It’s embarrassing to be associated with most Leaf fans….
The booing of Raycroft and McCabe set me off the other night.
We have a team in Toronto that is performing FAAAAAAR over what should be expected, this is a team playing without Peca, without Tucker and without Wellwood. Oh and lets mention Stajan, Steen, Raycroft, Wozniewski, White, Deveraux, bataglia, Colaiacovo, Pohl, Green, Kilger, Belak who are mostly one of two things 1) in their first to third year of the NHL and 2) are definitely not known as great players that will help you win the cup, Belak –waiver pickup, Green – waiver pickup, Betaglia – waiver pickup (I think), Kilger – waiver pickup, Pohl late 20’s and finally cracked the NHL lineup, Deveraux – waiver pickup…..what the h*ll do you idiot fans who boo our team expect from these players?
I understand a portion of the booing was geared towards McCabe and Raycroft but let me start on that too:
Raycroft – former Calder Trophy winner – Toronto fans are used to more than solid goaltending: Potvin, Joseph, Belfour…Raycroft is none of those players…he likely never will be and you’re ignorant and unreasonable to expect him to be. He won the Calder Trophy in a year where the rookies were rather weak. Had he come a year later nobody would even know his name. So allow me to reiterate this to you RAYCROFT IS NOT CUJO, BELFOUR OR EVEN POTVIN stop expecting him to be. He’s a 2 million dollar goaltender and you fans act as if he’s supposed to be a 6 million dollar goaltender.
McCabe I can understand the frustration with him, he’s paid just shy of a Pronger or Niedermyer but doesn’t come close to their performance. However he is trying, he works his a** off each shift and yes unfortunately makes some bad mistakes, but so does Redden…Redden is having a terrible year as far as he’s concerned and you don’t see Ottawa fans booing him. He will play a much better game next year when he’s used to the pressure of his big contract, as far as I’m concerned he’s struggling under pressure. But he doesn’t deserve boo’s, if you’re booing him then you’re clearly not watching him run around working his butt off…he’s actually one of the harder working Leafs, if you want to boo someone boo John Ferguson.
The Leafs will likely not make the playoffs and Toronto fans need to get that in their heads right now. No it’s not Sundin, McCabe or Raycrofts fault we won’t make it and no it’s not Sundin’s fault we still haven’t won the cup under his leadership…it’s simply managements fault and nothing else.
We can always use the “we pay waaaay too much for Leaf tickets we should be able to do whatever we want at the game”, this may be true but support your damn team, Leaf fans are known as the most loyal fans who stick around regardless of positioning but do you actually think booing them will make them play better? Do you actually think booing them is going to suddenly make Raycroft a better goalie…Raycroft didn’t ask to come here; he was traded after sucking in Boston, did you read that properly “AFTER SUCKING IN BOSTON” so why when he lets in 4 goals do you boo when you know damn well he’s not a very good goaltender. Would you not suit up for the Leafs too if they traded for you and paid you 2 million even though you’re not very good. What’s he supposed to say “I don’t want to play because the a** hole high maintenance fans in Toronto will boo me”.
I’m sorry Leaf fans but we get criticized by the rest of the league all the time and most of the time I will stick up for you but this time Hal Gill and the rest of the fans of the 29 other teams are right. Toronto fans are high maintenance and whiny.
I’m not saying all Leaf fans are but if you boo’d the other night or would’ve boo’d if you were there; then I’m talking to you.
So next time when you’re about to boo think of this:Stajan, Steen, Raycroft, Wozniewski, White, Deveraux, bataglia, Colaiacovo, Pohl, Green, Kilger, Belak – all players in their first 3 years and/or waiver pickups….and you expect the playoffs, and even worse, you expect them to keep up with the best teams in the league?
Think Toronto!!!
GO LEAFS GO!!!