It has been 9 long years since the Toronto Maple Leafs have played a playoff game. In 2004, many of the current Toronto Maple Leafs were just entering their teenage years. Nazem Kadri was completing the 8th grade, while James Van Reimsdyk was celebrating his 15th birthday. The team is undeniably young, and most of the team’s players are just getting their first taste of playoff action now.

We caught up with the team’s players after their practice at the Air Canada Centre on May 8th and asked them to share the playoff memories of their youth. Which hockey heroes did they idolize? What were their favorite teams? Who did they watch the big games with?