group of friends and engage in a conversation while sipping on some coffee.

If you are a resident in the city of Toronto and follow sports. It is completely inevitable that during a social gathering this famous question will pop up... "Are the Leafs going to make the playoffs this year or what!?"


Well, well, well... Lets look at some statistics, eh buddy? I know as well as you that we are both sharing the same pain, agony and suffering when it comes to this organization.  Torontonians have been gritting their teeth, punching their Maple Leaf decored pillows and ripping up news papers ever since the lockout in 2004. Since a year before that; and so on and so on and sooooo onnnnnn. The Leafs have not made the playoffs. Lockout jinx? Or just poor changes in coaching and management?

In my opinion firing Pat Quinn was a huge mistake. It seems the Leafs just kept falling, like the seasons in autumn I suppose; from that point on. Pat Quinn was an awesome coach. He has always taken the Maple Leafs to the playoffs prior to that one year before the lockout. Also, he won a gold medal for team Canada, just before the final years of his career as a Toronto Maple Leaf coach. So the guy doesn't make the playoffs for you ONE year out of how many he has brought the team into a good position to compete. And they fire the guy. Poor management indeed, just look at the ripple effect the Leafs are suffering now. Year after year they just cannot seem to make the playoffs.

Not to sound too negative. I am hoping the best for the Leafs. I literally cannot wait to see another playoff game with a blue and white Leaf jersey skating around the ice. I hope they do make it to the playoffs; it would be awesome for our whole city! But. BUT... if they don't I am pretty sure most Leaf fans will not be suprised. They always seem to sell out the arenas, always seem to get away with overpriced ticket sales and of course; always seem to get away with not making the playoffs. The team seems alot faster, more offensive and productive. Our offensive lines are more exciting to watch. There is more speed, versatility and shots on goal. It seems the team has more "finess," so to say with younger talents like Mc Arthur and Kadri. Kessel is finally kicking in and it looks like we are doing so-so right now.

The team started off amazing as usual, heck, we even were in first place of our division for a while. But sure enough, after some very impressive performances. The Leafs started losing again and have went from first place in the division to another grinding, nitty gritty, fighting for the playoffs spot. I really hope they can prove to us blood thirsty fans that they can make the playoffs. They know how much the sport means to Canadians and maybe that applies unessecary pressure. Just a little message to our team players out there. Do the best you can, be yourselves, and try to ignore"us," the fans. And the media as much as possible. You're professional hockey players. We assume you can play hockey.

GO LEAFS GO!!!