For puck fans, there really is no time like the first week of a new hockey season. The rest of the year, there’s pressure, soul-crushing happenstance, and, especially in Toronto the last few seasons, bitter disappointment.

But not at this point in time. Sure, given that the Buds haven’t played a post-season game since 2004, there’s reason for skepticism. However, right now, there should only be optimism in the heart of every long-suffering Maple Leafs fan.

Right now, Leafs fans are well within their rights to believe fully and completely in James Reimer, the sophomore goalie and out-of-nowhere star of Toronto’s late-season surge in 2010-11. Reimer will have even more pressure on him this year, but he demonstrated enough mental toughness to deserve the benefit of the doubt.

Right now, it’s perfectly acceptable to take GM Brian Burke at his word when he says Toronto’s defence corps is better than the one the organization trotted out last season. Tissue-soft D-men Tomas Kaberle and Brett Lebda are gone – and in their place, former Avalanche blueliner John-Michael Liles and promising youngsters Cody Franson and Jake Gardiner represent a significant upgrade.

The same goes for Toronto’s forwards: Burke acquired veteran centers Tim Connolly and Matthew Lombardi to a unit that hasn’t really lost anyone of significance. The two newcomers have had their share of concussion-related health issues – and core players Phil Kessel, Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin will have to match their output from last season – but on paper, is this group deeper, more experienced and more talented? Without a doubt.

Is there a chance everything goes wrong for the Leafs and they miss the playoffs yet again? Of course there is. But you could say the same for about 95 percent of the NHL’s franchises. The injury bug is cruel and unpredictable and its bites can derail even the most talented squads.

But right now, fan pessimism is to be sneered at, regardless of the team you root for. So if some cynical and crusty Leafs lifer tries to rain on your parade, pay them no mind. The start of the season has nothing to do with clouds and everything to do with silver linings.

And who knows – this might just be the first season in a long while that everything goes right in Toronto for a change. Hoping with all your heart that turns out to be true is what fandom is all about.