In this time when everything has political consequences for Canada we can now safely say that the fate of the nation hockey-wise falls to Alberta. Okay, an Alberta city. Edmonton. With the annual falling of the Leafs (genus Torontonius) and the shocking second-round collapse of the NHL’s No. 1 team during the season-- Winnipeg— it falls to the Oilers to break the 1993 Stanley Cup schneid for Canadian clubs.

The Oilers and their superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl almost managed the feat last spring, coming a single win away from the Cup. Then Florida closed the door. Standing between them will be the Dallas Stars and then either of the NHL’s Dixie dandies the Panthers or Carolina Hurricanes. The Oilers are relatively healthy so you have to like their chances. Still.

In most years getting a Cup parade in a Canadian city is important. But in the wake of the just-completed defrocking of Justin Trudeau and simultaneous coronation of Mark Carney, a divided nation could use a unifying moment. That it would be a team from the province most aggrieved by the latest electoral shenanigans would be a plot twist worthy of James Patterson.

For now there will be the autopsy on the body of the Leafs. A team with all the financial assets needed to win multiple Cup they have, after a decade of top draft picks, seemingly assembled the parts to win. Auston Matthews. Michael Nylander. John Tavares. Mitch Marner. Supplemented on defence by Morgan Rielly, Chris Tanev and Jake McCabe. And Max Domi, son of Toronto legend Tie Domi. Plus, they were largely healthy.

And yet somehow it has failed again. For a city that wears its world-class reputation like a bad hairpiece this is a failing beyond description. I have grown friends reduced to childlike status by the perils of the team. I’d there needed it, they had a crying post in HNIC to hear their pain. The one-sided bias is nothing new, as we noted last April as the Leafs blew that playoff sure thing to the Boston Bruins.

“Who knew when we tuned in Saturday night to Hockey Night In Canada that we would be witnessing playoff history. Nay, not just playoff history but hockey history. According to what we saw and heard on HNIC just ONE TEAM played on Saturday. And they lost. It goes without saying that the team was HNIC’s beloved Toronto Maple Leafs.

Those of us who’d stuck with the telecast all evening could’ve sworn there was another team on the ice in black and gold. Rumour has it they were the Boston Bruins, but don’t quote us on that. Also, take it as a rumour that Boston’s 3-1 win gave them a 3-1 lead in games over Toronto heading back to Boston for what most expect will be the coup de grace for the blue and white. Again.

But when time came to discuss the game afterward the Toronto-based panel told us that the Leafs had beaten themselves. Yes, in some hockey version of metaphysics Toronto had transcended the third dimension. The Bruins were like The Fugitive, lurking far out of sight. Brad Marchand had had nothing to do with breaking up Toronto’s neutral-zone speed nor Charlie McAvoy clearing the front of their net. Jeremy Swayman, who he?

… Chris Johnston of The Athletic called it the end of the Maple Leafs as we know them. “They’re making more mistakes at five-on-five, they’re soundly losing the special-teams battle, and they’ve transformed from being one of the NHL’s best offensive teams in the regular season to one that can’t score more than two goals per night in the playoffs. Wash, rinse, repeat.”

(Former) coach Sheldon Keefe, whose shelf life has about 60 minutes left, was enigmatic in the face of cruel destiny. “You can question a lot of things; you can’t question the effort,” he said.

He’s right about one thing. When this first-round ends in ignominy there will be plenty of questions from Keith Pelley, newly installed at the top of the MLSE pyramid. Such as, why should I keep this management team that teases Waygu beef in-season but delivers ground chuck in the playoffs? It’s long been said that the league the Leafs have been built for doesn’t exist in the postseason. So why keep pretending it does?

For those not in the know, Pelley has spent the last few years dealing with the Saudi’s LIV golf enterprise in his role as CEO of what used to be known as the European Tour. (Insert your barbarism reference) So he’s used to dealing with nasty situations.

Maybe his first act on the Leafs file is reminding everyone that two teams play each other in the playoffs, and it might be a good idea to learn from what the winners are doing.

Pelley punted last year. Don’t expect any such mercy for team president Brendan Shanahan, free agent Mitch Marner or hoped-for saviour John Tavares. Maybe, along the easy, Pelley might also convince HNIC there are other teams in the NHL to concentrate on.

Bruce Dowbiggin @dowbboy is the editor of Not The Public Broadcaster A two-time winner of the Gemini Award as Canada's top television sports broadcaster, Bruce is regular media contributor. The new book from there team of Evan & Bruce Dowbiggin is Deal With It: The Trades That Stunned The NHL & Changed Hockey. From Espo to Boston in 1967 to Gretz in L.A. in 1988 to Patrick Roy leaving Montreal in 1995, the stories behind the story. In paperback and Kindle on #Amazon. Destined to be a hockey best seller. https://www.amazon.ca/Deal-Trades-Stunned-Changed-Hockey-ebook/dp/B0D236NB35/

In Toronto The Leafs Always Fall In Spring (Part III)