Leaf Fans, a Tainted Love

Reading articles and listening to the media you constantly hear about the Leaf fans. Many paint them as pathetic in that they follow the Leafs no matter how much they lose and they pack the seats at the ACC pouring money into MLSE’s coffers no matter what the product is on the ice.

First off, Leaf Nation is not just the people that pack the ACC. Most in Leaf Nation can not get to the games, or afford the tickets. Most true Leaf fans have inherited their love of the team from parents, or from their early childhood years. For us, the Leafs are a true love, but like true love, in many cases it can be blind.

The biggest obstacle faced by the person that runs the Leafs is not the board of MSLE, but it is the blind love of many Leaf fans towards their players. In the past, we have had managers of the team that gave in to that passion of Leaf fans. The fans would fall in love with a Domi, Tucker, or McCabe, and the manager of the day would overpay to keep that player on the team. As an old manager once said; if you listen to the fans, pretty soon you’ll be sitting with the fans.

For years we have watched the Leafs go through another disappointing season and the first thing that happens is that 90% of the team gets re-signed, many with rich new contracts. The fans love their Leafs and the players become heroes whether they win or lose. Many players succumb to this adulation and start to become complacent. They become used to being treated like heroes even when they lose. Losing becomes acceptable. They may still talk about the fire they have, but they turn down trades to playoff contenders and when given the choice of where to play they choose a relaxed lifestyle in Florida as opposed to a perennial playoff contender in New Jersey.

Another type of situation is what happened with Darcy Tucker. He was a heart and soul player, but it became obvious that at age 33, and being only 5’10, he could no longer play his style effectively. The Leaf fans still chanted Darcy, Darcy and would have loved the team to keep him. Fortunately management in Toronto is changing and Tucker was bought out last year. Colorado management went for the reputation of what once was and signed Tucker for two years at an average of $2.25 million. For that they got 8 goals and 8 assists last year. Funny that Colorado finished dead last in the west last year and both the GM and coach are no longer with the team. Of course that wasn’t Tucker’s fault, but it shows what happens when you pay for reputation and past performance.

The Leafs are changing and the fans have to get used to the idea of letting their favorites leave. The days of overpaying a player by 20% because the fans love him are over. It may seem trivial to pay a player $1.2 million instead of $1 million because he’s a fan favorite. But when you spread that approach over the whole team, $40 million in salaries becomes $48 million. The costs your team the ability to sign an $8 million player and that is a very big deal.

Instead of paying a premium for players, in Detroit players often take a home town discount to stay with the team. They see the privilege of playing for the Wings and realize that if they demand a premium they will be gone. That allows Detroit to keep their nucleus and gives them the ability to add quality players to the mix.

Burke understands this approach and will manage that way. Playing for the Leafs is a privilege. Sure the Leafs have not been winners, but if you retire as part of Leaf team you will be part of a legacy that matters long after your playing days are over. Players who care about the game see that and those are the players you want on your team.

The times are a changing Leaf fans so keep an open mind as you watch some of the roster turnover as the Burke makeover continues.