There is no one on the Toronto Maple Leafs more stoic than one John Tavares. He keeps a similar tone, answers questions the same way, and tries to carry himself in a way that doesn’t draw too much attention (as most NHL players do).

We are talking about someone who failed to flinch at an airborne puck despite everyone else ducking for their lives. However, it makes those times where we see emotion from Tavares all the more special. A big celly after an important goal, his reaction to being named the next Leafs captain, or that time he said, “What!?,” to Brendan Gallagher.

But there’s one thing we haven’t seen him react to: a Stanley Cup.

Tavares answered a lot of fan questions Thursday joining Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek on #Ask31.

One of the questions was what will he do when he wins a Stanley Cup, to which he answered saying he would, “probably just stare at it.”

Fair answer, especially seeing as it would be his first in his career. It would also be the Leafs’ first in a very long time. Brian Burke said it best, if you win in Toronto, they name schools after you.

So how likely is it that Torontonians see a Sir John Tavares Collegiate Institute kicking around? I personally feel this would be the year for the Leafs to take it, strictly based on the fact that everyone feels this format is goofy, so why not make this year the one they do it?

The early rounds are going to be messy and rely heavily on scoring and goaltending. At the same time, everyone will be healthy making the realm for ridiculousness to occur infinite. It wouldn’t surprise me to see the Leafs ‘Harlem Globetrotter’ their way to the second round at the very least.

We still don’t know what the rules are going to be in the first real round. It may not be Boston, and even if it is, the Leafs will need to band together at some point.

Most of this is an attempt at humour, but there’s something in me that feels this may be it. Or maybe I’m just being my typical optimistic Leaf self, and if that’s the case, do you blame me?

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