Nik the Trik said:
hockeyfan1 said:
I've noticed that the decades when the Maple Leafs were at their most suuessful in the playoffs, and as a team, they had captains and players with personalities that we embraced by both the fans and the team -- (1940's) Teeder Kennedy/Connaoher/Primeau/etc; (1950's ) Barillko/etc; (1960's) Armstrong/Bower/Mahovlich/eto; (1970's) Sittler/McDonald/SaIming/etc; (1990's)Gilmour/Clark/etc; (2000's)Sundin/Joseph/etc.
So you've noticed that when the team has been successful, the leaders on the team have been better liked by the fans and team?
Yes. To a certain extent. As I stated in my post, the Leafs past playoff successes included the leaders of the team being well-liked, well-respected, not always outspoken but leading by example -- inspiring & motivating the team even in the face of an unliked coach (in this case, the '60's Cup winning Leaf teams, with their captain, "gentleman" George Armstrong. The players did it for the "Chief" Armstrong not for Imlach, who, by the way, disliked some key Leafs such as Mahovlich, a leader on the offence. Imlach used to mispronounce the Big M's name every time by referring to him as "Mahalvich" instead of Mahovlich.).
The '60's were a different era, so were the '70's where Sittler was outspoken with Ballard, and still managed to lead by example as the Leafs under coach Red Kelly were improving every year, hampered by the fact that they were always meeting the Philly Flyers in the quarter-finals and the goaltender of the time, Gord McCrae couldn't stop a basketball never mind a hockey puck. Eventually, Red Kelly was fired, and it was rumoured that Sittler may have had a hand in that. Not long afterwards, came Roger Nielsen, who's defensive system in part helped the Leafs defeat the surging New York Islanders in that memorable '78 quarter-final on Lanny McDonald's OT series-winning goal. Leafs had leadership here not just from Sittler, but from McDonald, Salming,
Williams, Palmateer, et al. A good core group.)
Even under Pat Burns, Gilmour and Clark were the leaders on the forward lines while on the defence the Leafs had a stable of names such as Ellet, Macoun, Lefebvre, etc., & once again, a good goaltender in Potvin).
In all of the eras where the Leafs had had their greater playoff successes -- most notably in the '60's, '90's, and part of the early 2000's, including the their steady improvement in the mid-to-late '70's -- they had players who not only led as captains, scorers, or what have you, but were liked, respected by both the team they played for and the fans as well.
It's not easy to define leadership. It comprises many factors which can include team cohesion, chemistry, good coach & system, a galvanizing & understanding of what is required and effort expended to achieve the level of said goal, team identity and etcetera.
Joel Otto. Remember him? As a veteran member of the Calgary Flames back in the late '80's, used to mentor the younger players on the Flames team. His quiet leadership and experience led him to teach the younger players to ignore then coach Terry Crisp's outbursts, to let him (Crisp) have his day, not to let it bother and once it was over, it was over. Not to pay attention to his demeanor for the moment. Otto's approach worked to the extent that players were not riddled with tension or nervousness. They understood the meaning behind Crisp's behavious and didn't let it get to them on a personal or professional level.
Speaking of MLSE, circa to today, isn't leadership & team identity what they are seeking for this current Leafs team? Is it any wonder why they were eager to get Komarov back.