Despite a slew of offseason changes that created a strong young core, the Maple Leafs' fan confidence in the team still ranks only 21st in the entire NHL.
John Chayka did a lot of work over the summer to completely remake the Toronto Maple Leafs front office and lineup. He added over a dozen new players while bringing in a new coaching staff, a revamped Sport Performance department, and a slew of young, talented prospects who address critical needs.
Toronto's No. 21 ranking shows that John Chayka still hasn't earned the benefit of the doubt
However, the fan confidence in the Maple Leafs still isn't really budging, as The Athletic's latest poll had Toronto only 21st in the NHL for fan confidence despite the team improving in several facets:
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The Athletic's annual survey measured confidence in each team's management group, including areas such as roster building, cap management, drafting and overall direction but also general public opinion regarding the franchise.
While we don't have all the reasoning as to why the Maple Leafs fans are feeling less confident in the team than they perhaps should be, it does show that they are still treading with caution when it comes to John Chayka.
Although he's done a lot of good so far, he came in with a bit of a tarnished reputation that may have already convinced people that he wasn't the right guy for the job despite not even having a single day under his belt.
The ranking doesn't necessarily mean fans have already rejected Chayka however but it more likely reflects how little trust one offseason can rebuild after years of disappointments.
He was even indirectly called out by Steve Simmons during his introductory press conference when Simmons relayed comments that called him several unfavourable names including a 'con-man' which already set the tone for how people are viewing Chayka in the front office.
Toronto's No. 21 ranking reflects years of failed promises more than one offseason
This shouldn't be seen as a personal attack on Chayka though, but a culmination of a fanbase who has simply gotten tired of losing. Having not won a Stanley Cup since 1967, it's become a running joke whenever the team begins a new season because 'this is the year.'
It's the years of playoff collapses and disappointments, failed trades, a rotating cast of coaches and GMs, and last season's ultimate failure that finally proved to be a tipping point. With a last place finish after only a year removed from a first place finish - it's a complete free fall that no one saw coming.
It's also fan exhaustion when it comes to splashes that look good on paper but turn out to fail.
Darren Raddysh's eight-year, $68-million deal is a huge gamble on his breakout season, and if he falls back into a 35-point player - that's a huge overpayment. They also paid Sergei Bobrovsky $21-million combined for the next three seasons when he's going to be 38 years old - yet another gamble (especially coming off one of his worst seasons).
Toronto's low confidence ranking is less about declaring Chayka a failure and more about a fanbase that wants results before rewarding another reset. McKenna, Raddysh and Bobrovsky may have changed the roster, but only wins will change fans' minds.
Do you think the Maple Leafs deserve more confidence from their fans?
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