Why The Leafs Won't WIn The Cup

Okay, I'm about to do something I've been avoiding. I'm going to say, or post something controversial about hockey. And believe me, where I live, saying something bad about the Toronto Maple Leafs is risky. So, let me couch my statements with this proviso: I have not played hockey in my life, nor do know much about the current teams in the league. In fact, I would be hard pressed to name all the teams in the league.

But I do know this, Toronto hasn't won the cup since 1967, or the division the team has played in since 2000.

There are a thousand reasons why. Right now, the going reason is that management won't spend the money on good players because they don't need to. The arena is sold out for every game, TV ratings are always high, why spend?

I like this reason.

Another reason is the fans. Toronto fans are rabid Blue and White. Ridiculously so. Much of this is fueled by the media, constantly lambasting audiences with just how rabid they are that to deny it would be some kind of sacrilege. These fans refuse to accept a team building phase most championship teams go through. They don't want to see no-names play for their team, or ride out the bad times. They want the quick fix, the short trade, the one super-player who will turn it around for them.

I like this reason, too.

But the reason I think the Leafs won't win the cup is because of their captain, Matts Sundin. Now, don't get me wrong. Matts is one the great players in the league, and definitely one of the greatest the Leafs have ever had.

No, the reason is because he is Swedish. For years now Sweden has bred some of the finest hockey players in the world. The love the game like no other country in the world, and this is where Sweden and Canada part philosophies, for while the Swede treat the game like a beautiful women, with finesse and attention, the average Canadian views hockey as the national religion. There are people out there who eat, breath, bleed the game. They live for one thing and one thing only, to watch their team win the Stanley Cup.

In the old days, BE (Before Europeans) hockey was played very much when it was supposed to, in the winter. When the season was over, it was over. Players went to their respective summer homes, cottages, beach houses in Florida, whatever. They either celebrated a good season, or took out their aggressions on a golf ball, stewing, vowing that next year will be the year.

At the end of the season Sundin hops on a plane and heads home to Sweden to play in their summer league. The man has heart, but not the deep down need to win because he will always have hockey to play. That's all he wants to do and lives out his dream everyday.

Hooray for him.

The same can be said for the Ottawa Senators. Lots of Swedes over there.

Now let me make this clear. I have nothing against Swedish players, or any Europeans who play the game. Anyone who plays in the NHL deserved to be there.

Just not as captain. That kind of leadership role should go to a Canadian, or even an American. Because at the end of the season, they really, really, really, really, want to drink from that damn cup.

Mike