Blue and white disease: Is the pandemic over?

 

So I wrote this feature for the Star, about Brian Burke's war on "blue and white disease." On Sunday, I was chatting with Dave Poulin, the Leafs vice-president of hockey operations, and the topic was broached. He shared an anecdote about visiting Toronto as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers:

“We played against some bad Leaf teams here in the 1980s. And there was a sense of entitlement that came with the jersey, that came with the city. We would watch them skate in the morning skate and you would think they had won 9 Stanley Cups in a row. They’d be skating around without their helmets on. They had toothpicks, hair slicked back, turtlenecks on."

"Then what happened during the game?" I asked, without really wanting to hear the answer. "Would the Flyers go out and spank my team?"

“7-1," he replied. "You know, and we'd win 4 fights.”

Depressing.

So is it over? Has Burke found 20 guys who want to win as much as he does? Or will the market realities and distractions in this hockey-mad town eventually bring back the toothpicks and turtlenecks?

By the way, I shot the above picture on Saturday afternoon. It's Burke standing in his "War Room" at the MCC. Inspired by the NFL, The Wall lets Burke and his lieutenants see every player on every team at every position. As a colleague noted: "It's so analogue."

That it is. But with a passing glance, Burke can see which team is deep or thin at any position. When contemplating a trade, this perspective can (and has) made a big difference. (TRIVIA: Burke's record for staring at The Wall is 3 hours.)

PHOTO: VINAY MENON/TORONTO STAR

 

 

Comments

[Reality]

This year is the first year of the build. Don't get your hopes too high. The Leafs need to out work the opposition to win. Heavy clean hits by the defence and the 3rd and 4th line to take the better players of the opposition out of the game. Scoring from Kessel and Versteeg is necessary. Will they make the playoffs? Possibly. Will Kadri have an impact? As long as he plays all 200 feet of the ice, yes. He should get some seasoning in the AHL to help him adjust. Mistakes are less publicized in the AHL and development can be done without the MAJOR NEGATIVITY and PRESSURE of the Toronto press and public.

[Thanks Phil]

Hey Brian Do you want to make another trade? You have my number. Signed, Peter Chiarelli

[Birddawg]

Just wait until next year!

[CDE]

The sarcasm and general arrogance demonstrated by the Coach during scrums and interviews sure make it look like the "disease" is still here. Imagine this guy's attitude if he ever accomplished anything with this team, like get his team to be able to score on a 5-3 power play. (See we can all be sarcastic Ron)

[Kevin]

I feel like I'm staring at a wall for 3 hours when watchign the Leafs

[Sven]

From watching the Leafs growing up in the 80s, I'll take a stab at some of the Leafs that Poulin was talking about:
Russ Courtnall and Gary Leeman
Al Iafrate
Rick Vaive (although 50 goals is 50 goals)
Fergus?
Who else am I forgetting?
(Ed Olcyk doesn't drink so it's not like he was ever hung over)

[Igor Ellyn]

Why am I optimistic about the Leafs?
With few exceptions, world events (and of course, the performance of the Leafs and Jays are two of them)go in cycles. 20+ years ago, the Jays began an upward cycle which resulted in two World Series titles. The Leafs were a little slower on the uptake but by 1993 (Remember, Dougie Gilmour!?!), the Leafs were only a game away from the Stanley Cup Final (thanks to a guy (W.G.) who has a restaurant named after him on Blue Jays Way). In 2002, the Jays were improving and the Leafs with Cujo nearly beat Carolina to get into the finals. Now, the Jays are getting better and so are the Leafs. It's written in the stars. As one of the lotteries put, "Anything can happen, anyone can win!" This year, the Leafs will happily surprise just like the Blue Jays did. The may not win the Stanley Cup -- but they'll make the playoffs and more and make us all savour new heights in 2011-12.