The Toronto Maple Leafs have developed a reputation over the years of being a “soft” team, despite repeated, often futile attempts to change the organization’s culture. This season, however, something finally seems to have clicked. Now more than ever, the organization appears to be embracing the role of the villain.
This new attitude has been on full display over the last week, signaling a massive shift in the team’s identity.
Matthews Pushes Back in Vegas
The shift in demeanor began in Vegas. After days of fielding repetitive questions about Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews finally pushed back. In a pregame interview with Mark Masters, Matthews shut down the conversation regarding Marner, preferring to focus entirely on the game at hand.
It was a welcome sight to finally see Matthews refuse to walk the corporate line. Instead of giving the standard, safe, fan-friendly answer, he focused on playing hockey.
The Winnipeg swagger: “I Can’t Hear You”
That attitude carried over into Winnipeg on Saturday night, where Matthews and the Leafs left the city with a gritty 4-3 overtime victory. After assisting on the overtime winner, Matthews and the team were met with a chorus of boos as they exited the ice.
Matthews responded simply with a subtle gesture to the fans: “I can’t hear you.”
Matthews wasn’t the only player to show this type of emotion. Another camera captured Scott Laughton openly mocking the home crowd. After the victory, before turning to leave, Laughton tossed a “crying” gesture toward the stands.
After the game, when asked about being booed, Matthews made his thoughts pretty clear. Over his career, Matthews and the Leafs have absolutely owned the Jets, winning 9 of their last 10 games against the team.
A New Core, A New Culture
This newfound attitude is truly endearing to watch and something the team has lacked for years. The problem the team has faced in the past is that, despite being talented, many felt the overall group was unlikable. This team feels different, though, led seemingly by the swagger and grit brought forward by Scott Laughton.
The Leafs have shown a willingness to defend one another, and they no longer feel compelled to always say the “right” thing. A team that is willing to play hard, compete every night, and battle for each other is exactly what this fan base has been clamouring for. It finally feels as if the Leafs have broken from the previous mold.
For the first time, it feels like Auston Matthews is developing into his own leadership style and surrounding himself with the players he wants to be surrounded by. Already this season, Matthews has cited Scott Laughton, Max Domi, and Easton Cowan as his closest teammates.
Moving on from the “Mr. Serious” Era
Gone are the days of John Tavares and his “Mr. Serious” act. Gone are the days of Mitch Marner and his “Hometown Hero” victim mentality. In its place is something Leafs fans can finally be proud of: a group embracing who they are, led by a coach who possesses that same “us versus the world” attitude.
This version of the Maple Leafs is the team that fans want to watch. They are a group playing for a city that wants to cheer for them more than anything. With the roster finally getting healthy, they’ve already begun their charge up the Eastern Conference standings, sitting just one point out of the final Wild Card spot.
Regardless of how things go, the next few months will be must-watch hockey for Leafs Nation.