TORONTO -- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is so hot, he’s even helping change the narrative around the Maple Leafs.
Vladdy strolled into Rogers Centre ahead of Game 7 of the ALCS Monday wearing a white Auston Matthews jersey, "A" on the front. It was quite a statement given the Leafs' heartbreaking history in recent Game 7s -- they've lost seven in a row, tied for the NHL record, including the latest just this past May. But that same fate would not befall the Blue Jays, who came back to beat the Mariners in an epic win-or-go-home battle and moved on to face the Dodgers in the World Series.
Toronto has long orbited around the Leafs. But the times are changing. Guerrero is this city’s biggest star, outshining even Matthews with the NHL season just underway and Vladdy’s Blue Jays one win away from the World Series. He’s the highest-paid athlete in Canadian sports history with his 14-year, $500 million contract and has embraced this city in a way few athletes ever have.
“I was born ready. I was born ready and I want it all for this city,” Guerrero said in his post-game interview with Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae after the Blue Jays’ Game 6 win.
This city belongs to Guerrero and the Blue Jays now, their run to the Fall Classic the organization's first since the World Series win in 1993. It’s been sudden and shocking, which is why this version of the Blue Jays has become the biggest story in Canadian sports. Past postseason runs from this team in 2020, ‘22 and ‘23 felt more like … well, the Leafs.
The Maple Leafs have seen the NHL playoffs in each of the past nine years, built around the core of Matthews, William Nylander, Morgan Rielly, John Tavares, and once upon a time, Mitch Marner. All of these runs have stalled out in the second round or earlier, though, and the Leafs are still searching for their first appearance in the Conference Finals -- equivalent to the ALCS -- since the 2001-02 season.
Think the Blue Jays’ World Series drought was long? The Leafs haven’t been to the Stanley Cup Final since 1967.
Now, Guerrero is looking all of this ugly history in the face and smiling. Leafs fans have been waiting far longer than Blue Jays fans, but Guerrero wants to give them all something to cheer about this October.