Cursed!? Former Toronto Maple Leafs Now in the Playoffs

Some people say the Toronto Maple Leafs can’t win because they’re a bunch of losers. If this is actually true or not, really, well, maybe — actually — it is a legitimate concern. When people give that theory, it probably means the group at hand — so the current team — but it’s very possible that these same people applied that reasoning last year, the year before that, possibly 10 years ago — and who the hell knows? — maybe there were people saying that as far back as 1968…

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However far back it goes, it’s irrelevant. So to test the hypothesis that it’s the players who can’t do it for the Leafs, let’s take a look at other rosters and see how former Leafs and their current teams are doing. And I don’t mean Let’s go seek out Lanny McDonald (1975) and Doug Gilmour (1993) and Lonny Bohonos (1999) to see what they’re up to now… but I’m meaning current NHLers whom once donned the blue and white, who now, through free agency, trade, or some other strange acquisition, have ended up on other squads. How are they and their teams doing in the 2015 NHL Playoffs? Are they still cursed as bad players who can’t get it done? Are these players dragging their curse of the Leafs to their new teams??

And this may be unfair. You can kind of get numbers to say whatever you want them too. And you may be able to do this for every team and come up with a similar list, but this a hockey-crazed market.

Warning, Leafs’ fans, this may be tormenting, or kinda fun and ironic (“fun” is probably a stretch… but you’re not sensitive, are you?).

WESTERN CONFERENCE-

Anaheim Ducks (1 player)

Apr 1, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman

Francois Beauchemin

(23) skates after he scores a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the first quarter at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Francois Beauchemin: Beauchemin never made the playoffs with the Leafs, but has in 7 of 8 seasons as a Duck. He has hoisted the Cup with the Ducks in 2007. However, the curse may still be real: his Leafs tenure came after the Cup and since he was a Leaf and returned to the Ducks he’s lost in first round twice while last year (2013-14) lost in the second round. And now in 2014-15? Still to be determined.

Leafs-Curse?: Since he started out as a Duck, maybe the curse is a wash? At any rate, since Beauchemin was a Leaf and returned to the Ducks, Anaheim hasn’t exited round 2. Hmmm… as for the curse? We may see this year that they’re actually not cursed… but again, since he started as a Duck, this may not really count.

Winnipeg Jets (3 players)

Apr 20, 2015; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Winnipeg Jets right wing

Lee Stempniak

(20) celebrates his goal on the Anaheim Ducks during the first period in game three of the first round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports

Lee Stempniak: In 2 years with the Leafs, Stempniak played over 120 games and was a -19. The Jets picked him up for their playoff run and he manged 10 points in 18 games.

Jiri Tlusty: Drafted No. 13 overall by the Leafs, Tlusty has since been dealt to the Jets for the playoff run. Tlusty scored 8 points in 20 games during the regular season.

Jay Harrison: Playing part of just 3 seasons with the Leafs, Harrison didn’t make the playoffs.

Leafs-Curse?: Since these three former Leafs have dawned a Jets uniform, they went a combined 0-12 in the playoffs. It may be coincidence, but 0-12 in the playoffs ain’t good.

St. Louis Blues (3 players)

Alexander Steen: On November 24, 2008, the Leafs traded Alex Steen and Carlo Colaiacovo to the St. Louis Blues for (drumroll!!) LEE STEMPNIAK. Ouch… that hurts. Steen averaged 40-45 points in three seasons for the Leafs. Since coming to St. Louis, he’s recorded 24 goals twice and 33 goals once, while posting a +24 in a year he barely played half of a season. But he’s been a minus player in each playoff with the Blues.

Mar 7, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; St. Louis Blues defenseman

Carl Gunnarsson

(4) and Toronto Maple Leafs forward

Leo Komarov

(47) during a scrum in the second period at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Carl Gunnarsson: Gunnar was dealt from Toronto with a draft pick for Roman Polak, so congratulations Toronto, this was probably a great deal! However, for the Blues, he played in one round for the Central Division champs (which was like a 2-7 matchup), and they were upset by the Wild.

Olli Jokinen: Just a rental player for the Leafs in order to make a trade, Jokinen didn’t make an impact on either team. But he wore that (possibly cursed) Leafs uniform

Leafs-Curse?: Despite being hulks of the regular season (two firsts and two seconds) in the last four years, the Blues have failed massively in the playoffs, making it out of the first round just the once. This year the winners of the Central Division fell to the Wild in the first round. And the STL has had former Leafs on it every season that has come to a disappointing finish. Just throwing that out there for purposes of the article…

Minnesota Wild (0 players)

Leafs-Curse?: No former Leafs’ players and as the No. 7 seed Wild stun the No. 2 seed? Just sayin’…

Chicago Blackhawks (1 player)

Apr 11, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing

Kris Versteeg

(23) warms up before the start of the game against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Kris Versteeg: Versteeg started as a Blackhawk so this one may be a wash. On the ascent of his career, Versteeg came to Toronto only to disappoint in most offensive categories. Toronto dealt him to Philly — a contender — before his year was out.

Leafs-Curse?: However, let the record state that he won the Cup before his cup of coffee with the Leafs and hasn’t won one since being with the Leafs. Again, just sayin’… but since he was a Hawk before, maybe the Leafs-curse is vanquished?

Nashville Predators (2 players)

Cody Franson: Franson was a player who always showed much potential as a Leaf, but couldn’t find it consistently on both ends of the ice. He recorded just one point in the series against Chicago.

Mike Santorelli: The journeyman forward Santorelli was decent in Toronto, but he could yield assets at the deadline so he was traded with Franson back to Nashville. Yet, he had one goal in the playoff series against Chicago.

Leafs-Curse?: Two points from the ex-Leafs in the full series against Chicago. And they lost. Cursed or not, I guess the trade didn’t quite pan out…

Calgary Flames (3 players + )

Matt Stajan: Stajan was dealt in order to acquire Dion Phaneuf (when Phaneuf was good, as some say). Stajan had his best years, statistically, as a Maple Leaf. This year is his first playoff berth since being a Leaf.

Joe Colborne: In stints in three seasons with the Leafs, Colborne recorded six points. In one year as a Flame, he collected 28 (and he did so in two seasons actually, proving one year wasn’t a fluke). Of course, he got much more time in Calgary, but still… In the conference semi-finals against Anaheim, it was Colborne’s penalty (four minutes) 200 feet from his own net as time expired in the second period that spelt disaster for the Flames and really, can be pointed out as the sole cause of the game four loss, which instead of tying the series at two, gave the Ducks a stranglehold three games to one lead. So maybe it, too, can be blamed for the series’ demise. And also the season?

Hampus Lindholm

(47) in front of Anaheim Ducks goalie

Frederik Andersen

(31) resulting in a penally during the first period in game five of the second round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports” width=”300″ height=”194″ /> May 10, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Calgary Flames center Joe Colborne (right) pushes Anaheim Ducks defenseman Hampus Lindholm (47) in front of Anaheim Ducks goalie Frederik Andersen (31) resulting in a penally during the first period in game five of the second round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Mason Raymond: Raymond had a pretty good year in the Toronto hockey-oven, a renaissance year for him, scoring 45 points and coming within a breath of the 20-goal plateau in playing every game of the season. Toronto decided not to re-sign him after his one-year deal expired (because obviously they could do better than 45 points, right?) and instead he signed in Calgary.

Brian Burke: Despite owning the worst ‘do in hockey– and perhaps in all of sports– Burke was of course the GM in Toronto, famously dealing for Phil Kessel. The Phaneuf and Kessel trades actually looked pretty good at the time admittedly. And maybe they actually were good deals (I am not a Brian Burke-hater). Burke did not make the calls to re-sign these guys to lucrative deals. Dave Nonis has all that credit. Burke is now president of hockey operations for the Flames.

Leafs-Curse?: Calgary has many Leafs’ exports going on, yet they seem to have stumbled upon a goldmine of chemistry and magic (call it fortune if you must). Somehow, the Flames, who were expected to finish last according to many hockey experts at the start of the year, just keep winning. If you wanna say in spite of the Toronto pieces, it’s possible, but these former Leafs have co-mingled into the flaming pot of Calgary and this equation has worked masterfully so far. Although, now, they do face the number one-seed Ducks, so if these ex-Leafs carry a curse, we’re sure to see it soon. Colborne may have answered the question for us.

Continue looking into what former Leafs are doing in the Eastern Conference……..

Next: Cursed!? Former Toronto Maple Leafs Now in the NHL Playoffs Pt. 2

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