An opinions on why Toronto is a mess

I thought they had a shot at the cup earlier in the year. They've got to much talent

Ryan, are you American? I'm only asking that because there is major off ice turmoil with the Leafs right now, some warranted but of course amplified by the Toronto. So I asked because it would explain that you have not heard about any of it. With that said hockey wise, they lack defensive talent and have zero sandpaper on their team, two must haves for any team with cup aspirations.

Toronto media***

I think Jroc touched upon this subject a while back, i.e. the Leaf's are very soft and Babcock does nothing to harden the team.  The leafs are an extension of a soft Babcock that used to not be this way ($$$ changes coaches in a big way, at times).   

ya bad defensively and soft like marshmallow 

No physicality, no heart, no mental toughness.

Anderson hasn't been great lately, plus Leafs are still with in striking distance. Teams change moment weekly, even though Tampa and Boston are a cut above our boys can still win it all if they get hot. We can win with just pure offence if you piss us off.

Lived in Toronto all my life as well minus a few years living in the States and yes in comparison hockey is life here compared to American cities. However I have stated on here many times that is changing with demographics which is the age thing you mention, to be blunt those older people you speak of are white Canadians, who are being replaced by younger people of color from different cultures that could give a rat's azz about hockey. That is part of a general wipeout of white Canadian culture in general but let's not get all into that. However living just northeast of Toronto now in a smaller city hockey hotbed it along with white Canadian culture is still as strong as ever so depends where you are. But yes I agree with you in the major cities across Canada as white Canadians and their culture get replaced and discarded so does the game of hockey.