Darcy Tucker knows all too well what it’s like to be on a struggling Toronto Maple Leafs team.
“When the train starts going the wrong direction it’s tough to bring it back and even more tough to bring it back in a city like Toronto,” Tucker told Sportsnet 590 The Fan Tuesday.
LISTEN: Darcy Tucker on Maple Leafs struggles and jersey tossing
Tucker spent eight seasons with the Maple Leafs and although he made the playoffs from 2000-2004 his final three seasons with the Maple Leafs were disappointing as his team was heavily criticized for underperforming, which is something the current Maple Leafs squad is dealing with.
The Maple Leafs have lost eight of their last nine games, including an embarrassing 4-1 defeat to the Carolina Hurricanes Monday that saw several jerseys thrown onto the ice — an act that has become tradition among disgruntled Leafs fans this season. Based on the team’s recent results and the fact a post-season berth is highly unlikely at this point, some have suggested the players are mailing it in. Tucker doesn’t see it that way.
“I see the jersey tossing and all that and it’s absolutely absurd to me that the fans feel that these guys aren’t giving all that they have,” Tucker said. “At the end of the day, wins and losses is all that matters. It’s frustrating. It’s not an easy process when you’re losing hockey games and you feel like you can do more or give more to be effective. This city and this market is not an easy place to play but you have to find ways and find guys that have a mentality of compete and desire [to win].”
