Leafs fans – it’s the World Cup of Hockey. You should be excited! Why wouldn’t you be? Toronto gets to literally be what everybody has always known it really is: The centre of the hockey universe.
Believe it or not, this major event featuring the best hockey players in the world actually has eight Leafs playing in it. They’re even letting Mike Babcock coach the most obviously stacked team in the tournament.
Need more reasons to watch? Here’s a Leafs fan’s guide to the 2016 World Cup of Hockey:
MIKE BABCOCK – TEAM CANADA
Why Leafs fans should watch: Because he’s coaching the team you could easily argue is the best at the tournament.
Why Leafs fans should cheer for him: Because it might be a while before he wins something major at the Air Canada Centre again.
ROMAN POLAK – TEAM CZECH REPUBLIC
Why Leafs fans should watch: To make sure he’s still good enough to trade for at least one second-rounder at the trade deadline.
Why Leafs fans should cheer for him: Because I’m sure the Leafs must have a great reason for bringing him back, right? …RIGHT?!?
MILAN MICHALEK: TEAM CZECH REPUBLIC
Why Leafs fans should watch: He only played 13 games for Toronto last year and isn’t exactly a slam dunk to make the Maple Leafs’ opening night roster. If he’s healthy and hasn’t lost too much of a step, he can be a great offensive contributor and a mentor to the Leafs’ young guns who hope to be the same or better one day.
Why Leafs fans should cheer for him: It just makes ripping Ottawa Senators fans for the Dion Phaneuf trade that much easier. That, plus he makes $4 million so he better be good.
NOBODY – TEAM EUROPE
Why Leafs fans should watch: To see how bad a team without Frederik Andersen is.
Why Leafs fans should cheer for them: Because don’t you just want to see what’ll happen if a team without an anthem wins?
JAMES VAN RIEMSDYK – TEAM USA
Why Leafs fans should watch: Because his last game was Jan. 9 and you might have forgotten what he looks like.
Why Leafs fans should cheer for him: Because where else is he gonna win gold? The Olympics?
LEO KOMAROV – TEAM FINLAND
Why Leafs fans should watch: Uncle Leo began as a mucker and grinder. Last year he was a top-liner for the Leafs and an NHL all-star. Now he’s likely a grinder again with Finland. If he remembers how to be a jerk, watching Leo Komarov do his thing is just the best.
Why Leafs fans should cheer for him: He has a tendency for making really good players do really dumb things. Plus watching Komarov win in the ACC while wearing blue and white is something every Leafs fan should want.
JHONAS ENROTH – TEAM SWEDEN
Why Leafs fans should watch: He’s a brand new Toronto signing who had great numbers in a limited role with the Los Angeles Kings last year.
Why Leafs fans should cheer for him: The last time he played at the ACC, the Maple Leafs beat the Kings 5-0, and as a result, he was part of the Leafs’ best on-ice performance of the season before he was even on the team.
NIKITA ZAITSEV – TEAM RUSSIA
Why Leafs fans should watch: Do you know who he is beyond the blog posts you’ve read? No, me neither. So we can regurgitate what people have already said or we can analyze him with our own eyes.
Why Leafs fans should cheer for him: Because the last time a 24-year-old Russian from the KHL made their NHL debut with an Original Six team they beat out Connor McDavid for the Calder Trophy.
MORGAN RIELLY – TEAM NORTH AMERICA
Why Leafs fans should watch: To get used to watching Morgan Rielly play with a young, inexperienced team.
Why Leafs fans should cheer for him: To get used to watching Morgan Rielly play with a young, inexperienced team, and winning with them.
AUSTON MATTHEWS – TEAM NORTH AMERICA
Why Leafs fans should watch: It’s him. Holy crap, it’s actually him. I went to Buffalo to watch the Leafs draft Auston Matthews with my own two eyes and now he’s really here and skating on the ice. He’s a real live first overall pick, for the Maple Leafs, in this decade. Watch for as long as it takes you to realize this is real.
Why Leafs fans should cheer for him: To shut up Patrik Laine hipsters nice and early.
