Hockey fans have long suggested there is added pressure to playing in one the NHL’s seven Canadian markets. The added scrutiny from media in those markets is often cited as a reason players avoid them in free agency, or exclude them on lists of teams they’re willing to be traded to.
That’s especially been the case around Canada’s biggest city, Toronto, given its nearly six-decade Stanley Cup drought. And Florida Panthers’ forward Brad Marchand (a long-time antagonist of the Maple Leafs) brought that up after his team’s Game 7 win to clinch that playoff series Sunday, claiming that his team didn’t feel much pressure here at all.
“When you win a Cup, and when you play in some of the games that this team did last year, these are not high-pressure games. When you’re playing for an actual Cup, and you give up a three-game lead, and then you’re in Game 7, that’s a high-pressure game, right? Game 7 second round, yeah, it’s a high-pressure game, but it’s not, compared to some other games that guys have played.”
Marchand went on to discuss fan and media pressure on the Leafs, as shown with things like fans throwing jerseys towards the end of this loss.
“So when you actually look at that and you see the pressure that Toronto faces, and everyone’s talking about whatever, the 20-, 30-year buildup, I don’t even know what it is, but you see the fans and the way they talk, they just beat the pressure into this team. It’s got to be tough on those guys to walk to the rink every day and not feel that. Because you see the way the fans treat them at the end, how do you not feel that every single day? When you go through big games, you realize which are actually big games and which are just big moments.”
Those comments came after Marchand’s post-game interview with his frequent hosts/sparring partners on TNT’s NHL on TNT Face Off studio show, where host Liam McHugh noted in the intro that Marchand is now “the first player in NHL history to defeat one team five times in winner-take-all scenarios.” Marchand also got to chirp regular foil Paul Bissonnette for his Leafs’ prediction, pre-game prayer circle, and “emotional support Armdog,” which quickly deteriorated amid that 6-1 loss.
Marchand has said, “It was a hell of a series,” and, “They’re a different team this year, they’re competing at a much different level. That was a very tough series.” So he’s not necessarily downplaying the Leafs as an opponent overall. But his comments about Toronto fans and media are worth at least some examination, especially considering that members of that media group have produced potentially-fabricated stories on Leafs’ players in the past. Still, media members like Ken Campbell (currently a freelancer, long of The Hockey News) and former Leafs’ player turned TSN Radio host Carlo Colaiacovo took strong exception to this.
The full text of Colaiacovo’s post:
This whole narrative that’s being created that it’s the media and the fans fault for putting too much pressure on the team to win is quite comical. Toronto has the most passionate fan base in the world and fans bleed blue and white for this team. I can tell you from someone that works in media that we absolutely want nothing more than to watch the Leafs win. We don’t put pressure on this team or players. If anything, some of us get criticized when we pump this teams tires for being as great as they’ve shown us they can be and wanting to believe that each year will be different. We react to the way they play. Is that what you call pressure?
So let’s be honest, pressure is built from within and from similar failure. I hate it and I believe every leafs fan hates it. Toronto is undoubtedly one of the best hockey markets in the world to play because people care! The spotlight is huge and to me, that’s what playing sports is all about. Either you want it and find a way to thrive or you don’t. I would’ve loved to play in these playoff moments when I played for the Leafs. Unfortunately, the closest I got was being haunted by the name Wade Dubielewicz forever.
Is their pressure to play in it? Absolutely! But not because of the fans or media make it hard. It’s hard to play anywhere in the league when expectations aren’t met. As far as what the future looks like for this team and players, there is no excuse for losing the way they did in game 5/7, BUT be careful what you wish for Leafs fans. Winning is hard in the NHL. This was a really good Leafs team that lost to an even better, really good FLA team. I will share more of my thoughts tomorrow on @FirstUp1050. Be sure to tune in.
The “media and fan pressure” narrative around Canadian markets has been running for decades, and it seems unlikely to be decided one way or the other any time soon.