As long as I can remember, I've hated the Toronto Maple Leafs. There is a slight rivalry that exists between the Sabres and the Leafs - with cities that are geographically close, its understandable that the teams and fans wouldn't get along. The fact that my own brother is a Leafs fan makes it even worse for me.
MATS SUNDIN. Sundin played for the Leafs from 1994 - 2008. For twelve of his thirteen seasons with the Leafs, Sundin was the leading scorer, and during his time with the Leafs he broke several goal and point scoring records. He was definitely a player that the Sabres had to keep their eye on. Having one of the best goaltenders in the NHL at the time was key - Dominik Hasek. Sundin recognized Hasek's strength: "When you face a player of Hasek's caliber and a player that's got that reputation that he's almost unbeatable, sometimes it has happened in the past where players try and look for that perfect shot." As much as the Sabres might have dreaded facing Sundin on the ice, he knew he was up against a great goaltender.
TIE DOMI. Domi was the enforcer of the Leafs from 1995-2006. He holds the record for most penalty minutes served in Leafs history. Domi was suspended and fined numerous times in his career - he even fought a fan during a game against the Philadelphia Flyers. One reason why I can't stand the guy is that Domi fought Rob Ray of the Sabres 13 times, and Ray is one of my all time favorite players. With a goon like Domi, it's no wonder why I've always hated the Leafs.
The current Leafs team isn't that hot. They finished the 2009-2010 season at the bottom of their division with a record of 30-38-14. In my opinion, the best player on their team right now is defenseman Tomas Kaberle - he finished 10th among defensemen in the NHL. Even though no other players from the Leafs finished with impressive numbers, I think they have a couple players to look out for this year: Mike Komisarek, Phil Kessel, and Colton Orr.
Go Leafs Go?
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