"I mean, you look at what's going on in Toronto, it's tough because Toronto, even more so than Vancouver, is obviously that market where everything's scrutinized and they're just looking to, you know, find something to discuss about the team rather than, I don't know, maybe backing off a little bit and let the guys kind of go and play and see where it rolls."
"I think the guys try their hardest each and every night," Jovanovski continued. "No one's trying to lose hockey games, but you understand that it is a business and you want results, especially in that market. So, you feel for players in that sense that I know they want to do good. I know it's been a long time in Toronto, where you had that playoff success"
Vancouver Canucks teams of the early 2000s combined high-end scoring talent yet repeatedly failed to advance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs despite prolific offense. The Toronto Maple Leafs possess star talent but have managed only two playoff series wins in two decades, facing sustained postseason struggles. Intense media and fan scrutiny in Toronto amplifies pressure on players, arguably more so than in Vancouver, creating an environment where mistakes are magnified. Players strive hard each night and are motivated to win, but organizational and market pressure, combined with playoff history, complicate consistent postseason success. Sympathy exists for players coping with the business demands and result-driven nature of that market.
Read at TheLeafsNation
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