Brad Marchand with surprising praise for the Maple Leafs and hope for their fans
If you told a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs that there are comforting words for your team coming from Brad Marchand, they'd probably call you crazy. For good reason, too. Marchand isn't exactly the kind of guy who freely offers praise for opponents and hope for their fans, but he did that on Saturday in advance of the game between the Leafs and Boston Bruins.
Toronto's failures in the first round of the NHL playoffs has been the easiest material for hockey memes for a few years now. Marchand, whose team has played a big role in blocking the Maple Leafs from getting to the second round, firmly believes the team will make a deep run soon.
"I've said that for the last few years, and it hasn't gone their way. But every year that you go through adversity like they have, you learn a lot from it. They have done that. Their stars are another year older, stronger, and better. They are a very dangerous team."
"It has been unfortunate for them just because they have had such a great team for so long and they haven't been able to get over that hump. But it is a matter of time for them where they are going to make a really good push and go deep. They're just too talented." - Brad Marchand, MapleLeafsHotStove.com
"It has been unfortunate for them just because they have had such a great team for so long and they haven't been able to get over that hump. But it is a matter of time for them where they are going to make a really good push and go deep. They're just too talented." - Brad Marchand, MapleLeafsHotStove.com
Marchand also pointed to ways Toronto has improved over the years.
"You have to respect it, but they have definitely gotten better over the last number of years. They brought some D in that are much more defensively responsible, harder to play against, a little more physical, and a little bigger. They are definitely improving. They are a legit contender this year." - Brad Marchand, MapleLeafsHotStove.com
After losing to the Boston Bruins in the second round of the 2012-2013 playoffs, Toronto missed the post season for three straight years. Since then, the team has failed to get past the first or qualifying (2019-20) round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 14 | 238 ANSWERS Brad Marchand with surprising praise for the Maple Leafs and hope for their fans Do you agree with Marchand | ||
| Yes, the Maple Leafs are legit contenders | 113 | 47.5 % |
| Nope, the team just doesn't have what it takes | 80 | 33.6 % |
| Not sure | 45 | 18.9 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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| Mikhail Sergachev | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Pavel Dorofeyev | 2 | - | 2 | |
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| Rasmus Ristolainen | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Alex Bump | 1 | - | 1 | |
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| Connor Dewar | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Clayton Keller | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Kristopher Letang | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Travis Sanheim | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Cole Smith | 1 | - | 1 | |
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| COMPLETE STATS | ||||
| 2025-2026 NHL STANDINGS | ||||||
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Sabres | 82 | 50 | 23 | 9 | 109 | |
| Lightning | 82 | 50 | 26 | 6 | 106 | |
| Canadiens | 82 | 48 | 24 | 10 | 106 | |
| Bruins | 82 | 45 | 27 | 10 | 100 | |
| Senators | 82 | 44 | 27 | 11 | 99 | |
| Red Wings | 82 | 41 | 31 | 10 | 92 | |
| Panthers | 82 | 40 | 38 | 4 | 84 | |
| Maple Leafs | 82 | 32 | 36 | 14 | 78 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Hurricanes | 82 | 53 | 22 | 7 | 113 | |
| Penguins | 82 | 41 | 25 | 16 | 98 | |
| Flyers | 82 | 43 | 27 | 12 | 98 | |
| Capitals | 82 | 43 | 30 | 9 | 95 | |
| Blue Jackets | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 92 | |
| Islanders | 82 | 43 | 34 | 5 | 91 | |
| Devils | 82 | 42 | 37 | 3 | 87 | |
| Rangers | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Avalanche | 82 | 55 | 16 | 11 | 121 | |
| Stars | 82 | 50 | 20 | 12 | 112 | |
| Wild | 82 | 46 | 24 | 12 | 104 | |
| Mammoth | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Blues | 82 | 37 | 33 | 12 | 86 | |
| Predators | 82 | 38 | 34 | 10 | 86 | |
| Jets | 82 | 35 | 35 | 12 | 82 | |
| Blackhawks | 82 | 29 | 39 | 14 | 72 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Golden Knights | 82 | 39 | 26 | 17 | 95 | |
| Oilers | 82 | 41 | 30 | 11 | 93 | |
| Ducks | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Kings | 82 | 35 | 27 | 20 | 90 | |
| Sharks | 82 | 39 | 35 | 8 | 86 | |
| Kraken | 82 | 34 | 37 | 11 | 79 | |
| Flames | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| Canucks | 82 | 25 | 49 | 8 | 58 | |
COMPLETE STANDINGS | ||||||