Guest Post: The Eternal Shine of Pat Burns

 

When The Passion Returned

BY MONIKA MORAVAN

Heaven has a better selection committee than the Hockey Hall of Fame.

That was my initial reaction upon hearing that Pat Burns, three-time winner of the Jack Adams Award, had died on November 19, 2010.

I have no personal grudges against anyone on the panel responsible for choosing the 2010 inductees. How could someone who grew up a Leafs fan possibly hate Jim Gregory, Pat Quinn, Mike Gartner, or Lanny McDonald? Being of Slovak stock, I can’t bear ill will toward Peter Stastny and everyone else in the select group of 18 deserves his spot on the vote squad.

We all make mistakes, and whether the HHOF selection committee considers not inducting Pat Burns while alive to be such an error is a matter for their collective conscience, not mine.

After the initial moments of silence, my mind filled with memories of the Pat Burns era in Toronto Maple Leafs history. The irony was that a few days earlier I had been talking about how the 20th anniversary of the Great Playoff Run of '93 was fast approaching, and how wonderful it would be to have an anniversary remake of The Passion Returns. (Paging Chris Clarke, paging Chris Clarke. But I'll take a pass on re-recording "Leafs Are The Best," please and thank you.)

I'll remember Pat Burns but not in the generic way we often have of honouring celebrities from afar. What Burns accomplished with the Leafs reignited my Leafs passion, the craziness that had me cancel all other plans and activities during game time.

Growing up in the 1970s, my hockey world revolved around the Leafs. When a neighbour enrolled me in the local Girl Guides troop that met on Wednesdays, I quit. After all, that was Leafs game night on CHCH TV out of Hamilton and there was no way I could miss out on that, not with Dave Hodge and Dick Beddoes adding splash and dash to the festivities.

That was followed by the 80s, best summed up by the immortal words of Forrest Gump: "And that's all I have to say about that."

There was a faint tinge of Wendel Clark's star power fighting its way through the dark clouds of Harold Ballard's shadow but my eyes had wandered towards Tonawanda. I had taken to watching the Buffalo Sabres solely because of Alexander Mogilny. Long before he joined the Leafs in 2001, as early as the 1987 World Junior Championship, his hockey talents had caught my eye and I watched every Sabres game possible to appreciate his innate stick and puck wizardry.

Just as Mogilny's career was off the runway and reaching cruising height, I had one more reason to celebrate. On January 16, 1991 my man-crush, Peter Zezel, became a Toronto Maple Leaf. No more trips to Metro Ref from my suburban digs to scour through out of town newspapers in search of stories on my favourite centre.

There were still some pains for Leafs fans (okay, so there are always some pains for Leafs fans) until Pat Burns brought his tonic to Toronto. Whatever was in that remedy it had me, for the first time in a decade, putting everything on the backburner to watch my Blue and White.

Despite the heartrending Game 6 loss to Los Angeles in the 1993 Conference Final, I never again lost my Leafs passion. Not even the time a former member of the ’93 Leafs shot me a nasty stare when I told him, "There was a game 7." (Note to self: Never, ever, ever do that again!)

I've been fortunate enough to sit in the press box at Air Canada Centre a few times and have mastered the art of not cheering, of doing my job to observe, record and tell stories. What my seat mates may not have realized was that beneath the silent surface, a czardas was whirling through my hockey heart.

And for that, I thank Pat Burns.

 

Monika Moravan is a Toronto-based freelance writer, editor and researcher. She is the Ontario editor for The Society for International Hockey
 Research's newsletter.

Pat Burns will be laid to rest today in Montreal.

 

MAIN PHOTO: SHAUN BEST/REUTERS

Game 22: Groundhog Day

  

A revelation dawned last night while dining with friends: I don't have to actually watch this Leafs team anymore to write about them.

What's that? They were shutout in Game 22? Okay, let me dig up my notes from Game 9, Game 10, Game 14 or Game 19.

They got a few chances but couldn't convert, right? They repeatedly fired the puck into the goalie's midsection? They gave up a power play goal? They didn't get any power play goals of their own? They missed a few empty nets?

They looked dejected after the first goal and then looked morose, overwhelmed, sad, hopeless, desperate, besieged, glum, resigned, momentarily engaged and then back to dejected?

Great. Done. Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo.

Something has to give here. Something has to change, assuming it isn't already too late.

Is there any precedent for a coup d'etat in the NHL? Maybe we should remove our jerseys, put on fatigues and storm the ACC tomorrow before sunrise: "That's it! Everybody up against the wall! We are taking control of this godforsaken organization!"

Anyway, now I'm off to buy name badges for our new support group. Where and when should we have our first meeting? All of a sudden, I'm free on Tuesday night.

Game 21: The Leafs Get Iced On Black Friday

Should we even do this tonight? I'm not sure we should bother.

Seriously, I've been sitting here for more than an hour just staring at a blank screen. What can I type? Nothing. What could you possibly want to read after tonight's 3-1 loss to Buffalo? Nothing. It's all just a big cloud of nothing.

And you know what? The Leafs don't deserve our interest tonight. They don't. Not tonight.

After the first period, with Buffalo up by two and the game all but over, I received an email from, guess who, statistician Andrew Bailey:

From: Andrew Bailey
To: Vinay Menon
Sent: Friday, November 26, 2010 8:26 PM
Subject:
good 1st period... eh?
sorry could not resist

I could not muster a return punch. I was too frustrated.

That's the only word for this team: Frustrating.

Another night of zero-for-whatever on the power play. A Kris Versteeg penalty so profoundly stupid I was tempted to jump in my minivan, dash across the QEW and beat him senseless with his ever-dangling mouth guard.

And what's with all the transatlantic solo flights these days? Dudes, this is a TEAM sport! Pass the puck! Control the puck! Hundreds of fans crossed the border to cheer for you and you reward them with endless one-on-three rushes?

The worst part is the Leafs didn't completely suck, at least in terms of shots. And the Sabres didn't dominate. But between not completely sucking and not dominating we somehow ended up with 60 minutes of time-lapsed frustration.

During the second period, the cameras caught Henry Winkler sitting in the stands. Not a muscle in his body seemed to be working. One steamboat, two steamboats, three steamboats – no movement, nothing.

It was as if he'd inexplicably contracted a condition known as Leaf Inertia, the inability to do much of anything when in close proximity to ice. My God, I thought, the Leafs are even killing Fonzie.

"I can't feel my legs after watching this Toronto power play. Ayyyyy."

 

 

 

So on this aptly named Black Friday, the Leafs botched a chance to climb back to .500 and pick-up a critical two points against a struggling divisional rival.

It would be easy to credit Ryan Miller with tonight’s victory. Just back from injury – thanks a bunch, hockey gods – he stopped 35 of 36 shots and added another chapter to a future book titled, I Owned Those Punkass Leafs In My Day.

But Miller didn't look invincible tonight. He looked solid but not invincible.

The thing is, you don't need to be invincible when you're playing against a team that's quite capable of beating itself. The Leafs hit a post, they repeatedly missed the net, they chased bouncing pucks like 4-year-olds at a training camp. They had six power plays but decided to spend this time doing the funky chicken.

On and on and on.

Anyway, it's now after midnight and I'm going to bed. I trust you're already asleep and dreaming about something – anything – other than the frustrating spectacle we witnessed tonight.

Fric·tion (frik-shn), n.: 1. The rubbing of one object or surface against another. 2. Conflict, as between persons having dissimilar ideas or interests; clash. 3. Physics: A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies or substances in contact.

MAIN PHOTO: NIGEL RODDIS/REUTERS

When a Leafs fan confronts a statistician

I’m guessing you read this story?

Me too. And you know what? It bothered me so much I was forced to conduct an investigation this morning. So I tracked down Andrew Bailey, the statistician responsible for crunching the gloomy numbers.

Without further ado, here is our email exchange:

From: Vinay Menon
To: Andrew Bailey
Sent: Thursday, November 25, 2010 11:16 AM
Subject: Questions about your Leafs statistical analysis...

Good morning, Andrew. I read today's story about how the Leafs are not likely to make the playoffs this season based on a statistical analysis of the past 15 years. I have some problems with the methodology. The Leafs now have 19 points. But with the exception of Boston, they have played fewer games than any other Eastern Conference team above them in the standings. So what would the probability of making the playoffs become if they had 20 points or 21 points, respectively?

From: Andrew Bailey
To: Vinay Menon
Sent: Thursday, November 25, 2010 11:25 AM
Subject: Questions about your Leafs statistical analysis... 

Fine point, Mr. Menon. It is an imperfect experiment to be sure, but it is only hockey and it is meant to be fun. Over the last 15 seasons the average number of games played at Thanksgiving is 22, a couple more than the Leafs have currently played, true. The numbers suggest that if they could eke out a few more points with these "games in hand" the chance of making the playoffs would increase from their current predicament: 19 points = 12%, up to 20 points = 46%, or even 21 points = 59%.

From: Vinay Menon
To: Andrew Bailey
Sent: Thursday, November 25, 2010 11:33 AM
Subject: Questions about your Leafs statistical analysis... 

Wow. Sir, I remind you this exchange is on the record. Did you just say your data was "imperfect"? And did you just say this was "fun"? Your data caused me to pour Baileys in my coffee this morning. Also, I just noticed your surname. Is your family related to this maker of fine Irish Cream?

From: Andrew Bailey
To: Vinay Menon
Sent: Thursday, November 25, 2010 11:41 AM
Subject: Questions about your Leafs statistical analysis... 

The data is perfect. The experiment is NOT. In a perfect world, all teams would have the same number of games played but it was far easier to grab NHL standings from Thanksgivings past rather than figure out everyone's point totals after 22 games.  And yes this was meant to be fun, it is after all just analysis of hockey records, not hospital wait times, arrest reports or something else important.

From: Vinay Menon
To: Andrew Bailey
Sent: Thursday, November 25, 2010 11:43 AM
Subject: Questions about your Leafs statistical analysis...

Okay. So you don't want to admit you're related to the liquor company. Fine. Let me ask you something else about your “perfect” data. Of these 19-point teams you analyzed, how many started the season 4-0 and went into U.S. Thanksgiving on a 3-1 streak? 

From: Andrew Bailey
To: Vinay Menon
Sent: Thursday, November 25, 2010 11:53 AM
Subject: Questions about your Leafs statistical analysis...

Mr. Menon, please leave my heritage out of this discussion. The Leafs now have 19 points, regardless of hot starts or current streaks. 19 points at Thanksgiving does NOT bode well for a playoff spot at the end of the year. I wish I could spin more positive, but the fact is I am a statistician NOT a magician.

From: Vinay Menon
To: Andrew Bailey
Sent: Thursday, November 25, 2010 11:58 AM
Subject: Questions about your Leafs statistical analysis...

Oh, I must disagree. You ARE a magician. You are goddamn David Copperfield: “Hey, look at me! I’m Andrew Bailey! Watch me make all these inconvenient truths vanish with a wave of my hand! Watch me pull this “fun” excuse from an empty hat!”

Here’s another question for you, sir: Of these 19-point teams you analyzed, how many had a roster that had changed by more than 70 per cent from opening day the previous season?

From: Andrew Bailey
To: Vinay Menon
Sent: Thursday, November 25, 2010 12:07 PM
Subject: Questions about your Leafs statistical analysis...

Roster changes were not part of this analysis. The Leafs DO have 2 more points this year than they did at last year's Thanksgiving and in 2002 they had only 20 points at Thanksgiving and DID make it into the post-season. They could do it again this year, it's unlikely, but anything is possible – however, I would suggest keeping the Baileys close by.

From: Vinay Menon
To: Andrew Bailey
Sent: Thursday, November 25, 2010 12:15 PM
Subject: Questions about your Leafs statistical analysis...

You are a very confusing magician. I am very confused. You’ve already said, on the record, that your experiment sucks rotten lemons. Basically, that’s what you said. And you’ve already said that if the Leafs had two more points right now – a very reasonable hypothetical adjunct considering their games on hand – the probability of making the playoffs would shoot up from 12 per cent to 59 PER CENT!!! Sir, before conducting this interview I was forced to put on my investigative journalist cap. Okay, it wasn’t mine. I borrowed it. Anyway, my research indicates you live in Buffalo – is this correct?

From: Andrew Bailey
To: Vinay Menon
Sent: Thursday, November 25, 2010 12:24 PM
Subject: Questions about your Leafs statistical analysis...

Yes it is correct, I live in Buffalo and please return Kevin Donovan's cap.  Quite honestly, Mr.Menon, if I want to interact with drunken, belligerent, delusional Leafs fans I will just head down to HSBC Arena tomorrow night and take in the Leafs/Sabres game. Thank you for your email.

From: Vinay Menon
To: Andrew Bailey
Sent: Thursday, November 25, 2010 12:32 PM
Subject: Questions about your Leafs statistical analysis...

Funny you should mention the Sabres. I'd like to get your response to this photo I just obtained. Is this you at last night's Pittsburgh-Buffalo game? And is that your son wearing a Sabres jersey? Because if it is, I'm afraid there is a possible conflict of interest when you analyze Leafs data... You're a Sabres fan! Look at your toque!

Yeah, I never heard back. But I rest my case.

Six ways to make the ACC louder and more hostile

Let us turn our attention to noise.

Earlier this season, Ron Wilson was asked about the ACC crowd. It was after a game and the reporter wanted to know if Wilson could "hear" the fans.

Yes, he replied. Good or bad, you hear everything. He then offered an analogy: A hockey crowd is like a "sixth skater."

He's right. And that's precisely why his analogy made me wince.

Let's face it, on most nights at the ACC, the "sixth skater" is doing slow Figure 8's in the parking lot. It's wearing a blade guard on one skate and spilling hot chocolate down the front of its turtleneck. It's yawning and taking a nap in a snow bank.

Toronto's sixth skater may as well be in a body bag.

In other cities – Philadelphia, Washington, Chicago, Detroit – the "sixth skaters" really do provide a "home ice advantage." They raise a bloody ruckus. They intimidate visitors. They help build momentum. They give the five real skaters an invisible and enduring boost.

So what can be done to improve the ACC atmosphere? How can the building become more electric and less comatose? How can we make it louder for the Leafs and more hostile for their opponents?

Here now, six humble suggestions:

1. THE GREAT PARADIGM SHIFT

Just hear me out: Imagine if the cheapest seats were closest to the ice. Imagine if the real fans – the ones who arrive to watch hockey and not close a deal – were closest to the action. Now imagine how the mood would change inside the ACC with this inverted seating.

I know what you're thinking: This is a ridiculous idea! Why would the people paying the most money want to sit up in the nose bleeds?

But what if the nose bleeds were no longer just rows of tiered seating with questionable sightlines? What if the upper ring of the ACC was retrofitted into a series of open concept lounges with martini stations, sushi bars and cocktail waitresses in slinky outfits?

So the Purple section is now the Platinum section. It's full-service everything, free WI-FI, flat screens with rolling stock prices. Conference rooms? Sure. Leather recliners? Why not.

And now instead of missing the action between periods because they are clustered inside peripheral lounges, the high rollers can simply remain inside their permanent lounges to schmooze and mingle.

Meanwhile, down below, you suddenly have an arena jammed with real fans. You no longer have hundreds of empty seats. You have energy. And the Leafs finally have a worthy sixth skater.

2. PLANTING RINGERS

You know those fans that go to sports bars covered in blue face paint? The ones that hang out of moving vehicles after playoff victories? The ones that wear vintage jerseys to the office on game days and spend the entire afternoon bellowing, "LEEEAAAFFSS!!!" at puzzled co-workers?

The ACC needs more of these fans.

So here's the idea: A team of behavioural specialists spreads out across the city to track down the loudest, craziest Leaf fans they can find. Then these rowdy fans are put on the MLSE payroll and given season tickets that are strategically positioned throughout the building.

Now in every section, there is a ringer. There is a paid hooligan who is under contract to start a "Go Leafs Go!" chant. There is a fan that will stand throughout the night and loudly encourage opposition stars to do things that are anatomically impossible.

There is a leader.

3. LUBRICATING INHIBITIONS

What is the best way to create an electric atmosphere? In a word: booze.

MLSE? Do everybody a favour and immediately slash the price of all alcoholic beverages by 80 per cent. Don't talk to me about concession sales or profit margins, okay? You are the richest franchise in the league.

The least you can do is get us liquored up so we can help you win.

 

 

4. THE ILLUSION OF MAXIMUM CAPACITY

Let's say the inverted seating idea proves too radical or impractical. Here's the backup plan: Seat fillers.

Why don't we already do this? If the Academy Awards can manage, surely MLSE can master the logistics of temporarily swapping bodies during a hockey game.

You know how many people can't afford to see the Leafs play anymore? It's brutal. So what if a few hundred of these people, on a rotating basis, went to games on "stand by."

Usher: "Hey, look! Four people near the glass have just left with their BlackBerries. That's at least 7 minutes of game time. Go!"

Suddenly, there would be no more wide-angle TV shots that convey a pathetic wasteland of empty seats. Suddenly, the Leafs wouldn't have to glance up from the bench half-way into the second period and wonder, "Where the hell is everybody?"

5. UPDATING THE PLAYLISTS

Here's a $1,000 bet I'm willing to make with anybody: Next time you're at the ACC for a Leafs game, you will hear The Tragically Hip, AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses or all three.

Don't misunderstand. There's nothing wrong with any of these bands. But how many times must we be exposed to "Fifty-Mission Cap" or "You Shook Me All Night Long" or "Welcome To The Jungle" until the capacity to rouse is reduced to zero?

I don't have any specific musical suggestions. Everybody has different taste.

But it seems to me, MLSE marketers should be able to survey Leafs Nation and draw up a new list of songs that doesn't require a time machine and/or mullet to be fully enjoyed.

5.1 UNDERSTANDING PSYCHOLOGY AND CROWD BEHAVIOUR

If you've attended a Leafs game this season, you are no doubt familiar with the public service announcements that kindly ask patrons to crank up the volume.

Seriously. That's about it.

"1, 2, 3… Get LOUD!" "SCREAM!" "Make Some Noise!"

These PSAs arrive during stops in the action, usually when the broadcaster goes to commercial (which is why you rarely hear them when watching at home).

These PSAs are also the absolute worst thing the Leafs can do for atmosphere.

For starters, telling people to get loud assumes they are quiet. In other words, these PSAs are validating the conditional silence and creating a self-fulfilling prophesy.

But more important, these PSAs create artificial noise spikes. On a subconscious level, once a fan complies with the PSA, the default action is to sit on his/her hands for most of the night because suddenly the very act of cheering is now a direction and not an impulse.

You don't randomly tell people to get loud during a hockey game. You give them reasons to be loud from start to end.

6. BREAKING THE SOUND BARRIER

The ACC is a multi-purpose facility. It has equipment suitable for rock concerts. It has a sophisticated system of sound distribution.

So here's a question: Why not just "pump" some sound effects – cheering, clapping, whatever – through the speakers as needed (like on Monday night)?

And here's an addendum to this point: In addition to the crowd effects, why not broadcast the play-by-play feed? You know, let Joe Bowen's voice thunder inside the building.

I've noticed something at various bars across this city. When Bowen can be heard, people pay more attention to what they are watching. They are more engaged in the game.

Anyway, these are my deranged suggestions. And thanks for raising the issue yesterday in the comments.

The Leafs are 3-1 over the past four games. They are the youngest team in the NHL. They really do deserve a half-decent sixth skater when playing at home.

MAIN PHOTO: ANDREW WALLACE/TORONTO STAR

 

Guest Post: A Hater Among Us

Teach Me About Losing, Leaf Fans

BY SARAH MILLAR

I was probably the only person in this city watching last Tuesday's Leafs game with a smug smile on my face during the first period. 

They're going to make it nine in a row, I thought, as Nashville ran up a 3-0 lead on the blue-and-white after only 12 minutes. Satisfied the game was over, I flipped stations over to Glee and forgot about those hapless Leafs.

Then the unthinkable happened. A comeback. Of miraculous proportions. And then, the Leafs — they actually won. It's a one-off, I reassured myself. It doesn't matter.

Fast forward to the next night.

I sat down to watch my team do some damage.

Instead, the unthinkable happened. My beloved Senators were crushed 7-1 by Carolina. It's just lucky I like Paul Maurice and have Eric Staal on my fantasy team otherwise there'd be hell to pay.

The Leafs won Thursday. The Sens lost Friday. I was beginning to see a pattern form here — and I didn't like it one little bit.

See, as an Ottawa Senators fan, I'm used to things going the way they always do: Leafs suck during the season while the Sens kick butt. And don't worry, I know what all you Leafs fans are saying out there: "But who wins in the playoffs? The Leafs always beat the Sens."

To that I say this: "And when was the last time you beat us in the playoffs? Oh, right. 2004."

A lot of people who learn my dirty little hockey secret often want to know how I became a Sens fan. After all, I grew up in southern Ontario — Hamilton, to be exact — a Leafs stronghold. The only thing worse than being a Sens fan in these parts is being a Habs fan.

See, I've never liked to follow the pack. I like being different. Thus my fandom for the Senators. (Also when Ottawa got their franchise, it was between them and Hamilton, so I could easily be cheering for the Hamilton Steelers right now or Balsillie Blackberrys or what have you.)

But the way this year's been going, I'm starting to feel a bit like a Leafs fan. The last time my Sens did this poorly was after their Cup run. (When was the last time the Leafs had a Cup run? Oh. Right. Sorry.)

I'm not used to this thing called "losing." Perhaps you Leafs fans can help me out here. If the Sens don't make the playoffs this year — gasp! — I'll really need your advice.

It's really great being a Sens fan in Toronto when the Sens are winning — I get to have the holier-than-thou attitude that Leafs fans usually possess, except I can back it up with stats.

But being a Sens fan in Toronto when the Sens are losing? It's been miserable. The only thing that's made it worse is when the Leafs are winning. There are no words to describe my mortification. I don't know how Leaf fans stay so proud even when their team is in the gutter.

Come Saturday, I had to watch the Leafs-Habs game (Carey Price is my starting goaltender on my fantasy team). And that was the night the hockey Gods finally smiled on me.

The Leafs lost. While I had to see the results of the next Senators game, at least I could sleep at night knowing the Leafs weren't on a winning streak anymore.

Fast forward to Monday night.

My Senators were playing and so were your Leafs. The Leafs game started first. They won. But my Senators pulled through and snapped a three-game losing streak, beating the L.A. Kings 3-2.

The Leafs may be winning again. But so are my Sens.

The universe has righted itself — almost.

  Sarah Millar is a proud Senators fan living inside Leafs Nation.

 

 

 

 

MAIN PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Game 20: Dallas gets cooked by a Goose

What can you say about these baffling Maple Leafs?

Just when you think they're going to start the season 82-0, they plunge into a filthy tank. Then when you think they're going to lose every remaining game until the world implodes in 2012, they yank themselves out of the abyss.

Were there moments of acute boredom in tonight's 4-1 win over Dallas? Yes. Did the first period have about as much rhythm as Michael Ignatieff at an all-night rave? Yes. But give this young Leafs team full-credit for grabbing a lead, putting that lead in a chokehold and then singing that lead a goodnight lullaby.

The highlights:

* Jonas "Goose" Gustavsson stopped 21 of 22 shots. If the plan is to remove him from the spotlight upon J.S. Giguere’s return from injury, there seems to be a communication problem. Between his squinting "I’M IN A (BLEEP) ZONE" intensity whenever he removes his mask to spray his face and the way he was controlling rebounds, Goose looked like an inmate who has scaled a prison wall, shacked up with a porn star and has no intention of ever returning to the inside.

* Nikolai Kulemin scored two goals and was a force in both ends of the ice. Mikhail Grabovski picked up two assists and was a force in one end. But if there's a cooler looking duo in the NHL during a post-goal celebration, I've yet to see them. "Nice goal, Kuley." "Nice pass, Grabbo. We good. We so very good."

* Nazem Kadri continued his beautiful playmaking when he fed Tyler Bozak a cross-ice gem at 17:07 of the second. It's possible Kadri was trying to atone for not picking up his man – the apparently auditioning Brad Richards – a few minutes earlier on the only Dallas goal.

* Phil Kessel was the only Leaf to post a minus on the night (-1). Related to the Richards' goal, he was also benched in the second. (Not a highlight, I guess. But something worth discussing.)

* The Leafs played some serious D in the third when they blocked drives, disrupted passing lanes and held the Stars to a measly 7 shots. We know this team can skate and pass when they are so inclined. Now we know they can prevent the opposition from doing the same.

Make no mistake: This was an important win. Yes, there were still some troubling giveaways (Tomas Kaberle, I'm looking at you). Yes, there were some botched plays in the neutral zone. But, overall, the Leafs showed discipline, maturity and no sign of panicking.

They are now 8-9-3 on the season and 3-1 in their past four games. Dare I say it: The dream of a playoff spot is very much alive.

 

Jonas Gustavsson relaxing away from the ice.

 

 

 

 

 

MAIN PHOTO: MARK BLINCH/REUTERS

Crystal Ball: Should the Leafs consider trading Giguere (and three other questions)?

Good morning and apologies for the radio silence yesterday. I trust you had a nice weekend, despite the 2-0 loss to Montreal.

What else can you do, right? The Habs run a tight defensive ship. They capitalize on mistakes. And they have Carey Price in net, a guy playing with so much poise that even his pencil-thin mustache screams: "I have enough confidence right now to steal your wife."

Next time, Montreal. Next time!

It's hard to believe but the One Quarter point of the season is nearly upon us. So in advance of tonight's home game against Dallas, and in lieu of a more sensible post, here are four questions I've been asking myself since the Montreal game ended:

Question 1: Should the Leafs consider trading J.S. Giguere?

Don't misunderstand. I have enormous respect for Jiggy's accomplishments, talent, work ethic and leadership. He's a great goalie. He has an ideal temperament. If I had a son, I'd want him to be just like this guy.

That said, let's explore this question with cold-blooded reason.

Is Jonas "Goose" Gustavsson ready to be a No. 1 starter in this league? Do the Leafs have long-term depth in net with Goose, James Reimer and Jussi Rynnas? If you answer "yes" to those two questions, even reluctantly, then I think we need to at least ask a third one: Is Giguere expendable?

The Leafs need help scoring. They need a power forward or point-a-game center or both. And in an era of reduced transactions, at a time when player movement hinges on positional desperation and/or cap management, a veteran goaltender is still one of the best currencies in the trade market.

Increasingly, this Leafs' goaltending situation reminds me of the 92-93 season. Like Giguere, that team had a de facto No. 1 vet with a Cup pedigree in Grant Fuhr. Like Goose, they had a promising up-and-comer in Felix Potvin.

But at some point around Christmas, coach Pat Burns told management he believed the promising up-and-comer could get the job done. He believed it was time for The Cat to purr on a nightly basis.

So Fuhr was traded to Buffalo in February 1993 and, as you recall, the Leafs received a fellow by the name of Dave Andreychuk.

In other words: Exactly the kind of player they need today.

Question 2: Should Colton Orr dress for every game?

Again, I need to predicate this with a "don't misunderstand." Enforcing just might be the most thankless job in hockey. You earn a living by trading punches with another man in front of thousands of screaming spectators?

Crazy.

But here's the thing: Fighting isn't what it used to be.

I remember a time when there was at least one scrap per game. Some teams had two, even three policemen. These guys didn't score goals or shut-down opposition stars. They beat the living daylights out of each other.

Those days are mostly gone.

Some teams don't even have a designated tough guy anymore. So, yes, while there will be nights when Orr's muscle and intimidation are surely needed, there will be other nights when his spot in the line-up could go to someone else.

In the new NHL, dressing an enforcer strictly out of antiquated impulse seems more like a bad habit than a good way to pursue a berth in the playoffs. It would be one thing if the Leafs were able to rollout three lines that consistently contributed to the box score. But right now, they simply can't afford to have a skater play six or seven minutes a night when they are in dire need of scoring and improving their special teams.

Question 3: Should Nazem Kadri be considered a playmaker instead of a sniper?

Let's assume Kadri is here to stay for a while. Let's also assume he's going to play somewhere on the top two lines while he's here.

The question becomes this: Would there be considerably less pressure on his 20-year-old shoulders if he stopped fretting about scoring goals himself? That is, would Kadri actually contribute more if the unspoken need to bag highlight reel goals was replaced with a simple focus on, say, passing the puck?

In his four games with the Leafs, Kadri is averaging 19:13 minutes in ice time. But he's only managed an average of 1.5 shots per game. What he is doing quite admirably is finding open men, which is why he has three assists. He's also winning face-offs – on Saturday, he was the only Leaf to not lose a majority of his draws.

What would happen if everybody, including Kadri, stopped casting him in the role of goal scorer? What if his real offensive asset, at this point in time, is not so much burying the puck as it is finding places for his teammates to dig?

Question 4: Should the Leafs start dictating play?

You know what's interesting about the season thus far? With the exception of five or six games, the Leafs have allowed their opponents to set the tone and determine what kind of game gets played.

The problem, of course, is the Leafs are 2-8-1 when the other team scores first. And when their opponents control the play early on, the Leafs tend to get flustered and stop skating or start panicking and misfiring on chances. The 156 shots they've missed at home ranks near the bottom of the league. They've also given the puck away 221 times, which is rock bottom.

This young Leafs squad, possibly more than any other team right now, needs to get off to a good start each night. To do this, they need to stop worrying about what the other team may or may not do and start dictating play.

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGES

 

Game Day: Toronto, Montreal and the thrill of history

Players change, the years march forth, but rivalry is crystallized by time.

And if the last century is a reliable guide, tonight's game will be filled with nail-biting excitement and raw emotion. Because when Toronto and Montreal face-off on a Saturday night, when Hockey Night in Canada flickers into living rooms from coast to coast, these teams play no other kind of game.

The Habs have emerged as a powerhouse this season. The Leafs, riding a two-game winning streak, will have their gloves full. And the Bell Centre will be a madhouse as fans for both sides exchange cheers and chants and taunts.

Speaking of history and milestones, tonight marks the NHL's 50,000th game. It is also Brian Burke's 1,000th game as a general manager. And if all of this wasn't enough to set the mood, the Leafs have made the trek to Montreal this weekend with their fathers.

Final score predictions? Let's hear them.

I will simply point something out. Right now, Nikolai Kulemin, Mikhail Grabovski and Clarke MacArthur are on a tear. And heading into this season, each of them scored more lifetime points against Montreal than against any other team in the league.

The same goes for Tomas Kaberle. Make of that what you will.

***

I was in a cab yesterday when news broke about Pat Burns.

"He was the best – the best," said the driver, shaking his head as the AM radio crackled with the bulletin. "This is very sad."

After a lengthy and courageous battle with three different cancers, Patrick Burns died yesterday and the hockey world lost a first-class ambassador and one of the greatest leaders the game has ever known.

What can you say about Burnsie?

For an entire generation of Leaf fans, he was the first coach we associated with "winning." He wasn't just a bench boss who changed lines or called time-outs. He was as much a part of the team as any of the players we worshipped.

As his illness advanced, Burns became more reflective.

Last March, while delivering remarks for the announcement of the Pat Burns Arena now under construction at Stamstead College, he said this:

"I probably won't see the project to the end, but let's hope I'm looking down on it and see a young Wayne Gretzky or Mario Lemieux… I know my life is nearing its end and I accept that. As for my career, I always said to my kids, 'You don't cry because it's over, you're happy because it happened.' That's the main thing. I'm happy it happened.”

As the cab snaked along Yonge Street in traffic, I looked out the window and felt a tremendous sadness. But I also felt a tremendous gratitude: We should be so happy Pat Burns happened to us.

And so when I think of Burnsie, I will forget the illness that took him too soon and instead remember his contagious smile and zest for life. I will remember the way he defended his players the way a lion defends its cubs.

I will remember the way he smirked and muttered to nobody in particular one night in Chicago after Jim Cummins was taking liberties with the Leafs and then found himself receiving end of a Tie Domi smackdown.

I will remember the way he charged across the bench to get at Barry Melrose. I will remember the way he once patted Wendel Clark on the helmet with a tenderness that bordered on familial. And I will remember the way he pumped his fist while grinning and glancing upwards toward Cliff Fletcher after the Leafs between Detroit in a Game 7 none of us will forget.

A video that was released after that season was titled The Passion Returns. Pat Burns, as much as anyone else, was responsible for returning this passion to Leafs Nation.

In advance of tonight's game, and with a heavy heart, I leave you with this video of Burnsie's memorable return to Montreal all those years ago:

 

 

PHOTO: TONY BOCK/TORONTO STAR

Game 18: Come here and give me a hug

Two in a row! Two in a row! Two in a row!

I attempted to start this chant in my bedroom last night but then my wife told me to knock it off. And to remove my blue wig and shut up already about Montreal.

Hang on. I need to finish a letter I started writing after the win:

Dear Ron Wilson:

You deserve a lot of credit for putting Versteeg on the blue line during power plays. Three goals in two games? The guy is on fire back there. Sheer genius. And that Kadri kid is making some sweet passes. Now please make sure everyone is ready for Saturday. Please. A win in Montreal and that whole losing streak is forgiven.

P.S. What exactly do you have against smiling?

Wow. Talk about an emotional pendulum.

A week ago, I was thinking about moving to Belize to live under an assumed identity. This morning, it's like, "Yeah, that's right. I'm a Leafs fan. What's it to you?"

Was that the most entertaining Leafs game of all-time? No. It wasn't even the most entertaining Leafs game of this week. Did I nod off for a few minutes somewhere between Dion Phaneuf's laconic visit to the broadcast booth and Wendel Clark's cringe-inducing commercial for Gold Seal tuna? Maybe.

But you know what? Last night's win felt like something we haven't experienced yet during this topsy-turvy season. It felt routine.

The Goose stopped 29 of 30 shots? Yeah, that's what Goose does. The Leafs scored on the power play? Yeah, yeah, that's just how they roll. Grabovski, Kulemin and MacArthur teamed up for a goal? Yeah, those crazy guys are always doing that.

Routine stuff.

Now, granted, much of this ho-hum victory can be attributed to the shockingly inept performance of the visitors. Did the 2010 Devils get drunk one night, climb into a time machine and accidentally switch places with the 1982 Devils?

Sweet mother of God, Lou Lamoriello should get a hair transplant just so he has something to pull out in the weeks ahead.

Also, can someone explain Ilya Kovalchuk's contract to me?

They're paying him $100 million? What's the breakdown? Does he get like $143,098 to skate around in circles? Or $346,980 whenever he misses the net? Or maybe $265,958 each time he takes a dramatic swig of water on the bench while blinking rapidly?

Whatever.

A win is a win. The Leafs now have two in their past two games. Momentum. Confidence. The ship seems to be out of stormy waters. And if you look closely, on the upper deck, you will see the youngest team in the NHL standing near the railing and grinning this morning.

Get ready, Montreal. It's on.

PHOTO: FRANK GUNN/CANADIAN PRESS