Monday Morning Halfback: With Ovechkin preparing for curtain call, Maple Leafs are ready for a close-up
A sports column discusses the Toronto Maple Leafs' recent performance and the upcoming retirement of NHL star Alex Ovechkin. The authors debate the team's consistency and the public perception of Ovechkin's career.
Why it matters
The piece reflects on the cultural impact of high-profile athletes and the ongoing narrative of professional sports franchises.
Gavin McKenna, left, Auston Matthews, centre, and William Nylander celebrate a goal for the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday in Denver. Tyler Schank/Getty Images
Jamie Ross is the sports editor at The Globe; Cathal Kelly is the national sports columnist.
Jamie Ross: Hey Cathal, the Toronto Maple Leafs did a number on the Colorado Avalanche on the road Saturday night, taking a 6-3 win. Care to revise your preseason expectations for the boys in blue? Just wait ‘til Gavin McKenna starts scoring.
Cathal Kelly: The beauty of the Leafs is that they don’t just fail to meet expectations. They take expectations by the hair and spend months dragging them up to a great height overlooking the rest of the NHL. Then they chuck expectations off it.
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