Maple Leafs fans are heated over losing the passion of Michael Pezzetta and Henry Thrun to the Marlies
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs fanbase is furious that the team's decision to demote Michael Pezzetta and Henry Thrun shows that whatever passion they had recently has all but disappeared.
On Tuesday the Maple Leafs made a couple roster moves by demoting Michael Pezzetta and Henry Thrun to the Toronto Marlies, and that didn't sit too well with the fanbase.
The intense fan frustration over losing players who showed genuine on-ice passion
There's been no public reason for sending them down and with the Maple Leafs lacking a serious lack of passion lately especially after the Auston Matthews incident, taking out the guy who would fight anyone at anytime in Pezzetta and a young defender in Thrun is not how you do it.
It's something that has not sat well with fans, who realized that Toronto quickly got tired of the energy they brought, and with them needing to lose as many games as possible felt that a bleary, sluggish product was better.
But at least they're looking forward to the tank:
Pezzetta was someone who came in and instantly showed more fire after one puck-drop than most of the team has the entire season. He dropped the gloves immediately and had six hits over his two games; he was exactly the physical presence needed.
Thrun did not play during his most recent call-up and the defender last played on Dec. 18 against Washington in a 4-0 loss. In four games this season he has zero points, four blocks and three hits.
While Pezzetta is signed through until the end of next season, Thrun is a restricted free agent and at only 25 he could be a part of the solution going forward, but the team should be playing him more over the likes of Simon Benoit and Philippe Myers.
The relentless energy of these depth players sets a heavy benchmark for returning veterans
There is a positive though, as it's been clear that this added passion has led to success with wins over the Ducks and the Wild.
So with that, there's a standard: Play hard, play with fire, and you'll win. It's to send a message to the guys like Steven Lorentzs of the team, where just because you aren't fighting for a contract doesn't mean you're not fighting for your team.
Fans want players who care, and even if you're a guy who gets paid $812,500 a year and plays five minutes a game - but show some passion; you're endeared to the fanbase.
Pezzetta and Thrun aren't guys who give you five points a night, or elite defensive metrics but they are showing some serious heart. In this modern game where numbers decide everything, passion can't be measured...it must be shown.
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Doug Armstrong's sudden Hockey Canada exit has Maple Leafs fans asking if the next GM just became available
Doug Armstrong's sudden Hockey Canada exit has Maple Leafs fans asking if the next GM just became available
Previously on Hockey Patrol
| POLL | ||
MARS 17|658 ANSWERS Maple Leafs fans are heated over losing the passion of Michael Pezzetta and Henry Thrun to the Marlies Is Toronto doing their fans a disservice by removing the passion from the lineup? | ||
| Yes | 535 | 81.3 % |
| No | 123 | 18.7 % |
| List of polls | ||