Toronto Maple Leafs Playoff Push Threatens to Overshadow WSOP Circuit 2025

As April 2025 dawns, Toronto hums with anticipation. The Great Canadian Casino is gearing up for the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit Event, running April 10th to April 22nd with high stakes and big names.

But not every eye in the city will be on the felt. This marquee poker tournament faces a formidable rival: the Toronto Maple Leafs’ late-season push as they jostle for a top seed heading into the 2025 NHL playoffs.

Canada is "hockey first," and April is when the Leafs’ faithful start buzzing. The regular season wraps on April 17th, with Toronto battling for playoff positioning. Every goal, every point, fuels the city’s obsession as fans eye a deep Stanley Cup run. This isn’t the Raptors or Blue Jays stealing focus—it’s the Leafs, and the competition for attention could be fierce in a city starved for a Stanley Cup for decades. 

Posts from @GCTorontoPoker are hyping the WSOP, urging players to snag Great Canadian Rewards memberships for tickets. The lineup’s stacked with local and global talent, and poker icon Daniel Negreanu recently raved about the venue’s vibe after a big-field event. For poker buffs, it’s unmissable.

Here’s the good news for poker: the WSOP’s April 10th–22nd window mostly ducks the playoff chaos. The NHL postseason kicks off April 19th, meaning only the tournament’s tail end overlaps. That’s a lifeline.

But maybe the real distraction isn’t the playoffs themselves yet—it’s the regular season’s climax and build-up. The Leafs could face rivals like the Ottawa Senators or Montreal Canadiens, nearby cities with dedicated fans. The anticipation and previews for these matchups will stoke regional pride and old grudges, potentially sapping casual interest from the casino as Toronto locks in its seed.

Dedicated poker fans will be at the casino, but there is always a middle crowd. This is the kind of fan who likes poker but might see hockey as a shinier dangling carrot.

If the Leafs stumble or soar in those final games, chatter will center on goals, not flushes. The Great Canadian Casino, just outside downtown, might struggle to pull fans from bars or couches during a tense mid-April showdown with seeding on the line. Even poker players could waver if Auston Matthews nets a game-winner.

The WSOP has pull. There will be a lot of poker celebrities plugging the event on social media soon. But the Leafs’ shot at ending a 58-year Cup drought carries unmatched weight. Toronto’s sports soul belongs to the Leafs.

NHL games aren’t daily yet, and casinos love their sports TVs—I’ve never seen one without screens blaring action. Smart marketing can lean into poker’s niche, court the hardcore crowd, and ride the regular scheduling gaps.