“Canada’s Favorite Sport: A Self-Inflicted Jinx”
In a league where dreams come true and careers are made, Jonathan Drouin, a can’t-miss Francophone talent, found himself caught in the whirlpool of playing for the Montreal Canadiens. After escaping to the hockey-lite zone of Colorado, Drouin reflected on his time with one of the NHL’s legendary teams and offered a different perspective. “Until you live it,” he told ESPN, “No one’s ready for it.” These words perfectly encapsulate the struggles faced by the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens for the past 25 years.
A Dreary Start to the Season
As tradition goes, the Maple Leafs and the Canadiens started their season together at the Scotiabank Arena. However, the dreary introductions were met with reticence from the Toronto crowd. The lackluster atmosphere overshadowed the newcomers on the team, with the loudest eruption reserved for the visiting Canadiens. It seems that Toronto sports crowds are more committed to hating than loving their own teams.
The Decline of a Rivalry
Toronto-Montreal used to be a marquee matchup, but nowadays, it seems to have lost its luster. The NHL now reserves the season opener for whoever is deemed the latest player or team to rescue hockey in the United States. The current season opener is centered around Connor Bedard, leaving the Toronto-Montreal rivalry to fade into obscurity. It seems Canada’s appetite for hockey players may be contributing to their hollowed-out careers.
The Curse of Canada
Canada demands its players to stay within the country, playing for Canadian teams and focusing on Canadian concerns. However, no modern sports icon wants to be confined to one country, especially one as parochial as Canada. Other sports icons do not feel obligated to stay in one place, so why should hockey players be expected to be any different? The best soccer player in Belgium does not desire to stay in Brussels, and the same should be said for the best hockey players. The spoils are in America, and Canada’s resentment towards players expressing wanderlust has only worsened the situation.
The Absence of International Play
One factor exacerbating the issue is the absence of international play that people truly care about. While Sidney Crosby could reestablish his Canadianness through repping Canada during the Olympics, the same cannot be said for players like Mitch Marner. Marner is only recognized as a player who works hard during the regular season, only to go on vacation come playoff time. Canadian players find themselves in a non-success story, longing for success elsewhere.
Denial Won’t Solve the Problem
You don’t have to agree with the notion that Canadian players can no longer succeed in Canada for it to ring true. The reality is that this has been the case for decades. Despite denying the issue, the problem persists. Year after year, frustration and anxiety build, with the state of the national game in 2023 being a testament to this self-inflicted jinx. Championships and Olympics seem like a distant dream, leaving only complaints and a new generational player ready to make their mark south of the border.
As we embrace the start of another NHL season, let’s not forget the self-inflicted jinx that plagues Canada’s favorite sport. May it serve as a humbling reminder of the challenges faced by players who choose to stay within their home country and the sacrifices they make in pursuit of greatness.
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