Help me catch up!

[TheMightyOdin]

Hey guys

Basically after 33 years of barely missing a leaf game I was unable to follow the team the last 2 seasons and missed so much. Aside from scores, headlines, highlights, Austins debut and the playoffs I was completely out of the loop.(the game day threads helped me get a fix here and there)

So now that my life is back to semi normal and my blue and white heart is ready to consume the new season I realize I barely know the team like I used to.

Aside from stats what weird/fun fact/interesting story/quirky things should a die hard leaf fan like myself know about these fresh faced Leafs I'll be watching this season?

 

[TheMightyOdin]

....almost forgot:

GO LEAFS GO!!!!

 

[disco]

Two years ago was the "tank year", well coached by Babs, they weren't an embarrassment, but 30th overall finish and lottery luck netted us Matthews.
Nylander and some rookies saw some ice at the end there and breathed life into the fan-base.

Last year was awesome. A slow start, so many rookies and a new goalie. But we got going and set all kinds of rookie records. A strong showing against Washington in the first round, and now the skies the limit! I've posted below some of the best moments. They're at the top of the "Is It Preseason Yet?" thread.

- Matthews 4-goal debut.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xw2v2MCGsRw
- Final five minutes of Playoff Clincher against Pittsburgh.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdDnKQ0aOOE&t=518s
- Kappy goal in Playoff Game 2.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvHXDCLEJUg
- Bozak goal in Playoff Game 3.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kt0FYE6pukw
- Matthews Centennial Classic O/T Winner.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97rhhBxDjcs&t=53s
- All 40 Matthews goals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1iL70b9vyM
- Dangle LFR from Auston's debut.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIpbZca0pV4
- Home-opener Number Retirement Ceremony.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WTu46FUtlE
- Auston Matthews draft.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZzi8NXStDs&t=4s
- Centennial Classic Full Overtime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYRfd-fnGO4
- Auston Matthews Highlights: "It's My Time".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG7tLm7AwIk
- Mitch Marner Highlights: "Playin' on a Prayer".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M61hsK5zNBg
- Mitch Marner Breakaway Goal vs Florida.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Va-xcsH5VHs
- William Nylander Hat-trick vs Boston.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Va-xcsH5VHs
- Nazem Kadri O/T Winner vs Edmonton.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnwkP-M7o04

 

[TheMightyOdin]

Thanks disco. I've watched all these already! Lol..

Maybe I should have posted this in non hockey chatter? I wanted to know things like why is Connor called "downtown" Connor brown?  If there is a known reason.

 

[Kin]

Aside from stats what weird/fun fact/interesting story/quirky things should a die hard leaf fan like myself know about these fresh faced Leafs I'll be watching this season?

So I think there are two really interesting storylines that are going to define the Leafs' season. The first is pretty obvious which is whether or not they can build on the success of last year. Last year was great but it was success built on a bunch of guys having seasons unlike any they'd ever had before. And not just rookies, either. Kadri, Anderson, Bozak to some extent...all of them carved out new identities. The idea of the Leafs trajectory being a straight shot up isn't just based on the big 3 rookies avoiding a sophomore slump, it's also whether or not Anderson is a legit and consistent #1 or Rielly's ability to handle the workload of a #1(even if he's not as good as one).

The other one is that the Leafs are going to have to make some tough choices about who are going to be the secondary players for them down the line. They have maybe 14 or 15 guys who have legitimate cases to make for being everyday NHL forwards. Some of them are young-ish players they have to sort of make decisions on(Kapanen, Leivo), some are more middling but fit into what Babcock wants to do style-wise(Hyman, Martin) and some are just cases of expiring contracts(JVR, Bozak).

Combine that with a blue line group that most people agree needs an outside upgrade and I think we're bound to see some significant player movement this year, especially if it looks like the team isn't going to take another big step forward standings-wise.

 

[disco]

I guess beyond two years ago it was a much different looking team. Kessel, Phaneuf, Reimer and Bernier were still here I think.

I think the downtown comes from "Downtown Judy Brown" which was from a song or something.

JVR, Bozak, Naz, Komorov, Reilly and Gardiner are really the only ones left from the tank purge. They've been fused with all the new rookies and the top picks of Matthews, Marner and Nylander: picks 1,4,8 the last three years. Hyman is a digging winger, Brown is a good scorer, Zaitzev a KHL sign on defence.

Bottom line, prepare to enjoy the season. You'll get to know these guys soon enough! They're young, fresh-faced and eager to be the best!

 

[Kin]

Thanks disco. I've watched all these already! Lol..

Maybe I should have posted this in non hockey chatter? I wanted to know things like why is Connor called "downtown" Connor brown?  If there is a known reason.

I don't want to spoil anyone's fun but I think the answer there is "because it rhymes".

 

[TheMightyOdin]

Thanks disco. I've watched all these already! Lol..

Maybe I should have posted this in non hockey chatter? I wanted to know things like why is Connor called "downtown" Connor brown?  If there is a known reason.

I don't want to spoil anyone's fun but I think the answer there is "because it rhymes".

Just like downtown Julie Brown. 

That's what I suspected but wondered if there was a tid bit of info I didn't have.

 

[Zee]

Thanks disco. I've watched all these already! Lol..

Maybe I should have posted this in non hockey chatter? I wanted to know things like why is Connor called "downtown" Connor brown?  If there is a known reason.

I don't want to spoil anyone's fun but I think the answer there is "because it rhymes".

Just like downtown Julie Brown. 

That's what I suspected but wondered if there was a tid bit of info I didn't have.

You know if the Leafs play like crap this season you'll be blamed as a jinx?

 

[TheMightyOdin]

[/quote]

You know if the Leafs play like crap this season you'll be blamed as a jinx?
[/quote]

Because I started watching again? They didn't win any playoff rounds while I was away.  If they play well and get past the first round will I be the catalyst?

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Thanks disco. I've watched all these already! Lol..

Maybe I should have posted this in non hockey chatter? I wanted to know things like why is Connor called "downtown" Connor brown?  If there is a known reason.

I don't want to spoil anyone's fun but I think the answer there is "because it rhymes".

Which makes me all the more disappointed that Psycho Clown Connor Brown never caught on.

 

[TheMightyOdin]

No captain this year?  So who is picking the locker room music?

 

[Zee]

Because I started watching again? They didn't win any playoff rounds while I was away.  If they play well and get past the first round will I be the catalyst?

I'll give you that. Just looking for a scapegoat in case things go off the rails lol

 

[Bullfrog]

No captain this year?  So who is picking the locker room music?

Bozak, for sure.