Look, I don’t know who scheduled these listings, but seeing MTL @ TOR and TOR @ MTL on the board today feels like a personal attack. It’s August 29th; unless there’s a secret tournament I wasn’t invited to, the ice is melted, the dreams are deferred, and my blood pressure is merely resting before the inevitable October heartbreak. We are deep in the doldrums of the off-season, that beautiful purgatory where every Leafs fan convinces themselves that *this* roster, *this* core, and *this* coaching staff will finally be the one to break the 1967 curse. I’ve spent the summer tracking trades and draft picks like they’re holy relics, hoping against hope that we’ve finally learned our lesson. But let’s be honest: we’re just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. The Stanley Cup champions have long since finished their parade, and the award ceremonies are a distant memory. As for me? I’ll be here, clutching my faded sweater, waiting for the preseason to start so I can get my heart broken all over again. Being a Leafs fan isn't a hobby; it’s a commitment to suffering. Wake me up when the disappointment officially begins.