The Leaf

Darryl Sittler travels to Chicago as his statue is made for Legends Row.

Expectations are always going to be high in Leafs Nation. But, in a season when expectations aren't quite met, it is vitally important to keep perspective. Perspective is the kind of weight that offers balance, and without it, expectations mean nothing. The latest episode of The Leaf, Cold Snap, looks at the long winter that was, and how the team not only weathered a tough season, but prepared for the future.

Regardless of whether you are a fan, a member of the media, a coach, or a player, there are many lenses through which to see the Leafs. After months of scrutiny and uncertainty, though, the focus now pulls back to the Big Picture.

Whether you are a fan who is fortunate enough to grow up playing the game at its highest levels, or one whose passion keeps you coming back to the team you love, hockey has to be a shared experience. Leafs Nation is connected to and from all corners of the world, through all sorts of shared experiences. Whether you are young or old, far or near, Leafs Nation has always been more than the sum of its parts.

Inherent positivity is not a weakness. In fact it was inherent positivity in the face of different kinds of adversity that got Morgan Rielly and Garrett Gamble under the same spotlights on a Saturday night at Air Canada Centre

There are about 6000 kilometres between Sweden and Canada, and this season, 67 different Swedes appeared in at least 1 NHL game. It’s clear the Toronto Maple Leafs aren’t the only team in the NHL to have welcomed Swedish players - but the impact that Swedes have had on this franchise in the last 40 years is undeniable.