Happy Maple Leafs fans cheer NHL draft lottery
Social media erupts with animated dancing and high hopes for 2016-17
Is it possible to use every happy meme on the internet? Toronto Maple Leafs fans were seemingly trying to, after the team won the first overall pick in the NHL draft lottery on Saturday evening.
Social media — especially the hashtag #NHLDraftLottery — and parts of the real world exploded with activity when the draw was made shortly after 8 p.m.
Meanwhile at <a href="https://twitter.com/RealSports">@RealSports</a>... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TMLtalk?src=hash">#TMLtalk</a> <a href="https://t.co/agkKts1qDw">pic.twitter.com/agkKts1qDw</a>
—@MapleLeafsTwitter saw a lot of animated dancing...
Live look at downtown Toronto <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHLDraftLottery?src=hash">#NHLDraftLottery</a> <a href="https://t.co/gvksXXy5cp">pic.twitter.com/gvksXXy5cp</a>
—@DaMattyMac... fist pumping ...
Meantime in Toronto. <a href="https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs">@MapleLeafs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHLDraftLottery?src=hash">#NHLDraftLottery</a> <a href="https://t.co/zvH01SdC8q">pic.twitter.com/zvH01SdC8q</a>
—@rickzamperin... frantic arm flailing ...
Well <a href="https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs">@MapleLeafs</a> fans be like <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHLDraftLottery?src=hash">#NHLDraftLottery</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TMLtalk?src=hash">#TMLtalk</a> <a href="https://t.co/0bVUy8478F">pic.twitter.com/0bVUy8478F</a>
—@BringerOfMist22... still more dancing ...
Here comes the 1st overall pick <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHLDraftLottery?src=hash">#NHLDraftLottery</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LeafsNation?src=hash">#LeafsNation</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/tbsteps">@tbsteps</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs">@MapleLeafs</a> <a href="https://t.co/2ViaI4HRCl">pic.twitter.com/2ViaI4HRCl</a>
—@leafs4ever13... and other random, animated GIFs of very happy people.
We got 1 !!!!!!!!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mapleleafs?src=hash">#mapleleafs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Leafs?src=hash">#Leafs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LeafNation?src=hash">#LeafNation</a> <a href="https://t.co/gEtr5Uzlob">pic.twitter.com/gEtr5Uzlob</a>
—@The0utlawThe Toronto Maple Leafs haven't picked first since 1985, when they selected Wendel Clark of the Saskatoon Blades.
Saturday's draw puts the team first in line to snap up American centre Auston Matthews, who is now the focus of many hopes and dreams by many long-frustrated Leafs fans.
The saviour <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MapleLeafs?src=hash">#MapleLeafs</a> <a href="https://t.co/1mK06ZAdCd">pic.twitter.com/1mK06ZAdCd</a>
—@MMAdamMartinBut as others seemed to remind the online crowd, Matthews is just one man. And the lottery is just one early step toward the 2016-17 season.
Pay attention <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MapleLeafs?src=hash">#MapleLeafs</a> fans, #1 picks do not a champion make. Trust us <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Oilers?src=hash">#Oilers</a> fans. Congrats to the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Jets?src=hash">#Jets</a> #2 <a href="https://t.co/WS2heOwFgn">pic.twitter.com/WS2heOwFgn</a>
—@ken_bauer