Sergei Bobrovsky's comments about playing in Toronto could be enough to convince Nikita Kucherov that the Maple Leafs are the best team to play for.
It's been a rough start for Sergei Bobrovsky this season, especially after coming in with such high expectations amidst a three-year, $21M contract signed this past summer.
Expected to bring a winning veteran with a proven track record to help lead the charge, it's actually been Anthony Stolarz who has held things down in the crease meanwhile Bobrovsky is still finding his footing. He put in a solid game against Utah but still came away with a loss but he isn't giving up hope.
Bobrovsky knows being part of the Maple Leafs is bigger than just his numbers
Bobrovsky took the time post-game to speak to reporters about the loss, but when pressed about what being a part of the Maple Leafs means to him, he gushed about something much bigger than personal stats:
It's great. You know, it's exciting. You feel part of something big. Hockey is big. Everybody loves hockey, and I love this responsibility. I enjoy being in this team and be part of this team.
While his numbers haven't been great, they do historically get better as the season goes on so any concerns may be a bit premature given the lack of preseason and earlier start.
You can certainly credit Bobrovsky for having a great mindset especially in the media nightmare that Toronto can be and his adoration for the team may be enough to convince Nikita Kucherov that Toronto is the place to be.
Kucherov wants to be part of a winning culture, not just a winning team
But with Kucherov feeling slighted by Tampa Bay and having a lack of respect and communication, Bobrovsky's words hold a lot more power behind them than you'd think.
Being part of the Maple Leafs comes with a certain responsibility yes, but it also comes with an aura and environment unlike anything else. People care deeply about this team, and despite the potential for criticism - they're still loyal.
Kucherov would immediately be viewed as someone who could turn the fans into an even more rabid and die-hard group, and the fact that Bobrovsky, who has been on genuinely winning teams before, decided to take a shot on Toronto means that he believes in what they're doing.
Being a part of something bigger, where you can grow alongside essentially a new group of brothers and developing potentially life-changing friendships and bonds can't be overstated.
Toronto is a place where people are desperate to win - fans, management, and most of all, the players.
But that desperation isn't their downfall, but instead the perfect motivator for Kucherov because unlike Tampa Bay and their organization - winning doesn't just mean the Stanley Cup.
Do you think Sergei Bobrovsky can convince Nikita Kucherov to come to the Maple Leafs?
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