SCOTT RENNIE
SPORTS EDITOR

The wait for deliverance for a Toronto Maple Leafs fan is long and difficult. As one of the patient faithful myself, I have come to accept that waiting for the Leafs is something we must begrudgingly accept – like sales tax and televised dance competitions. But after witnessing the civic hyperventilation over the Leafs’ terrible start to this season – I have reason to believe our resolve is weakening.
It’s no secret that the Leafs have had a winless start to the NHL season: seven games and seven uniformly ugly defeats. Offensively, they appear to be attempting to redefine the meaning of failure. Defensively, they seem to have succeeded. Any saving done by a goalie must have been coupon-related. It hasn’t been a banner month – but I still refuse to join in the hysterics.
Let us remember that there are still 75 games to play. That’s a lot of games. The Leafs may even win some of them. The Leafs are simply playing quite badly right now, just as teams like the Rangers and Avalanche are playing quite well. An 82-game regular season has the habit – through injuries, luck, a cold streak – of bringing every team down to earth. Eventually, we’ll all be able to recognize the truly good teams. But not after seven games.
It doesn’t help that the flames are being fanned. But it’s important to remember the Toronto sports media is largely comprised of a bunch of smart-alecky killjoys who relish in mocking the devotion of Leafs fans – while simultaneously depending on it for their jobs. These supposed arbiters of athletics blast fans for having both too much and too little patience, as well as set unrealistic expectations for the team and then gleefully deride them when they don’t meet them.
There is already considerable consternation focused on general manager Brian Burke’s pre-season trade with the Boston Bruins: exchanging high round draft picks for winger Phil Kessel. A last place – or close to it – finish for the Leafs and the Bruins might select a potential superstar at plum position in the draft. That reality would be difficult to stomach – especially because it’s happened before in the cases of Scott Niedermayer and Roberto Luongo. But due to off-season shoulder surgery, Kessel has yet to skate for the Leafs and won’t until early November. But 22-year-old Kessel’s 36 goals in only 70 games last season just might help his new squad’s scoring futility – an area in which they’re currently second to last.
Leafs fans know the team has been the most consistently disappointing franchise in all of professional sports since the days of Lester Pearson. But let’s not forget what being a true fan means: a steely resolve, and knowing that while waiting is the hardest part, it’s all we’ve ever had.