Mike almost felt it
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Oct 16th 2016, 08:45 | |
ElvaFengJoined: Oct 16th 2016, 08:42Total Topics: 4 Total Posts: 4 |
Sixteen months ago, when Brendan Shanahan told Mike Babcock that the franchise’s 100th birthday was coming up soon, he recalled the new coach sweating the timing. “Mike almost felt it was too soon,†the club president said of his new head coach. “He wanted the team to be a little more developed at this time of celebration . I believe he thinks right now it’s the perfect time to have that transition, with the amount of young players here.†The youngest team in the NHL has its home opener tonight against Boston and, despite a looming 50 year Cup drought and possibly the 11th time in 12 years they miss the playoffs, it’s going to be a warm reception. They’ll also be in front of a legion of Toronto’s golden era stars who’ve jumped out of the picture frames that line the ACC walls for the centennial gala. But Shanahan says the time has come for these Leafs to make their own mark and not worry about 1917, 1967 or 2017 for that matter. “Look, my feeling is if history — and a successful history — are too much of a burden for you as an athlete, you really aren’t going to be successful anywhere, even in a market where no one watches the games. These guys put pressure on themselves. “You already saw the way this city, last year http://www.mapleleafsjerseystore.com/matt-hunwick-jersey-c-27.html, just embraced their work ethic and the commitment the players gave.†Shanahan’s message was re enforced by a surprise guest who addressed the media before him Club icon Dave Keon, newly named as the greatest of 100 Leafs listed by a centennial voting panel. “When you played here, you were always in the public eye,†Keon said. “That was part of being a Maple Leaf. When I played junior B, there was coverage. When I played junior A, there was coverage. When you got to the Leafs, it wasn’t as traumatic I guess as it is probably now for some kids who come here and weren’t exposed to any of that. It was part of the training you got to becoming a Leaf. “You have to embrace the challenge. That’s what they’re going to have to try and do. Get better every year and then hopefully http://www.mapleleafsjerseystore.com/jake-gardiner-jersey-c-26.html, put themselves in a position where they can win. It doesn’t happen overnight, it’s going to take a little while. But it seems they’re getting the right players.†That company line has been heard many times since Keon, George Armstrong and Johnny Bower carried the Cup off the Gardens ice to the dressing room back in 1967. But as the ‘Shanaplan’ moves along, it doesn’t ring so hollow. The Leafs have finally committed fully to the rebuild route, a near complete tear down and a core roster that now contains five first round draft picks, including No. 1 overall Auston Matthews. Matthews electrified the city with a record four goal debut on Wednesday in Ottawa, yet no one is talking about a fast track to playoffs. Everyone has bought in from the hockey office, to the players, to the fans to MLSE, apparently willing to suffer the loss of more millions in lost revenue through a few more dark springs at the ACC. More than 20 Marlies were called up last year, including William Nylander, while Mitch Marner has joined Matthews on the rookie beat. Watching Matthews’ magic should make this season a lot more bearable, whether the Leafs are out of contention again by mid season or not. Shanahan and general manager Lou Lamoriello tried to look composed as TV cameras trained on them in Ottawa for reaction to Matthews’ four goals. “What was I thinking?,†Shanahan laughed. “We were all impressed. You can’t beat that. Forget the fact we’re in Toronto. If you’re just a fan of hockey and see a young person do that ... what impressed me most is the responsibility he took for a mistake he made poor coverage on Ottawa’s overtime 3 on 3 winner . “Auston says all the right things. We’re very happy with the way he acts, the way he treats his teammates and obviously the way he plays. But this isn’t about just one player and he knows it. It’s about a process and building a team. You have to have that because the other teams are just too good. “We’re building a team here, not just the rookies, but the veterans who have worked so hard and have really bought into what Mike and Lou are doing.†The Leafs are transitioning from 100 to 001 as Shanahan likes to say. THE SHOW GOES ON AND ON AND ON From deadmau5 to the 48th Highlanders to a who’s who of Maple Leafs greats, it’s going to be an interesting — and lengthy — intro to the franchise’s 100th birthday before Toronto and Boston face off. Fans are advised to be seated by 5 30 to catch all festivities, with TV coverage beginning at 6 p.m., an hour before puck drop. Players often dread opening night theatrics that can upset their warmup if they stand around too long, but Mike Babcock will have none of it, keeping his team in the room as long as he can. “I don’t get involved in game production,†the coach said. “We’re just going to go out, get introduced, they’ll play the anthem and we’ll play. The rest of that stuff is for the fans.†Late team founder Conn Smythe would be happy the Highlanders pipe band is still part of opening night after 85 years, but he might not get deadmau5. The Niagara Falls electronic music producer — real name Joel Zimmerman — wears a mouse helmet while performing, has 3.6 million Twitter followers and counts Don Cherry among his fans. He’s also a huge Leafs fan and has created a fan themed track for the occasion. Together with new game night personnel such as 15 year old anthem singer Martina Ortiz Luis, it’s part of club president Brendan Shanahan’s push to honour the club’s past and provide something for the future. THE ONE HUNDRED — TOP 100 LEAFS OF ALL TIME 1. C Dave Keon 1960 75 1,062 GP, 389 527 987 Four time Stanley Cup winner ... Captain 1969 75 ... Winner of the Calder Trophy, Lady Byng Trophy and last Leaf to win the Conn Smythe ... Franchise record 31 short handed goals as one of the game’s great two way centres ... Third in franchise points and playoff points 67 . 2. C Syl Apps 1936 43, ’45 48 423 GP http://www.mapleleafsjerseystore.com/martin-marincin-jersey-c-29.html, 201 231 432 Three time Cup winner ... Captain 1945 48 ... Calder Trophy, Lady Byng Trophy ... Multi sport athlete and Canadian Olympic pole vaulter. Took two years off to serve in the Canadian Armed Forces ... Hat trick in final game allowed him to reach personal quest of 200 career goals. 3. C Ted Kennedy 1942 54, ’56 57 696 GP, 231 329 560 Five time Cup winner ... Captain 1948 55 ... Last Leaf to win the Hart Trophy ... Leads franchise in Cup final points with 23 in 26 games ... Described by manager Conn Smythe as “the quintessential Maple Leaf†... Second youngest player in Leafs history when he began. 4. C Darryl Sittler 1970 82 844 GP, 389 527 916 Captain 1975 81 ... Leafs leader in hat tricks, longest points streak ... NHL record 10 point game in 1976 ... Five goals in one playoff game ... First Leaf to reach 100 points in a season ... Second team all star in 1978 ... Still works for the team as a club ambassador. 5. C Mats Sundin 1995 2008 981 GP Morgan Rielly Jersey, 420 567 987 Captain 1997 2008 ... Second all star team 2002, ’04 ... Franchise leader in regular season goals, points ... Had 79 game winning goals including 14 in overtime, both team bests ... His teams made the playoffs eight times ... Leads Leafs with 124 power play goals. 6. D Tim Horton 1949 50, 1951 70 1,185 GP 109 349 458 Four time Cup winner ... Leafs leader in games by a defenceman, including the team record of 486 consecutive games between ’61 68 ... Named to three first all star teams ... Nicknamed “Superman†for his immense strength ... Died in 1974 as his donut store chain was becoming popular across Canada. 7. G Johnny Bower 1958 70 472 GP, 220 161 79, 2.51 GAA Four time Cup winner ... Won the ’61 Vezina Trophy, shared another with Terry Sawchuk ... Won 35 playoff games ... Joined the Leafs as a 34 year old, only wore a mask at the end of his career ... Approaching 92, one of the oldest living Leafs ... Second to Turk Broda in games and wins. 8. D Borje Salming 1973 89 1,099 GP, 148 620 786 One first all star team selection, five times on second team ... Club leader in career assists Auston Matthews Jersey Men, points by a defenceman in regular season and playoffs ... Led a European migration after Leafs signed him ... Toronto’s highest plus minus rating at plus 181. 9. LW Frank Mahovlich 1957 68 720 GP, 296 301 597 Four time Cup winner ... Calder Trophy winner ... Two time first team all star, six nominations in all ... The Big M led the club in points five times ... Had 60 points in 84 playoff games ... The first Leaf to get more than 40 goals, coming two shy of 50 in ’60 61. 10. G Turk Broda 1936 43 629 GP, 302 224 101 Five time Cup winner ... Vezina trophy winner twice ... Two time first team all star ... Franchise leader in games, wins and shutouts, often playing the entire season ... Was in net when Leafs rallied from 0 3 deficit to beat Red Wings in ’42 final. 11. Charlie Conacher 12. George Armstrong 13. Doug Gilmour 14. Red Kelly 15. Wendel Clark 16. Busher Jackson 17. Hap Day 18. King Clancy 19. Lanny McDonald 20. Rick Vaive 21. Max Bentley 22. Joe Primeau 23. Allan Stanley 24. Ron Ellis 25. Ace Bailey 26. Bob Pulford 27. Red Horner 28. Dick Duff 29. Gord Drillon 30. Bob Baun 31. Babe Dye 32. Carl Brewer 33. Sid Smith 34. Norm Ullman 35. Curtis Joseph 36. Bill Barilko 37. Tomas Kaberle 38. Tod Sloan 39. Harry Watson 40. Jimmy Thomson 41. Dave Andreychuk 42. Ian Turnbull 43. Terry Sawchuk 44. Paul Henderson 45. Felix Potvin 46. Sweeney Schriner 47. Harry Lumley 48. Phil Kessel 49. Babe Pratt 50. Bob Davidson 51. Lorne Chabot 52. Tiger Williams 53. Gary Leeman 54. Steve Thomas 55. Reg Noble 56. Gus Mortson 57. Ron Stewart 58. Mike Palmateer 59. Billy Harris 60. Gary Roberts 61. Vince Damphousse 62. John Anderson 63. Bryan McCabe 64. Bob Nevin 65. Howie Meeker 66. Wally Stanowski 67. Gaye Stewart 68. Eddie Shack 69. Nick Metz 70. Darcy Tucker 71. Ed Belfour 72. Lorne Carr 73. Errol Thompson 74. Bill Ezinicki 75. Bill Derlago 76. Bert Olmstead 77. Harry Cameron 78. Al Iafrate 79. Ed Olczyk 80. Jim McKenny 81. George Hainsworth 82. Marcel Pronovost 83. Alex Mogilny 84. Todd Gill 85. Mike Walton 86. Dave Ellett 87. Baldy Cotton 88. Dion Phaneuf 89. Jim Pappin 90. Jack Adams 91. Gus Bodnar 92. Cal Gardner 93. Tie Domi 94. Brian Glennie 95. Corb Denneny 96. Larry Hillman 97. Wilf Paiment 98. Russ Courtnall 99. Joe Klukay 100. James van Riemsdyk
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