Observers with any insight recognize when things are different from the past especially for franchises with a passionate fan base.  Look at the Boston Red Sox in the early 2000s or the Chicago Cubs or Cleveland Cavaliers of 2014.  There were many arm chair critics at the time who said "Yeah, this time is different....right" only to be dis-proven a few years down the road.  It is intellectually weak but easy to go with the flow of nay sayers on a franchise that is many years without a championship such as the Leafs of today.

Show me where the Leafs have done what they have done in the past few years...overhauled the management and coaching staff, hired tier one talent in all levels of the organization, developed a re-build plan, maintained that re-build plan despite the easy temptation to sell off the future for immediate gain which was frequently done.  The seeds are planted for sustained success with no guarantees.  This is different unless you see the future though the rear mirror.