"Corporate, quiet and lacks real energy": Former Oilers D-man calls out lower bowl fans in Toronto Maple Leafs' home arena

Former NHL defenseman Jason Demers who last played for Edmonton Oilers, criticized the Toronto Maple Leafs' lower bowl fans in the Scotiabank Arena. The criticism followed the Leafs’ 5-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday. In the game, Ryan Reaves exchanged heavy blows with Jackets' Mathieu Olivier for his first fight of the season at 1:32 in the first period.

Toronto Maple Leafs' Captain Auston Matthews first talked about the quiet crowd during Reaves’ fight.

"Would've liked a little more energy from the crowd after that. I thought it was a little quiet tonight, especially after two guys like that go at it," Matthews said to the media.

Speaking on "NHL Network Now," Demers said the atmosphere lacked energy and called the lower bowl corporate and not loud.

“It’s not the first time it’s been said, I can’t stand the lower bowl of Toronto,” Demers said, “It’s corporate, it’s not loud. There is no heartbeat there, and this team has been good for years. Yeah they haven’t performed in the playoffs, but maybe do something. Yell a little bit."

Demers recalled a moment from last season when goaltender Ilya Samsonov recorded a shutout but received minimal cheers.

"It happened last year with Ilya Samsonov,” Demers explained. “He had a huge game, had just come back up (from the Marlies), got a shutout, and he was getting no cheers. Nobody gave a crap ... At least let some people come down from the nosebleeds - they are loud up there."

Demers explained the situation, pointing to the high ticket prices in the lower bowl, often purchased by corporate clients, as a reason for the subdued atmosphere.

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Lack of energy in Scotiabank Arena during the Toronto Maple Leafs' playoff series against Boston Bruins

The Toronto Maple Leafs fans' lack of energy was also noticed in the 2024 playoffs against the Boston Bruins. On Sportsnet’s "Real Kyper & Bourne" broadcast in April 2024, Sam McKee said the lower bowl looked "straight-up quiet" during the third game of the playoffs when the Leafs entered the Arena with the series tied 1-1.

"I wasn't in the building, so watching on TV, to me the lower bowl looked bad. Straight up quiet, didn't look like a lot of energy," McKee said.

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost the series 4-3 to the Bruins, which led to the firing of head coach Sheldon Keefe. So, far the Leafs have played well under coach Craig Berube with a record of 30-17-2 placing them No. 1 in the Atlantic Division standings. However, the Leafs will need the energy of the crowd during the playoffs.