The Maple Leafs now have to pick conflicts with themselves after boring their fan base into apathy.
They lost 6-3 against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday after playing carelessly. It was the kind of open-ice, hit-free, back-and-forth game that the NHL says it strives for but hardly ever gets to play.
By the conclusion, there were no boos. Nobody got out of the building in a rage. Not one of them can be a classic.
The Leafs chose to create their own diversion rather than accept that and move on.
Talking first was Auston Matthews.
Matthews remarked, “A little bit of an immature game from us.”
“A little bit immature” in hockey lingo refers to “a complete failure at every level.” That smoke bomb isn’t merely dropped by someone like Matthews unless it’s a part of a bigger offensive.
Shortly after, coach Sheldon Keefe reiterated the same criticism. He felt the team had gone overboard and displayed immaturity throughout the game, from both experienced players and inexperienced ones making mistakes. It was clear there was coordination in their message, with Matthews trying to be subtle while Keefe delivered it forcefully. This controversial exchange sparked discussions in the media, revealing a team ready to challenge any criticisms thrown their way.
Are the Leafs finally showing signs of self-awareness, or are they overthinking their decisions? The team’s narrative feels stagnant, like a never-changing soap opera from the 1990s. Even if you stop following them for a while, you can easily catch up without missing much. This season, the focus wasn’t on their performance but on the surprising amount of attention the re-signing of William Nylander received. Despite being a straightforward and beneficial move, it was dissected and debated extensively because it felt out of the ordinary.
