Leafs legend Doug Gilmour urges disappointed fans to donate, not burn jerseys

After another heartbreaking end to their hockey season, jaded and long-suffering Toronto Maple Leafs fans have every right to express their disappointment.

But one Maple Leafs legend took exception when he spotted a social media post of a person burning his iconic #93 jersey after the Leafs were ousted from the Stanley Cup hunt by the rival Montreal Canadiens in humiliating fashion.

Former Leafs captain Doug Gilmour, who suited up for the Buds in the 90s, called out the peeved pyromaniac and urged angry fans to think before setting their memorabilia ablaze.

“Well this is very disappointing,” Gilmour said. “How do I approach this? We’re all disappointed the Leafs didn’t make it to the second round. This is on social media, this guy setting my jersey on fire. I don’t play for the Leafs but I support the Leafs.”

2/2 Please respect the Leafs jersey, and if you don’t want it, donate it to a charity, hospital or someone you know. Charities are desperate to raise money right now and these jerseys can help them if you don’t want them.

— Doug Gilmour (@douggilmour) June 2, 2021

Gilmour, who led Toronto to the Campbell Conference Final in the 1993 playoffs, said fans should “respect the Leafs jersey,” adding that unwanted jerseys could be re-purposed in a positive way.

“If you don’t want it, donate it to a charity, hospital or someone you know. Charities are desperate to raise money right now and these jerseys can help them if you don’t want them.”

Some felt Gilmour, a heart-and-soul player from a different era, shouldn’t have taken the brunt of the fan’s frustrations, while others defended the fan’s right to vent and destroy his own property.

Nobody should be doing this to ANY Leafs jersey but especially not Doug Gilmour. 93 played with his heart on his sleeve every night for this team while he was here. I doubt these people are fans though that are doing this, rather trolls hating on the Leafs.

— #GoBlueJays (@Leafguy38) June 2, 2021

Every leaf fan has the right to burn their leaf jerseys if they want they are fans by choice for years and after that performance we all leaf fans felt that way
You got paid to be a leaf
So let leaf fans grieve as they want
Not fans fault they didn’t loose the series

— Neil Sherwood (@NeilSherwood1) June 3, 2021

Sorry Doug. You played with heart, soul and determination something this Leafs team lacked. As a Habs fan I was really worried that the Leafs were going to beat the Kings in 93 and they would have been a tougher test for Montreal!! Agreed that they should have donated the jersey!

— David McGoey (@DavidMcGoey) June 3, 2021

To be fair it’s not nearly as shameful as what the team did for the fan base in all of these elimination matchs.
And if raising money for charities is an issue how about the team signing jerseys for them and then actually show up on time and put enough effort in to win

— Sir_Godz (@godz_sir) June 3, 2021

What a brutal response to a heartbreaking season. Doug is a class act who played his heart out every game for the Leafs. As Doug said why not donate the jersey to a worthy cause and do some good rather than such a destructive act.

— gary reid (@garyrei87335536) June 3, 2021

But it’s not your jersey. It’s his jersey with your name on it. He’s probably been supporting the leafs since birth & again he was disappointed after so much hope. I feel this guys pain. So does my son (19) who’s scoping out a new team to support. We’re tired of disappointment.

— Kimberley Fernandez (@DoulaKim) June 3, 2021