Fansided

Luckiest jerseys in the NHL’s long and storied history

By Bruin Belisle

DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 9: Ray Bourque #77 of the Colorado Avalanche lifts the cup with Joe Sakic #19 after the Colorado Avalanche defeated the New Jersey Devils 3-1 in game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals at Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche take the series 4-3. (Photo by B Bennett/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 9: Ray Bourque #77 of the Colorado Avalanche lifts the cup with Joe Sakic #19 after the Colorado Avalanche defeated the New Jersey Devils 3-1 in game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals at Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche take the series 4-3. (Photo by B Bennett/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – JANUARY 23: Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) battles for a puck with Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov (92) during the first period in a game between the Washington Capitals and the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario Canada. The Toronto Maple Leafs won 6-3. (Photo by Nick Turchiaro/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – JANUARY 23: Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) battles for a puck with Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov (92) during the first period in a game between the Washington Capitals and the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario Canada. The Toronto Maple Leafs won 6-3. (Photo by Nick Turchiaro/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

8. Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs were struck by luck several times over the last three seasons. They were lucky to draft Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews in back to back years and they were lucky that John Tavares was born and raised in the Greater Toronto Area.

Landing Tavares put this team over the top. They went from playoff contender to Stanley Cup favorite in a lot of fans and media members’ minds this offseason. Still, they haven’t proven anything. How lucky would they truly be if this just ends up in another playoff game 7 loss to the Boston Bruins.

Since their last Stanley Cup in 1967, the Toronto Maple Leafs have had everything but luck. They’ve had decent players and teams over the years, but were always lacking something and could never make a real run at the playoffs, let alone the Cup. If they were lucky in any sense, it was because their brainwashed fans would still pay $300 for nosebleed tickets to see a terrible team take the ice for many years.

The wait list for season tickets extends into the next millennium (or Willenium – if you’re down for Will Smith to bring in the 3000’s – let’s get that clone technology perfected, shall we?).

The Maple Leafs enjoyed a lot of success in the earlier days of the NHL. The franchise has 13 Stanley Cups and countless hall-of-fame players that have worn the blue and white Maple Leaf jerseys. The Leafs will likely win a Stanley Cup in our lifetime, and if they do, the city of Toronto will be shut down for weeks.

The winds have changed and the luck has shifted in Toronto. In my expert opinion, it is safe to say they’re actually good now. Fans and players alike are hoping for a bit more luck soon because they’ve all been planning this Cup parade since the 1960’s.

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