End of season interview with Brian Burke

Brian Burke does not sugarcoat his words when asked about the season.

"It's a failure," he says, as we sit inside a circular booth at e11even, the MLSE-owned bistro on York Street. "You don't make the playoffs, it's a failure. There can be no debate in our sport about that.

"There are a lot of positives. But, overall, it's a failure. The season is a failure."

He pronounces "failure" with such staccato force, my first follow-up is: "So what went wrong?

"You have to win games in months that end with 'r,'" he says. "You can't just win games in months that end with a 'y.' October, November, December – those are critical months for us and we did not produce."

The two biggest "culprits," to use his word, were special teams and goaltending.

"But I think the goaltending, obviously, once that solidified, we've had a marvelous record. But our special teams need to improve."

As of today, the Leafs power play is operating at 16.2 per cent, which ranks 21st in the league. Penalty killing, meanwhile, is 77.9 per cent, which ranks 27th.

Why are special teams still so anemic when the roster was revamped over the past two seasons? Could the problem, at least in part, be related to strategic deficiencies?

There is a pause and a familiar scowl.

"I think the easiest thing to do when your special teams struggle is point to the coaches," says Burke. "That's what everyone says, 'Oh, it's coaching.' And yet the Pittsburgh Penguins have not had a Top 5 power play – not even Top 10, I think – in the last two years. So it can't be just personnel. It can't be just coaching. It's a blend."

He shakes his head and glances out the window behind me.

"This has gone beyond discussion. We've got to sort out our special teams. We've got to be better, there's no two ways about it. If our special teams had operated at a better efficiency rate, we'd be in the playoffs."

Okay. Forget the past. What is the plan for this summer? What "missing pieces," a cryptic term that gets tossed around almost daily, sit high atop his list?

"We intend to be active in free agency and we intend to explore trades."

Meaning what, specifically?

"We need to upgrade at center and we need some size," Burke says. "Size. I'd like to have more bite. I think Mike Brown delivered everything we asked him to. I think Colby Armstrong was exactly what we thought we were getting.

"But I think we need some more bite."

With the exception of Joffrey Lupul and Nikolai Kulemin, Burke says, the Top 6 is too small. In fact: "Even our Bottom 6 is small to play the way I like to play."

Leaving truculence aside, I return to the center position and ask if he regrets not getting a top-line player to feed Phil Kessel.

"Do I regret not getting a center? I haven't been offered one at a price that makes sense. I can overpay and get a center. Would I like to have one? Yes. That's different than do I regret not getting one."

The real issue, he says, has been negotiating power.

"What did we have to give up before this spring? We had no firsts. We had no Joe Colborne, no Jake Gardiner. What did we have to offer teams? I could have traded Kulemin for a center. But then we lose a Top 6 forward."

We move to the draft. The Leafs now have two firsts (Boston and Philadelphia) and one second round pick.

"We want to pick at least twice," says Burke. "So if we can package two of those picks to move up, we would do it. But we're not going to package three of them to move up. We want to pick twice."

Burke has engineered some high-profile deals on trade days past, including in 1993 when he moved up to snag Chris Pronger and 1999, when he landed the Sedin twins.

But as he notes ruefully: "Those were six years apart and I haven't got close since."

What about early scouting reports that suggest this isn't a strong draft year?

"It's not a marquee draft year," corrects Burke. "There's no Ovechkin. The year we drafted Pronger, there were like five big name guys. It's not that kind of draft. We like the players that are right where we are picking, right down to 40. We're happy with the grouping. We think there is quality in this draft."

As for possible free agents, he says, it's still premature to speculate about names: "The list of guys who are free agents now is not the list that will be there on July 1."

What he's not looking for this summer is a starting goalie: That job already belongs to James Reimer.

"The kid took the net away from the other two goalies," says Burke. "Every goalie, at some point in his career, has to grab the net. And the other goalies always fight when you try to grab the net. We had three goalies that were in the hunt and one kid grabbed the net this year.

"The issue is going to be who else is here and how else do we surround him and support him. But, yes, I think he's demonstrated the right to come back as the starter."

Where does this leave Jonas Gustavsson?

"We still haven't given up on the Monster at all. We signed him for a reason. We still believe in him. We have to see how things sort themselves out."

Despite not making the playoffs, despite using the F-word, Burke is quick to praise his team's run in 2011.

"It's a strong finish and it's not a phantom finish. It's not a meaningless last dozen games. It's been a six-week marathon. These guys have put together solid efforts, night in and night out, for basically six, seven weeks now. I like that."

"I like the work ethic of this group. I like the leadership of this group. I like our reserve list now, as far as the assets we've added with the first round picks and Colborne and Gardiner. I really feel like we have some real assets in the pipeline."

So are you satisfied with the progress?

"I'm never where I'd like to be at any point,” he says, just as the Eagles' "Peaceful Easy Feeling" strums to life in the speakers above our heads. "I'm not trying to give you an obscure, Zen answer. I'm never happy. We're in a non-playoff spot, I'm not happy. Do I see the progress? Yes. Am I happy with where we are? No. I was born impatient and I'm going to die impatient."

Let's try this again. Are you less unhappy than you were during our December interview?

There is another pause.

"Yes," Burke says, sipping a Diet Coke. "This isn't spin, you know. The general manager can try and spin things when you miss the playoffs. This isn't spin. The first thing I said is, 'It's a failure.' That's the last thing I will say.

"But in between, do I see massive change and improvement? Yes. Do I see cause for optimism? Yes. Do I feel we'll have a lot less work to do this summer than we've had in the past? Yes. Those are all important things."

And so with the last game unfolding Saturday, his message to Leaf fans is simple: "I hope they see the progress like I do. We're going to get there."

PHOTO: VINAY MENON/TORONTO STAR

Comments

[Matt Taylor]

@ Wandering Penguin: I apologize, I was calling some of the criticism of Wilson dumb, I did not mean to imply that you were dumb. If you took it that was I sincerely apologize.

With regards to some of your other points, that sort of statistical analysis with coaches is, by necessity kind of tricky. Of Wilson's 17 seasons, he has failed to make the playoffs in 8 of them. But if you look closer at the individual seasons, and the teams he was coaching in those seasons, I think his low winning percentage among those coaches begins to become more clear. As I mentioned, he coached the Mighty Ducks for 4 years after their creation. The team missed the playoffs in 3 of those 4 years (by a pretty wide margin too). If you just look at the win loss during his tenure, you'd be led to assume that he was a pretty horrible coach despite the team making the playoffs in his 4th year. The situation a coach is put in has a tremendous impact on his win percentage. I'd argue that Scotty Bowman would have likely been unable to lead those Mighty Duck teams anywhere in the early 90's, but who'd blame him... it was an expansion team.

With regards to poor bench coaching decisions, I'm not sure how pairing Lebda up with anyone would have improved anything. Lebda is horrible. Phaneuf and Aulie clearly had a lot of chemistry, and Schenn and Gunnarsson had a degree of chemistry as well. I think Burke and Wilson quickly realized that Lebda and Komisarek wasn't going to work out, that's why they brought up Lashoff. They gave Komisarek and Lebda a chance to gel, and it didn't work, I'm not sure how that was a poor coaching decision. I actually agree, Kessel should be in the shootout more, but there is always the problem that you only have 3 shooters. Lupul, Grabovski, Kulemin, Kadri, and Kessel can all take the shootout fairly well... but the shootout (and this is one of the reasons I hate it) is essentially a crap-shoot. Having watched most of the Red Wings season, Wilson employs a similar strategy to Mike Babcock... which is essentially that you go with your gut feeling about who you think can score. Kessel certainly doesn't have impressive numbers in the shootout (at least not any more so than several other players) so while I personally disagree, I understand Wilson going with his gut in that situation.

Apologies once again, I didn't mean to imply you were dumb (This is actually a pretty good debate!!)

[Wandering Penguin]

@Geoff: completely agree about the inconsistency in the rules. The list of things they have to "get straight", though, is far too long to cover in one off-season. There are so many holes in the interpretation of the rulebook right now that I actually don't even know how they are going to fix it. It seems the speed of the game nowadays is even passing the linesmen by: I can't remember ever seeing so many blown icing and offside calls in one season before. Officiating both on and off the ice in the NHL has become a complete sham. It's likely time to clean house at the executive level and see if some new blood can bring some creative ideas to attack the problem. I mean, they can't even figure out what goalie interference is - and that should be one of the easier calls they make, in my opinion. Every other line drawn on the ice has a specific purpose except, apparently, the crease. Why is that?

[Peter]

Geoff
Plekanec, Gomez, Desharnais vs Grabovski, Bozak, Kadri. hm, i'm not sure if the Habs have much on the Leafs there.
but you are right, nobody would trade for the smurfs, that's for sure.

[Rooney]

I do not get the point of comparing the Habs and the Leafs. Neither team is a contender, again, this year. I do not believe for one moment that if Montreal was healthier this season that it would be a contender. Just based on age, I think the Leafs have way more upside and will need less tinkering for next season but I know I am biased. As for the comment about SKILL, look at the top teams in the league if you want to see skill depth, the Habs are not a receipe for any team to follow and will need to rebuild sooner than later. The good news is that Leafs will give them a bit of thumping tomorrow, and I would not be shocked if there are another four straight losses for those historic Habs following that, this team is barely walking into the post season. GO LEAFS GO!!!

[missideb]

FYI Matt Frattin and his Sioux team out of Frozen Four. Really hope Nonis is out locking this kid up. Colborne gets the call up from Marlies and is skating today with Lupul and Kessel. Bozak dropped to third line.

[moe green]

I like Burke. Having said that, I have to add that Burke is a Harvard-trained lawyer - that's the best kind - and as such is pretty good at talking. And he should be good at thinking too. That's why he's among the highest paid GMs in all of Hockeydom. And lest we forget, Wilson is one of the highest paid bench bosses too. Does the big fella care about winning? Sure he does. When someone pays you $100k a year to do a job, don't you give it your all? If you are making $3 million a year, you better give a little extra. In fairness, he does.

But don't let him fool you either. Winning is a secondary goal for Brian Burke. He demonstrated that this year. He told you he could have made the playoffs, he just didn't think the price was right. He said he could have traded Kulemin for a centre but he didn't. But other teams made significant moves that arguably might have put them over the top. Buffalo, for example, added a short-term asset at the deadline that cost them a scant second-rounder. Maybe we could have done the same. Brian Burke said it wasn't worth it. Well, it wasn't worth it to him anyway.

Burke is here to build a winning organization, not just now, but for the future. I believe he is doing that. That tells me that if he has to miss the playoffs again to achieve his goal, he will do it. If that means that this team isn't ready for a coaching change because this team isn't ready to win yet - so be it. I guess we should be happy about that. After all it's been a long time since we've had a GM who had the autonomy to take the long view. Still, for Leaf fans it's sure seems like an awfully long view.

But that's not exactly the bill of goods he sold the fans is it? He sold the fans on the idea that we eat the cake (playoffs) and have it (the future) too. He told us via the Kessel trade that this team was a playoff contender now and a cup contender within the length of the Kessel contract. Either that or he simply fed us that diet he knew we needed. He told us what was necessary to keep season ticket and merchandise sales healthy. That's okay, that's business. It's just not honest.

So if Burke keeps Wilson as he says he will and extends him as the pundits say he must, then one of two things is true. Either Wilson is a good coach and what we need to put us over the top or Wilson is an adequate coach to get us through these non-playoff years. Of course there is a darker possibility too. That Wilson is going to get a little retirement gift in the way of an extension before he is inevitably replaced. A nice two year or so kicker for him to comfortably retire with. Would you expect anything less with your best buddy at the helm.

So we wait and we see if Burke has any intention of making this team a contender next season. He's already suggested that there will be major changes to the roster. He says we are too small both in the top-six and the bottom-six group. What does this mean. One could reasonably infer that Clarke MacArthur will not be returning. But who else can we expect to move? Kadri is small. So is Grabovski, Brent as well. One thing is certain, players know that regardless of performance if they don't fit the mold, they will be unceremoniously shipped.

I'm not sure that is a good message to send to your players. At any rate Mr. Burke, you have the off-season with all the assets and monies you need to make this team a contender next season. I think most astute fans believe that. But, if you fail to do so or choose not to, or are for some reason unable to make those necessary moves you will have some serious explaining to do. Barking at reporters who question your methods won't work next season. Next season we the fans EXPECT results. A battle for the playoffs will not suffice in that regard. Not by a long shot.

[prize maple]

It feels great to be vindicated. Brian Burke has echoed my exact thoughts on the state of the team. More size, improvement(s) at center; meanwhile the goaltending and defense are fine. It remains to be seen whether he can lure a big-time free agent or 2 here but at least he's moving in the right direction. OK, so all you Leaf fans who were bowled over by how well they've played recently can go back to sighting unicorns and fairies. I'm not happy until this team is a real contender.

[We BeLeaf]

Well said Moe. I think the thing to keep in mind is that Burke needed to erase everything that was done and lay a strong foundation where the efforts of his labour will be successful in the near future and for years to come.
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@ Wandering Penguin,
.
"I missed your point about Wilson, though. Sorry. What kind of player can he coach?"
.
If you recall from a past blog, you mentioned a coach like Scotty Bowman has the ability to coach players who have the capability to win and push them over the hump, meaning that he would not fit right now as coach of the Leafs. It's been said by Wilson during his past tenure as coach of the Sharks that if he's given the horses, then they will win. I think it's fair to say that Wilson could only work with what he was given, so now that Burke is assembling a better, bigger, stronger, etc team, you would think he should fare better with better players.

[Geoff Read]

@Peter,

If Kadri lives up to his potential I would grant that that can go a long way to solving the Leafs' problems at centre... but that's still a hypothetical at this point, and I was just suggesting that a lack of skill at the centre position THIS SEASON was part of the explanation for why the Leafs didn't do as well as the Canadiens.

@Rooney,

Yeah, you have a point. The Canadiens are not one of the elite teams in the league. But with Markov in particular, they would be significantly better. He is one of the top 10 defensemen in the league when healthy.

And I'm not actually sure I'd say Toronto has more youthful promise than Montreal. I like Pacioretty, Desharnais, Subban, Weber, Price, White, Kostitsyn, and perhaps Pouliot as a nucleus of young talent to build around, and certainly one that is comparable to Toronto's. Subban is and will be better than any young player in the Toronto organization, for example. And I don't mean that as a slight to Schenn or others - they're good young players - it's just that Subban is a one of a kind prospect.

[pinot grigio]

@ Matt Taylor
", but all of this harping on Wilson is pretty dumb." and later: "I apologize, I was calling some of the criticism of Wilson dumb, I did not mean to imply that you were dumb."
Yes, you did Matt, it is impossible to make that distinction. If you think that criticism of Wilson is dumb, then, by implication, the people who criticize Wilson are not thinking right, I.e. dumb. May be just with regard to that issue, but it is impossible to separate one from the other.

[Geoff Read]

@PInot,

I'd disagree. Smart people do dumb things. I've got no opinion on whether criticizing Wilson is dumb, but think about stupid decisions that are made in politics by people who are otherwise quite intelligent. Say JFK's decision to go ahead with the Bay of Pigs Invasion - an undoubtedly "dumb" move by a pretty bright guy.

[Scot Loucks]

Still a lot of anti Burke and anti Wilson feelings out there in Leaf land eh?

Not sure why. Other than special teams, I was quite happy with the end result this season, and both special teams were better than last year. (not that that was hard to do).

People tend to forget that the Leafs would be the youngest team in the league if you subtracted the 33 year old Giguere from the line up.

Comparable teams would be St. Louis and Edmonton. How did they fare/improve this season?

The Leafs played at a .627 clip from January 1st on. That is a 103 point season. It is also 49 games, well over half the season.

The season was lost in November, December. Games played without Phaneuf and Armstrong, or a still recovering Phaneuf and Armstrong.

Take a look at the lineup Toronto put out there against Buffalo on November 6th
Buffalo tied the game with 14 seconds left and the leafs lost a shootout. The tailspin had begun.Leafs roster that night?

Giguere, Gustavsson.
Schenn, Komisarek, Kaberle, Beauchemin, Lebda, Holzer.
Sjostrom, MacArthur, Brown, Brent, Kulemin, Kessel, Bozak, Grabovski, Orr, Versteeg, Caputi, Mitchell.

The team they have now played for Wilson, they played his system. They didn't give up on him .... so why would you want them to get a new coach now?

For that matter, who says he gets an extension (Burke never said that)?

And who said he was going to trade MacArthur? Nobody said that either, in fact, Burke said he wants MacArthur back, he isn't going to pay him Lupul type money though .... but I'm sure a contract in and around Kulemin's will get done.

Anyway, great interview V.M. Good stuff all year.

Leafs will make the playoffs next year .... and it won't be squeaking into eighth place either.

Cheers

[Lil]

Afternoon all, Have we heard anything about ALF B's future?

[Wandering Penguin]

@Matt - thanks for clearing that up (your comment).

As regards the pairing of defencemen: Wilson has made it his habit in Toronto to rotate a few defencemen in and out of the lineup in 5th and 6th position. Not just Lebda, but Gunnarsson and Aulie and quite a few others. The thing is, whenever he rotates them IN he always pairs them with the next weakest defenceman on the team. This has NEVER made any sense to me and never will. If you're so worried about the calibre of a player and you are forced to play him, why not pair him with somebody strong so you don't have to just sit there and wince every few shifts?

But the bench decisions go far deeper than the wrong defensive pairings or starting arguably the wrong goalie. Time after time after time he has opportunities to do something to alter the flow of the game in his favour and he neglects to do so. Timeouts, line changes after icings, shootout decisions (although they have done better than in the past but that could be Reimer's influence), benchings (or not),,,my list goes on and on. Many of these things could be considered as "intangibles" but when you're the coach and you can't point to a single other obvious thing you have done to improve the lot of your team - such a special team success - then you had better do the intangibles very well indeed.

I understand your point about the Ducks, I really do, but he was also handed a Shark team loaded for bear which more than offest his earlier bad record. He still has the lowest winning percentage of any coach with 600 wins - and that will still be the case when Jacques Martin joins the club, hopefully next year. So you can look at that one of two ways: the other coaches only got hired when the team was ready to "take the next step" or Wilson just didn't take advantage of truly good teams when he ran them. Either way, my point still remains: Wilson is NOT the coach you want to have if you hope to "get to the next level". The reason he is not in the top-15 in playoff stats has less to do with the Ducks, IMO, and more to do with the early defeats of the highly-rated Caps and Sharks far more often than should have been expected. He has had plenty of opportunities to make a deep run into the playoffs and for whatever reason, many of his teams have just spit out the bit. That cannot be ignored.

I'm even going to take it one step farther: I would bet that Wilson got a lot out of the Ducks in his early career simply because he was so young and in touch with the players on that team. The possibility exists that he was a good coach back then, I don't know. I base most of my assessment on the chances he blew in San Jose and the past three seasons of just boneheaded decisions he has made here. Perhaps the game has passed him by. Perhaps he just isn't hungry enough because he knows he will always have a shot at coaching for his BFF. I don't know. But he just doesn't cut the mustard any more on this team at the very least.

It's simply not a knee-jerk reaction I have, based on a lack of patience or anything else. I never wanted him here in the first place (Burke likewise) but I have said all along if they were to win a Cup I would accept the rest of the crap. In Burke's case, I think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. In Wilson's case, up close it is more obvious to me than it ever was that this man is just not a difference-making coach. Someone else has to take over and get the next gear out of them. There is no WAY they should have missed the playoffs this year. No way. In my opinion, of course.

[Wandering Penguin]

@We BeLeaf: I think I see what you are saying. But I don't agree that Wilson can win with the horses he is given. Well, he can to a point, but he was handed the reins to a team of thoroughbreds in San Jose and somehow he managed to keep their names off of the Cup. If Bowman had that team - or virtually any of the other 600-win guys with the possible exception of Bryan Murray - they would probably have won multiple Cups. But Wilson instead chose to pick a public fight with Patrick Marleau. I still cannot understand that. And seriously, if *I* am given the horses *I* could win. It shouldn't be that hard to win with decent talent. It's winning with marginal talent or outcoaching the other guy that's the difference and Wilson just doesn't have that ability.

I think it's closer to what Moe said: there's no reason to dump him until they are ready to win the Cup. If Burke extends his contract, he's effectively telling us we are at least two years away from challenging. That's fine...but SAY so. Stop telling us missing the playoffs is the worst thing ever in the history of your life and then just keep missing them year after year when they are so close. Just say "We're going to miss them again next year and here's why". It's not like they won't sell out every damn game. There's no downside, really.

And with that in mind, nice post, moe. I enjoyed that one a lot.

[pinot grigio]

@ Geoff Read.
Geoff, as I said, "just with regard to that issue". I agree with you that smart people often do stupid things and it's probably true the other way round too. What I objected to was the mealy mouthed attempt by Matt to escape from what he said once it was correctly perceived as personal. If you don't want to be personal, say this or that opinion is wrong, the moment you say it is dumb, it is personal. There are times you may feel that you want to be personal but then you have to stand up for your opinion (and you certainly do that) even if you feel it is (a bit) harsh.

[Simon]

I'm still not sure what to think about this season. But a couple things for thought. I think the people who could be on the trading block are Bozak, Crabb, Boyce, Komisarek, and Rosehill. Everyone else is exactly the player you want on this team, except for size. Kulemin, Grabovski -- these guys aren't getting paid too much for how they are performing. MacArthur -- should be getting his linemates or less, not because he wasn't fabulous, but because he has to show consistency from year to year. Lupul is a good veteran who improves Kessel, but doesn't subtract leadership from Phaneuf.

So how do we improve? The free agent market. Look for people like MacArthur who you can pick up for not too much and will be able to play a system. Then we'll have two scoring lines. Our third line needs to improve a bit, but the Brent, Sjostrom, and Brown line is doing exactly what we want. Armstrong is a great player for us because you can put him anywhere from the first to the fourth line and he'll play the way you want him to.

That's a couple jumbled humble observations.

[Wandering Penguin]

There was an old game on Leafs TV this afternoon that I caught a bit of while eating lunch. It was a playoff game against the Blues from 1987 and it featured one of my favourite Leaf goals of all time: Peter Ihnacak had the puck bounce up to his glove and he cradled it but instead of putting it down he HELD it in his glove, stepped around a Blues defender and THEN put it down on his stick to start a tic-tac-toe play ending in a goal by Wendel. I remember watching that game live and laughing so hard I was crying. I still cannot believe they allowed that goal - and they also waved off an earlier Blues goal that clearly went into the net but there was no replay and the ref was nowhere near the goal line. The Leafs won that game in OT on a Rick Lanz (!) shot from just inside the blueline which beat Greg Millen. The only real downside of watching the replay today was seeing John Brophy skulking about on the bench and glaring at the backs of all of his players. That guy STILL gives me the creeps.

One of these days I would love to hear Bowen ask Millen about that game. They would have to have some kind of tape delay thing set up in the booth, though, I would imagine.

[Wandering Penguin]

Thanks for getting my/our back(s) pinot. I agree with you, but for the interest of keeping the blood pressure low I thought it best to accept Matt's apology. But I obviously think you are correct in that assessment.

[Geoff Read]

@ Pinot,

Yeah, certainly it's true that calling an opinion "dumb" if it's a strategy to get people to rethink their position it's bound to fail, as it will simply make people defensive and angry and feel like they've been personally attacked.

Everything you say, by the way, is dumb.

(just kidding)

[Matt Taylor]

@ Wandering Penguin: I'm probably going to be accused of flip-flopping, but I do to a certain extent agree with you on the playoff thing. Wilson's Sharks never did particularily good in the playoffs, certainly not up to the level of talent that they had. That was certainly partly Wilson, but from what I remember of those teams, they were partially cursed by Evgeni "Regular Season" Nabokov. I honestly don't think Nabokov has ever EVER done well in a big game situation (those years that Wilson was there, the next 2 years, the 2010 olympics...)

What I would really like to see is the Leafs follow a similar model in terms of coaching has the Penguins have over the last 4-5 years. Therrien (I've totally forgotten his first name) to me seemed to be a similar coach to Wilson. What I like that the Pens did with him was they kept him on (and he took them to a Cup final), but fired him when they pretty much knew that the team had the ability to be a championship team under a better coach. I'd argue that most of the teams that Scotty Bowman coached for followed similar plans, wait untill you're all but sure that you can lift the cup, then go get that coach who can take you there.

The thing is, I don't think the Leafs are going to be ready for that next season. I hope beyond hope that they are, but I don't think they will be. As a result I like that Wilson is going to continue to get an opportunity to coach next year, the year after.... we'll see

[Wandering Penguin]

Just had a look at the Frozen Four teams (well, Frozen Two, now) and I am delighted to see that Red Berenson is the coach of the Wolverines. I don't follow NCAA sports so I had no idea. The Red Baron is 71 years young and only 43 years removed from an NHL double-hat-trick against the Flyers. Because of that 6-goal game I used to think he was some kind of a superhero when I was a young lad.

Good Saskatchewan lad, that Berenson. Won a Cup and a World Championship, played in the Summit Series and was an All-American nearly 50 years ago for the very team he now coaches. Now that's a pretty fine life in hockey.

[We BeLeaf]

I know how some here like stats, figures and the like, so I'm throwing this out there from a humorous perspective.....
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Unless I am mistaken, the Leafs have not seen the playoffs since Pat Quinn, and before him was Pat Burns.
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Are there any coaches Burke can hire named Pat?

[Wandering Penguin]

No flip-flopping charge here, because that's the first you've spoken of the playoffs. Nabakov, to my mind, has an incredibly bad rap for his playoff performances. His stats in most years - with two notable exceptions - are more than adequate and in a couple of years are absolutely outstanding. Have a look sometime at the stats of one Tom Barrasso in his Cup-winning years and compare them to Nabby's, just as an example. But if your team is losing and you can reliably pin those losses on your goalie - as you claim - then wouldn't the mark of a good coach be knowing when to play your OTHER goalie?

I happen to think that Bowman has been the architect of his own legend. I think he sought out a lot of those teams when he thought they were right on the cusp (Buffalo being a notable exception) and was able to parlay the mystique into bigger and bigger mystique. Don't you think that you or I could have won Cups with the Habs of the late 70s? We might have lost more than 9 games in a year (although I doubt it) but I can't see us blowing too many playoff series. But if Bowman proves anything it's that the playoffs are an entirely different animal from the regular season and no coach is a guarantee of success. Wilson certainly could win...someday, in spite of himself...but it's just no damn fun watching him try.

I think that what we're seeing now is the Leafs being where the expansion Ducks were when they relieved Wilson of his duties. A low-maintenance coach who just stays out of the way and now his time is done. But low-maintenance only insofar as upper management is concerned; not so in the locker room.
For example: was he correct that Kadri wasn't ready for prime time? Absolutely. Did he need to make him feel about 2 feet tall in the press? No, he did not. There are going to be a lot more growing pains on this team in the next couple of years and they don't need to be constantly looking over their shoulders to see who's mocking them in print.

I agree that the Leafs aren't ready for the Cup yet. And we'll probably have to put up with a full season of Wrong Wilson because of it. But I really hope that's it, because I cannot be unabashedly thrilled with the Leafs while he is on the bench. It's like scoring a series-winning goal, only to return to the dressing room to find your wallet missing. It's always something to dampen the spirits.

[Wandering Penguin]

@ We BeLeaf: you missed Nick Beverly in there. Easy to do.

Just as long as we don't hire Patrick Waaaah, I'll be ok.

[Rooney]

Geoff, my comment was not primarily about youthful promise but rather the number of older players that the Habs need to review and consider if they are are part of the future solution or not. They have a skill problem (larger skilled forwards) and an age problem. You just have to look at Gonchar to understand the risks of taking on 34+ olds on defencemen (Gill, Hamrlik, Sopel, Spacek) and that does even consider the older forwards. Even Markov at 32 coming back after an injury like that could not be expected to return to his former self right away, if at all. I do not think the Leafs have any of the same age issues. The core team that returns should be expected to be at the same or higher lever of play (i.e. not as many players that could be past their primes at the drop of the dime). I just can't see how anyone could expect the Habs to improve from this barely made it group without a significant changing of the guard within the next few seasons, which means they will continue to be non-factor until it happens. Hence, my comment about the Leafs having more upside. GO LEAFS GO!!!

[Billy]

The quality of this blog is unparalleled. Eerily quiet on the future..

Vin? You there? What's the word?

[Peter]

lol the Sens just re-signed Murray for three more years. :-) that ensures more cellar dwelling for them.

[Geoff Read]

HI Rooney: I agree wholeheartedly that the Habs have to make a decision on their veteran core... and clearly it's not good enough to be a contender. I think we might see them bite hard and let some of the guys you mention walk this summer (although Spacek is under contract for another year I think). Markov's the most interesting case because he's young enough that he could have another 5 good years in him as a D-man, but as you say, he's been extremely fragile in recent years.

[Alecia]

@We BeLeaf - I'd love to see Quinn back!

How about a legal name change from Ron to Pat? Could that work? Pat Wilson?

[Wandering Penguin]

I imagine this would be a lousy time to say I never really cared for Quinn as a coach, either...right? Didn't think he was as bad as Wilson by any means, but I just didn't see him bring a lot of coaching to the table. Smart as hell and a great interview, but....

Loved him as a GM, though. And I enjoyed his winning percentage, but a lot of that was due to the unlimited budget of the Leafs in his heyday. When you can toss a Gary Roberts and a Joe Nieuwendyk and a Curtis Joseph or Ed Belfour into the picture you don't really need to be that strong a coach to see your team's record improve. On the other hand, I thought Kaberle should have been on the short track to Norrisdom when he first came up but Quinn insisted on keeping Rick Ley on his bench as D coach.

You see? That blind loyalty will get you every time.

And then there's the whole benching Ron Francis for his last game EVER thing...but that was so long ago. Let's keep the focus on the current bum.

[pinot grigio]

I'll always have your back WP and everything that Hablover GR says is plain ignorant, can we agree on that?
(notice my omission of any comment like 'just kidding' so you can stew on that Geoff).

[Sensi-Bill]

Good interview Vinay.
.
But then, as usual, I haven't come to expect anything less from you. (smile)
.
Also, as I have been saying all year, GREAT job with this blog.

[pinot grigio]

What are Pat Fontaine and Pat Hickey doing these days? Are they ready to take on a coaching assignment?

[pinot grigio]

Where is our leader/ombudsman/resident guru? Has anybody seen any sign of him since this meeting with the bosses took place? Have any bodybags been seen leaving the building? What's our future?

[Wandering Penguin]

I have to dash off and watch the Majors out in Mississauga and I know my last post is going to piss some people off. Let me just say that if I were a player Pat Quinn is the kind of a coach I would go through a wall for. I think he is fiercely loyal and his favoured players return the favour. I don't think he was a bad coach or a lousy bench boss. I just thought that if you weren't a specific kind of player then there wasn't much he could do for you. I didn't find him to be a particularly good teacher, is what I mean. To me, this is why he won the gold in 2002: he's kind of like a Cito Gaston coach/manager where if you play hard and have the skills he'll let you go. He had the perfect team for that kind of mentalilty in 2002 at the National level. He had a few Leaf teams like that, too. But it seemed that nobody ever really got better on his teams and when the Leafs started to slip, well, they just signed some A-listers or made blockbuster trades at the deadline. I will say he was a decent coach when he had put the team together himself, but when he was working someone else's roster I didn't really think he was all that terrific.

Again, I actually really liked Quinn as a person and a GM...but there were only so many games you could watch Jyrki Lumme "protecting" a one-goal lead in the last minute before you had to buy a new TV. Just saying.

[Sensi-Bill]

""It's not a marquee draft year," corrects Burke. "There's no Ovechkin. The year we drafted Pronger, there were like five big name guys. It's not that kind of draft. We like the players that are right where we are picking, right down to 40. We're happy with the grouping. We think there is quality in this draft."
.
Now THAT'S what I've been saying here. It is NOT a weak draft year, as a number of people here have repeatedly maintained. It's just not a top-heavy draft.
.
Now I realize that when lacking first-round picks, as the Leafs were, there is a temptation and tendency among fans to denigrate the draft, to spin comments about the draft not being dominated by JUST two or three top contenders, into declaring that this year's draft is a weak draft.
.
As Burke himself notes, it's not a draft marked by a couple of marquee players, but one of depth. And shouldn't your GM have a good handle on the type of draft, and the depth of prospects, he and his team are facing?
.
And he, and I (g), were far from the only one's saying this. I just couldn't seem to get anyone here (g) to accept the opinion of those paid to know — scouts, GMs and hockey analysts.
.
That's why it was OK for the Baby Bingo Sens to be beating higher-ranked teams — like they did last night against the Habs — because while they couldn't unseat Edmonton in last place, they also weren't going to finish out of the bottom five.
.
So even if they don't win the lottery and get the top pick — the odds are certainly against them — there's no big fall off after the top two or three picks.
.
And I think that should make all teams — and their fans — a bit happier.

[Matt Taylor]

Sorry, but I think the applicable quote would be "Familiarity breeds contempt"

[Sensi-Bill]

I think if you ask the experts — players, management, professional observers — in just about any sport, you'll hear the same thing I have always heard from them — a team of highly talented players is one of the TOUGHEST teams to coach.
.
Obviously not in terms of trying to teach them skills.
.
But in bringing together all these egos and individualistic styles — highly successful styles — into a cohesive group willing to pay the price for collective success.
.
Players like Modano and Yzerman were star offensive players from the start. But it wasn't until someone was able to inspire and guide them in developing a more rounded game that fit better with the team dynamic that they were finally able to help lead their teams to the ultimate success of a Stanley Cup win.
.
So I STRONGLY disagree with the theory that just about anyone — including a mere fan (g) — can coach a highly talented team to almost automatic victory.
.
And if you don't believe me, feel free to do some research and see what the aforementioned experts — players, management (including coaches) and paid observers (reporters, analysts, etc.) — have had to say on this subject over the years.
.
I also think that was an area of true genius for Scotty Bowman and why teams turned to him when they had the skilled players but needed someone to turn them into a Cup-capable team.

[TimB]

@Sensi-Bill. Really good comment.And point well taken.

[TimB]

Bill,this is like phone tag.I liked your comment about the draft.I can take or leave your second one.

[Rooney]

I am blown away that the Penguins broke 100 points with Crosby, Malkin and Staal basically only playing half a season each. I know they have depth and a solid goalie but to keep the confidence up and the team together requires solid leadership and coaching. IMHO, Dan Bylsma deserves coach of the year. After watching that HBO 24-7, I convinced that a good coach needs to be a decent psychologist. You have to understand the kids today in order to coach them. There was a time when getting hired created enough loyalty and incentive to work your hardest but that old school thinking of "you got a job and are getting paid to do it" doesn't necessarily get everyone do their best. I hope, if and when BB makes a change, that he goes with someone who has not be around for a decade or more and who "gets" the youth of the day.

[TG77]

I think there has been some discussion of who stays and who goes from the current roster but who do you realistically think is going to be the starting line-up next fall? Have guys like Hanson and Caputi had enough time to prove if they belong and it's time to see if they can be packaged along with some current roster players for a missing element? Is Orr going to make it back healthy and if so, do they need both Rosehill and Orr? I like Boyce and Brent but are they too similar in skill level and we need an upgrade at 3rd line. Maybe Bozak fits the 3rd line centre requirement if they can add a top line centre. This feels like a Moe Green special with a bunch of questions strung together! I also just created my students final exam of 100 questions so that could be a heavy influence.

Anyway, I will continue to watch hockey throughout the playoffs but as someone mentioned before, it really boils down to the teams left as it progresses that determines my interest. A few years back when there were some incredible 2nd round matchups (The Bruins vs the Canes and specifically Chara vs. Staal) I was glued to the set much to the dismay of the gf who hoped hockey watching ended when the Leafs lost. I am hoping Crosby comes back and is able to be part of a victory over T-Bay since Hedman lead to his prolonged absence. I don't know if it could happen based on seedings but a Bruins-Pens Eastern Final is my expectation and I honestly think the Ducks could do some damage if Hiller is back at 100%. If the Canucks have to play the Hawks first round, that could be very interesting. No Byufglien to get in Lu's face this year but the bad blood between the teams and being knocked out back to back years would make for some good games.

Most importantly, this blog has been loads of fun this year and made the season even more fun. Have fun at the summer patio get together and here is to one more victory for the Buds tomorrow. Thanks to Vinay as well for the chance to write a guest post!

Cheers!
Todd

[TimB]

C'mon VM.What's the verdict? We can take it.We are all grown ups here.Well,actually I could be a poster boy for arrested development but I think most of us can take the news.

[moe green]

You know all this blather about "heading in the right direction" is getting on my nerves. Of course we are heading in the right direction. But most serious teams are heading in the right direction. How many teams are heading in the wrong direction? Heading in the right direction is a bare minimum. Right direction alone doesn't necessarily win any races.

We are just so used to being run by buffoons that the right direction is like the Stanley Cup finals for us. Did anyone want or expect Burke to start trading picks and prospects for veteran help? Would any autonomous GM coming into Toronto do that? Of course not. Burke is doing what any competent GM would do in his situation. Nothing more, nothing less. Finally we have a GM equal to most of his peers.

[hoofheartz]

I know VM has a life away from this blog just like we do, but I'm getting kinda worried that there has been no news from his meeting today.

VM Replies: Sorry, one and all. Radio silence yesterday was caused by pneumonia. I'm down and out. Sick as a dog.
Apologies for the ridiculous lag team in comment approval and for the lack of news. Blog will be on summer hiatus for now, that's all I really know at this point.

[Robert]

Huh?

[missideb]

Matt Frattin wins Hobey Baker Award. Has also been reported that he has signed with Leafs, although not official, all over twitter. Wilson interviewed on Waters today. Said Frattin might be in line up tomorrow.

[Robert]

So the guessing game has started. Good to see so much interest and find that I read these posts and learn.
We have the assets for a good team now. Between the Marlies and the big club there is a lot of talent. But, there is not, a true first line. We need a good fast playmaking centre with some size and a winger with speed and size. Also a smart hard shooting defenceman for the left side.
A back up for James and we can compete. With a good first line, the opposition has to play their top D pair. This opens up for folks like Grabbo etc and takes some of the heat off them. Right now, they often face the top D on the other team. Hard to play that way if you are not bigger or quicker to move the puck.
Having said my 2 cents worth, I believe we are on the way. It will be an interesting draft, because Brian has some choices and can make moves to improve his position in the draft.
There is a ton of cap space, (good planning) and give the guy credit, he has unloaded a ton of mediocrity for some promise in the future.
Can't argue with that. Well perhaps some of the trolls.
Now then, you guys throw Wilson, I will drive the bus!

[missideb]

Sorry about my last post, Vinay. Misinformed idiots with fake accounts on twitter listed Frattin as Hobey Baker Award winner. Looks like Meille won. ESPN did report Frattin signed with Leafs and will be in the line up tomorrow night.

[Sensi-Bill]

"everything that Hablover GR says is plain ignorant, can we agree on that?"
.
No.
.
In my humble opinion, issuing such a blanket insult does not reflect well on the author, who made a point of underlining how he is not kidding.
.
So all those nice things GR has said about VM are just "plain ignorant"?
.
All the good points people here have given him credit for having made over the course of the season are just "plain ignorant"?
.
Or is it the fact that he is open about his non-Leafs hockey allegiance that makes everything he says — past, present and future? — "plain ignorant"?
.
Frankly I still just don't get how people who I come to like and respect most of the time can suddenly stoop to petty, personal insults based on someone cheering for a different team.
.
Ponder this: In the statement in question — "everything that Hablover GR says is plain ignorant" — substitute for GR the initials of any Leafs fan — MG, WP, HH or even PG, for example — and imagine what the response would be like.
.
And no, I'm not looking to cause trouble. I'm just stating that in my opinion, such personal attacks are unwarranted and disappointing.

[Sensi-Bill]

I couldn't cheer for the Montréal Canadiens Thursday night, for obvious reasons.
.
Naturally I cheered for my Ottawa Senators who fortunately finished out a disappointing home record on a high note — an exciting overtime win and a salute to their fans.
.
The Senators finish out a disappointing season — to say the least — with an away game against the Bruins Saturday afternoon.
.
And for the first time in one year — also known as, for the first time since last year — the Senators finish the season out of the playoffs. Which means rather than waiting until the Sens are eliminated DURING the playoffs, I have picked alternate teams to cheer for BEFORE the playoffs officially start.
.
Being secure in my allegiance to the Senators, I have no trouble temporarily cheering for other teams. And to me, temporarily cheering for A team is MUCH different than loyally supporting ONE'S team.
.
I tend to support Canadian-based teams. I also often pick a team whose style and effort I admire.
.
That makes cheering for the Vancouver Canucks this year an easy choice, not just in the West, but overall.
.
Back East, I have no trouble doing as I have often done since my childhood, that is cheering for the Montréal Canadiens. Even to the point of cheering for them to go into the playoffs on a high note to give them a boost in confidence.
.
I agree that the odds are considerably higher against the Habs going all the way but if by some small miracle both teams faced off in the finals, I would consider it a win-win situation, and simply hope that the best team won.
.
All this is just how I approach the playoffs this year. I'm not looking for anyone to agree or disagree with me, it's just how it is. (smile).
.
People have been stating their protocols and preferences for the playoffs and these are just mine.

[Wandering Penguin]

@Rooney - I couldn't agree more. I wholeheartedly support Bylsma for Jack Adams this year. Absolutely ridiculous that you can drop Malkin and Crosby for 3 months and still almost take the conference title.

[Wandering Penguin]

@TG77: I am pulling for Pens or Caps to come out of the East and San Jose or ...well, I'd take pretty much anyone but Vancouver or Detroit to come out of the West. Caps-Sharks would be a great final and someone would win their first-ever Cup. I always love those kinds of finals.

[Wandering Penguin]

Well, Frattin didn't win the Hobey but he is supposed to play tomorrow night, Since they've already called up Colborne, what two players are going to sit? I would imagine Rosehill is one candidate...but I can't think of anyone who wasn't pulling their weight the past few weeks. Unless someone else is hurt, I think there are going to be a couple of not-too-happy souls in the pressbox Saturday night. Are there some injuries I am not aware of?

[Wandering Penguin]

From Paul Hendrick (@hennytweets):

"Projected leaf lines vs mont: lupul-colborne-kessel. Kulemin-grabo-macarthur. Kadri-bozak-frattin. Brown-boyce-crabb."

So I guess that means Rosehill and Brent (and Sjostrom) will be riding the pines on Saturday. Also, Colborne going straight to top line. Should be an interesting night.

[Ken Baumgartner]

@ Moe. I like your comment that heading in the right direction is like the stanley cup finals for us. That is so true and what I have been trying to say all season is don't accept that mediocrity. There is no reason to, they are professional hockey players. What separates winners from losers at that level is mostly between the ears. If the fans are ok with almost then so will be the team, from the top down. I whole heartily believe blue and white disease (as ron wilson coined it) germinates in the fan base. I do believe that Brian Burke though has a strong enough immune system that it does not fester in him.

You and I have been on the same page all year long and they did not make the playoffs and it sucks. Unfortunatley there is not much we can do except cheer for another team or stop watching hockey all together. You may have interest in the Dallas Stars since they are your home town team, just as I have the same interest in the Ottawa Senators. When those teams play the Leafs, even if we say we have changed we haven't, we cheer for the Leafs. This Blog, bless Vinay Menon's heart, is the place we can express our opinions honestly and with at least a minute interest from the Leafs orginzation. I'm sure it has no berring on the decision making but they know how we feel I bet.

It is easy for everyone to say that next year will be different but who really knows. The changes that Burke makes may be a step back, or Grabovski may have had his best year, Reimer may take the wrong turn in the road etc. We just don't know.

I tend to think that by Burke not making the deadline moves he sowed confidence in a growing team and they stepped up as best they could and made an honest and valient effort to get to the playoffs. So while I am pissed that they are not in the playoffs because of the Great Annual Collapse, I accept that they were a changed team after Burke held them accountable and changed the personnel. The Versteeg trade in particular was a big one for me because he was supposed to take this team to another level and did nothing of the sort. I thought Burke got a great return in that while the player was held accountable. Same for Beauch and Kaberle.

I will be convinced though come March 2012 that the turn around is real when this team has avoided the great annual collapse and is contending for home ice advantage in the playoffs. If Brian Burke and Ron Wilson fail to get this team to that point then they flotating up stream without a paddle.

[hoofheartz]

Get well Vinay. I don't know how long it takes for pnuemonia to run its course but I hope you're on your feet soon.

[Wandering Penguin]

Wow, Vinay, very sorry to hear about your pneumonia. Not surprised about the summer hiatus - that makes the most sense to me. We're all chomping at the bit here right now but I for one will be unlikely to make such regular check-ins once the playoffs well and truly get under way. For me, this has been a Leaf Blog all along and I really don't care to discuss the ups and downs of the Canucks or Habs or even teams I AM rooting for in this forum - it just wouldn't be the same. If there are a couple of special blogs at draft or Free Agent time, I'll still have this in my feed so I'll be aware of them.

In the meantime, once again thank you so much for the yeoman's work this season and I hope you're well enough to enjoy tonight's thrashing of the Habs with your adoring followers. I'll be watching away from home but will be along post-game to soak up the final Leaf group love-in of this season,

Get better soon, Vinay.

[Michael C. Nemirsky]

@Ken B.-I agree that the biggest move Burke made this year, was deleting the leaf dressing room of Versteeg. Next year, anything less than home ice advantage, will kind of be a disappointment. The one thing we have no control on predicting the future, injuries. If we stay healthy, the playoffs should be a lock. I do have a gut feeling that Burke will make a mind boggling blockbuster deal at the draft or after free agency. Sadly, one or more of our more talented players will be moved. To get something good, you gotta give up something good. No more Sutter as GM to fleece.

[Michael C. Nemirsky]

Where is our fearless leader? Getting a little antsy. It would be heartbreaking(pun intended) if this wonderful blog writing bastard could not fill part of my day to discuss the glorious leafs with other lunatic fans, with the possible exception of Nostradumbass, Ostrich Lover. That man needs help with his delusion.

[Michael C. Nemirsky]

Awww, sorry to hear that you have pneumonia,Vinay. Hope for a speedy recovery
and to hear from you in the not to distant future. Have battled that illness many times in my days, it is not pleasant. Just lifting your head to take your meds is a chore. Get well, my friend.

VM Replies: Thank you, Michael. I've been up for about an hour and my body just said, "Okay, that's it. Quitting time." Surreal. I never get sick, certainly not like this.
I regret not writing a thank you post earlier this week, which was the plan. So please consider this my first draft:

Thank you for joining me this season through the ups and downs. Thank you for creating energy and momentum, for taking our hockey discussions into so many unpredictable corners.
Thank you for the recipes and the song selections, for the running jokes and the standing invitations. Thank you for taking time out of your days to make my days so much more vibrant and interesting.
The worst part, of course, is your company has now spoiled me for life. How will I ever watch another Leafs game by myself? Will my wife ever agree to dance naked with pompoms?
It seems doubtful.
When this blog started, I had no idea what to expect. A "fan" blog was new territory for me and for The Star. But if someone told me I would develop friendships -- sorry, but I now consider you my friends -- with so many different people in so many different parts of the world, I would have laughed. Then I would have called the nearest insane asylum to report a missing person.
But that's exactly what happened.
Your insights were relentlessly bright and informative, trenchant and brimming with an optimism that often sustained me. Writing this blog was like taking a course titled Leafs 101: Daily seminars and lessons about a team I have loved my entire life delivered by the sharpest teachers inside our Nation.
Some time ago, I started telling people the posts were the content you had to skip over to get to the good stuff. I wasn't joking. (Or as Jennifer Burke once observed about all of you: "A highly intelligent crew.")
I was planning to "watch" tonight's final game here. Alas, fate has conspired to make this impossible.
So this is it from me, for now. Apologies for dropping the ball in the final hour (and apologies to you, Michael, for commandeering your original comment!).
Thank you. Have a great summer. Go Leafs Go, now and forever.

[Leaf Fan in Lotusland]

VM: I echo the Penguin's comments. We can live without ALFB for the playoffs/summer, but would dearly love for it to continue next season.
.
Get well soon.
.
Go Leafs Go!

[Princess Mononoke]

VM is sick, it's the last day of the regular season, and in the spirit of classy sportsmanlike (sportspersonlike?) rivalry and spirited, good-natured love of our respective teams, I hope we all have a great evening.
I'm going to miss reading you folks.
I will be entering (with Geoff and a few thousand others) the vortex of emotional instability that characterizes this time of year. If any of you want to get in touch with me in the off-season, feel free to reach me through my blog ( a pale, pale, inadequate simulacrum of a stopgap measure that could never replace VM's genius).

To be honest, tonight's result doesn't mean a whole lot to me; in fact, I wish the smurfs could face Philly in the first round rather than the malevolent, seemingly all-powerful Bruins (who totally have their number this year), a team that have not only gotten under their metaphoric skin, but have broken their literal neck.
So, a loss by the Habs and a win by the Sabres could be a kind of blessing.
We shall see.

In the meantime, I hope VM is safely ensconced under a Princess pink fuzzy blanket, with attending princesses serving him imaginary tea and soothing his feverish head and aching lungs with lots of hugs. Perhaps his Leafs can bring him joy and a boost of revitalizing energy!

[pinot grigio]

@ Sensitive Bill
"everything that Hablover GR says is plain ignorant, can we agree on that?"
"No.In my humble opinion, issuing such a blanket insult does not reflect well on the author, who made a point of underlining how he is not kidding."

Man, talk about selective perception. If you had read the preceding discussion between me and Geoff, you would have realized it was all meant facetiously. Read e.g. his comment at 1.44pm.

If you decide to take up a heck of a lot of my screen's real estate, I would appreciate it if you first made sure you are well informed before you let go with your indignation and unfounded criticism.
Thank you.

[TimB]

Pneumonia? Sure VM.Then suppose you tell me how I just saw you out my window walki.....oh....that's the weird guy that lives up the road.I apologize.Get well soon,Fearless Leader.

[moe green]

@KenB: I think Burke's lack of deadline support didn't so much "sow confidence" as it did "sow resolve." I could be wrong but I think there was a noticeable drop-off in MacArthur's play after Burke decided to reward his brilliant season by belittling his contribution in public. I think that MacArthur has known that he won't likely be returning since that time. I don't think the players appreciated not getting the help they earned at the deadline (Lupul's significant addition notwithstanding). I also think many didn't appreciate the MacArthur snub either wondering which of them would be next. I am not sure of course but this is how I read it.

We have been on much the same page all season Bomber along with WP, Boo, Robert and quite a few others. I think we all see progress but we all see a whole slew of missed opportunities culminating in another year of playoff drought that didn't have to be. It's a painful thing for us die-hards.

[moe green]

Just to add: I am not saying that MacArthur will leave, he may resign at a reasonable Kulemin-like number. He probably had a ton of fun completing MacKulebovski. It's just that I didn't like the way Burke handled it. The players probably didn't care for it either. It's almost like Burke (and Wilson for that matter) have their favorites and those players get a pass. In Burke's case Colton Orr for example.

[Robert Bates]

Robert Bates replying to Rooney and " others". Thanks Rooney, it's refreshing to see a Leaf fan with the blinders off not buying Burke's coolaide. I agree with everything you said, especially the quality of the Hab's farm system. Skill wins.
As to the American players on the Canadiens , I have nothing against Americans just Burke and Wilson ( the main reasons why the Leafs are destined
for the non-playoffs for the next foreseeable future). Again, fire Burke, fire Wilson. --- and you might join the playoffs again ( I actually would like to you there , believe it or not).

[Geoff Read]

Vinay has pneumonia? Yikes. Again, I can only infer that watching too much Mike Komisarek has made Vinay sick, as it would any true hockey fan.

Seriously though - feel better and thanks again. It's been fun.

BTW - I discovered that my best friend was sitting in front of Phaneuf at the Jays' game last weekend. My friend, who lives in downtown Toronto but is not a hockey fan, didn't know who he was and couldn't figure out why they kept showing him on the Jumbotron. No sign of Elisha Cuthbert, tragically.

Despite being a die-hard Montreal fan, I think Toronto has a good chance of winning tonight's game - I don't expect Montreal to put its best foot forward. But maybe they'll get up for the game - after all it is a Toronto/Montreal tilt.

[Wandering Penguin]

@Geoff: I think you've hit on something w.r.t. the walking pneumonia and the Komisarek flu. Pretty sure I've had that - with some Lebdanaemia from time to time as well. I think it's a [blue & white] blood-borne disease and I'm hoping a good, hot summer will cure it. If you know what I mean.

Vinay, all the thanks go to you and not the other way around. Most of us who found your sanctuary did so after many years of slogging through the internet wasteland looking for solace in our Leafitis. This is the best place I've ever "been" during and after a Leaf game and I hope you're able to resuscitate it in the fall. All the best to you and your tremendously understanding family. They deserve a lot of the credit too, to which my partner can attest. Pneumonia sucks out loud and I hope it doesn't linger with you too long.

GO LEAFS [ASS] GO!!!!

[Judith Fitzgerald]

Good aft and good grief, ViM, get yourself to an emergency. Pneumonia is a stealth slayer. What a terrible thing to hear. I am praying for you, along with thousands and thousands of others, I bet and that is one bet I am sure I will win. CONDOLENCES. Geez :(. ((((ViMFAM))))

Anyway, I started this last night and had to go sleep-bye (since I do sometimes get to do that).

Nah, familiarity doesn't breed contempt, human beings do. An inveterate dawgma — and, ready to adopt my third and most likely final one whom I shall name HAN* because my first one, a little mongrel guy, I named him Mc and my second little girl, my all-heart rescue-centre sweetie, she got stuck with LU which she switched to Princess Lutitious ipso-quicko et immediament and took great pleasure in reminding she could write fluent Greek while I could not — familiarity breeds familiarity, praise the Lard). The most beautiful word in the Anguish language is INTIMACY.

For some, the tragedy resides in their inability to cross the familiarity lines and see the big picture: You love your other enough never to project your self-loathing onto them. Everyone disagrees on something, even among we who humbly plead strong dumb KIATISM.**

And, another thing, money is not the root of all evil.

Monday is. Bluelines, readlines, dreadlines. I keep strange hours; thus, apologise for my midnight ramblings. One of the joys of having no one tell me when to take out the garbage. (Don't ask. Don't tell.)

This piece on Burke? Read it again. Go on. Right now. We all know the "F-Word" ain't failure :).

See, when I began in the journo-trenches back in the early eighties, my best friend (besides the X-IT)? An Osborne 64, BION. (When the computer, an extension of oneself as McLUHAN so accurately deemed and nailed it, became officially affordable for povert poets, et.ilk., I learned to take one apart and reassemble it because I knew I would need to know how to do that @ some future time and I was right . . . erm, well, I am usually right which is why I now cannot, for the life of moi, remember the X-IT's name nor do I wish to so do.)

When the computer became ubiquitous, Nationalism, a modern invention, dissolved. Anyone claiming anti-Americanism or anti-Japanesian or anti-Israeli sentimentals truly declares themselves anti-humanity since our ability to talk to each other globally turns us into a tribe with no defining and arbitrary COUNTRY tag. The only border left? The one dividing the PTB — Corporate or Syndicate, take your picket fence elsewhere for the duration — from the rest of we, from you and me me me.***

Same as it ever was. Meet the new boss, same as the old toss, yadda-yadda-yeppers.

Which is to say
each day you fail
to remind yourself
life is a gift
will ultimately
bring you
to your knees

ViM may not know the decision of the PTB, ALFBirdz; you know, meetings, shiftings, up-makings, down-breakings, the moolah-makin' woiks. The way we pray the Cap'N returns for his sophomore stunner, though, we could keep this ship on its slow float to China forever. Patience is a Victory. (When we win tonight, remember this for me.)

Want even better news? Since I left my hometown Hogtown 26 January 1995 to live in the beautiful downtown middle of Nowhere, ain't seen no hockey game. C'ain't afford TV and do not miss it at all because, well, take cable, f'rinstance: Cable tracks you and that cable chains you to the statistical profit grid, the invisible one supporting quaint notions comme Nationalism and Human Rights. We have always been free to do as we are told.

The trick is to let it go and aim, always, for the joy, its luminous glow.

Anyhoo, guess what? You won't believe . . . Who'd a thunk thunk thunk it? Tonight, when the puck drops, I will see my first hockey game at my friend Butch's house since he invited yours truly for a friendly duel to the death. Breakthrough . . . Breakaway . . . SCORE! My Hunka-Chunka-Burnin' HABs vs His Kardiac Kidz, on his little TV (colour!); so, I am going to the big show, nyah-nyah-nice, huh?

'Course, Butch added a caveat. What hot-blooded fiftysome man would do otherwise? He will allow me the honour of sharing his livingroom for the very FIRST time UNLESS a BABE happens to want to likewise do, one who is more interested in him than hockey :).

Well, can't say as I blame him. Tonight's game? Battle of the rock 'n' roll 'em for the ages. Mythic. Think about it. Reimer vs Price. HABS vs LEAFS. A pair of O-6 teams playing to beat the bland.

My point? A proud Canadian, I believe it redundant to say so because, really, we are citizens of this planet with little talsimanic badges what keeps us from killing each other wantonly and wrecklessly. Hockey matters more than any border, I guess. I believe in one game, the game almighty, maker or breaker of hearts with the kicker that, at least, we who appear here in the cyberfresh goldly blow borders out of the water since for (generally) three brief periods [birth, life, afterlife], we forget to remember familiarity breeds.

Shantih shantih . . . next season . . . shantih
p.s. I had planned to follow the game with youse, in other words, to send along the "Lingerie & Lemon Squares" poem to start off the swaggadociotic bragfest; but, now, you will have to wait a little longer for the ALFB anthem I done wrote for all of us . . . Mebbe when we meet up for the annual slug-a-chugfest in The Big Choke
p.p.s. hoofheartz, TimB, Boo, WP, Princess M, Robert, and so many of y'all are bloody KIAs, too. Hurtz so goodbye :)
* Mc-Lu-Han
** Know It All
*** Which explains the "nation" in Leaf Nation
p.p.p.s. Fitting a band named ARCADE FIRE turns the scorchin' torchin' reformacon tide, eh? K . . . Send in the clones

[Robert Bates]

Interesting that my comments in reply to some of the leafs fans have not been posted. Thanks Rooney -- refreshing to see a Leaf fan with a non-biased view of the Canadiens.

[We BeLeaf]

Vinay, I sincerely hope that you're feeling better soon.
.
Whereas I am already beginning to feel the symptoms of withdrawal over not having this blog to come to in the near future and having met so many people, I'd like to know if many of us Leafs fans were to complain to your boss to keep the blog online at least through playoffs do you think it would help the cause?
.
KEEP THE BLOG, KEEP LEAFS NATION UNITED!!!
GO LEAFS GO!
.
Cheers!

[Robert]

Vinnie: I don't doubt the amount of work, the late hours and the commitment have tired you to the point where pneumonia strikes.

For all our sakes, please take care of yourself. You are a very special person. A delightful sense of humour, and as I can attest a wonderful editor of ramblers like myself.

This blog could not survive the summer in any case. It needs to come back next fall, as fresh as the young colts we intend to ice. Your overlords at The Star must realize the incredible community you have evolved. The good will that is by this means extended to the paper. And of course, the increased readership on line when we open the blog only to find other stories as well.

My hope this evening, as that your good wife will not don the pom poms and dance naked in front of the game. That could only lead to a higher temperature.
But, perhaps she would be good enough to apply a cool compress to your sweaty brow on behalf of all of us in Leaf Nation.

You are the very best. Get well soon.

[Sensi-Bill]

@pinot grigio
.
"@ Sensitive Bill
"everything that Hablover GR says is plain ignorant, can we agree on that?"
"No.In my humble opinion, issuing such a blanket insult does not reflect well on the author, who made a point of underlining how he is not kidding."
.Man, talk about selective perception. If you had read the preceding discussion between me and Geoff, you would have realized it was all meant facetiously. Read e.g. his comment at 1.44pm."
.
I read the initial posts, but I didn't memorize them. So when a fair bit of time, and a lot of longer-than-usual posts had passed before I got to the post in question, I went by he words written there.
.
And I guess I got fooled by your qualifying statement — "(notice my omission of any comment like 'just kidding' so you can stew on that Geoff)" — into thinking you were NOT kidding, or, as you now put it, being facetious.
.
Should I apologize for taking your words at face value? I don't think so.
.
But I will apologize for thinking you could make that kind of statement in all seriousness. As noted, it did seem contrary to my usual opinion of you.
.
(And for the record, and in the interest of clarity, I am not kidding or being facetious when I say that. Nor am I, going back to the original comments earlier in the day, trying to weasel out of anything.) (g)

[Sensi-Bill]

VINAY
.
I second everything Robert just said so eloquently.
.
You know how special you are to me, and to all of us here.
.
So yes, do take extreme care and do get well as soon as possible.
.
With great respect and affection,
(Sometimes-Troublesome) William

[Robert]

@moe et al; I keep reading all of the things Burke did and didn't do. I don't know how much of this is him salivating in front of the press, and how much he honestly thinks has been accomplished. They didn't make the playoffs. Did he believe he had the horses to get to the playoffs this year? Did he think he had the coaching staff? He must have been terribly disappointed in the goal tending situation, which in fairness certainly wasn't his fault. He truly believed he had the right people. And he certainly cleaned house. While we can complain that we didnt' make the playoffs, the people he brought in are still competing. Most of those he sent away, are all over the map. So, all in all I think there have been some improvements.
Rather that discuss the team as individuals, I believe we need two first line players and a left defenceman with a cannon for a shot. (Who can hit the net)
My honest opinion of Ron Wilson is that I don't like him with this young team. We are going to require a great deal of development, regardless of who else comes in - someone has to get the attention of these young players, focus them on the cause and the style of play the coach is going to introduce. And then get them to buy into that style.
Ron seems to want to throw them under the bus when things don't work out.
Well, that certainly takes the heat off Ron.
I think Burke will make some moves at the draft. I think perhaps another move of two July 1st. I think he deserves one more year to see if he can round out this team - and get the best out of them.
Moe its been a pleasure reading your posts - all you folks tend to enlighten us old timers!!
Go you young colts GO! Tonight, give us something to enjoy all summer!

[Browner_Than_Mike_Brown]

Vinz take care of yourself man.

Cool, so they're bringing Colborne up? Should be interesting.

[nugentmania]

Had pneumonia twice before. It can be disabling. Missed a whole month of work in 2005......the only thing I could keep down was Chicken Soup...Campbell's Soup-at-Hand, in those drinkable cans. Funny, though...haven't had it since. The real pain was changing my bed sheets twice a day.......felt like I was on fire with all the sweating.

Another thing I never said, as a Habs fan, as to why I don't feel the same animosity towards the Leafs as others do, is that I am a huge fan of Darryl Boyce. That may seem odd, and possibly facetious, but being from the east coast I've always said that the CIS hockey there is the best conference in the country, and UNB proved again that they're the best program in the nation. I love that Boyce played a regular shift this year, and hope he sticks around.

Anybody else here on twitter?

[TG77]

Here are some final tunes for Season 1 of the ALFB...I feel some licensing opportunities Vinay. A coffee table book of the best comments, bar napkins with the funniest snippets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDN9y2vTdUs - live version of The End by the Doors.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7D65IomNYY - Band on the Run by the Wings

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfR_HWMzgyc- Kashmir by Zeppelin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3HemKGDavw&feature=related - Ramble On by Zeppelin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm2-K6ttHYs -Good Times, Bad Times by Zeppelin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M90tA302X3k - Are you in? by Incubus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4k5JWegwHg - Aqueous Transmission by Incubus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGRNEJiD3PY - Blow at High Dough by the Hip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb0gLWZgUIo - Thin Air by Pearl Jam

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePg1tbia9Bg - Fake Tales of San Francisco by Arctic Monkeys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIEsmGzo2UE - Parklife by Blur

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ct-qa6SjRZo - Love Spreads by Stone Roses

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hvi4iA3PnKE&feature=related - Here comes your man by the Pixies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZTpLvsYYHw - All these things that I've Done by the Killers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wd2clb5T8JA - Golden Years by Bowie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1wg1DNHbNU - Once in a lifetime by Talking Heads

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh8zcbC_Dcw - Story of my Life by social distortion

Cheers everyone!

[TG77]

VInay, I sent a whole bunch of songs through so it likely went to spam. Sorry for the extra work given your condition! Hope you feel better and nice 'non-leafs' leafs piece in the Life section the other day! If anyone wants to drop me an email over the summer, you can grab my address from Vinay (or Boo, Moe etc).

[Lisa]

May I dedicate tonight game to VM for his fast recovery please! Leafs Nation: many rounds of applause to our greatest leader VM for his hard work please!

[Wandering Penguin]

Off to the inlaws for a BBQ - taping the game so I can see Colborne and Frattin "live" when we get back. Have a great evening, everyone. Here's to an enormous standing O for the Reiminister of Defence at the ACC.

@Judith: loved your post.

GO LEAFS GO!!!!

[moe green]

@Robert: I always enjoy reading you posts partly for your excellent insights in to hockey but a good part of it is your style. It's been a pleasure all season and I look forward to next years' posts as well. Your criticisms of Ron Wilson seem to be founded in a lot more real inside hockey knowledge than I have.

I personally believe that Ron Wilson has one way of coaching - period. I don't believe he changes the style of play much regardless of the opponent. That would be okay if the "system" was sound. So often this year the team seemed to be floundering mightily in their own zone.

To be fair, I had similar criticisms with Paul Maurice and Pat Quinn. It seemed to me that when things weren't working the best they could do was juggle lines. For me with my limited real hockey knowledge it always seems that line juggling is what you do when you are at a loss for other ideas.

Or take the powerplay for example. I think the stats on this are somewhat misleading. Even though Phaneuf is starting to hit the net and actually score, the powerplay has gotten worse as the season progressed. What did he do when we were struggling after the Kaberle trade? He put Tim Brent on the point. And he didn't just try it for a game or two. He kept him there for many games through the worst pp drought of the season. Why? Why didn't he try something else? That decision alone may have cost us the playoffs.

And as Penguin and others have mentioned previously, it's more than just that. Why some of the shootout selections during the season? And why on the powerplay was it so hard to get someone to stand in front of the net? Seems to me that a simple "you stand in front of the net" would have gotten the job done nicely. Surely someone on the team could follow that simple instruction.

Or why are they never dumping the puck in with the forwards travelling at full speed when they hit the blueline? So often the forwards have to come to a complete stop at the line because they have no idea what the defenseman is going to do. All of that sure seems like coaching to me.

What do you and other astute hockey observers think. Am I being too hard on the guy?

[pinot grigio]

@SB OK, let's leave it at that.

[Lisa]

OOP.......I did not type in WORK ,sorry VM But I think everyone know what that missing word is .Again thanks A Million !!! VM Please take good care of yourself !

[TimB]

@Moe. I didn't Google astute just in case it precluded me from answering.If anything,you are not being hard enough on Wilson.If not for him I would be near thrilled with this team.

[We BeLeaf]

@ Moe,
.
I think a lot of people were very critical of Wilson simply because he has not had the measure of success that we demand, or that we were assured of. Having said that, I don't think he has the ability to be a master strategist, but in all fairness, he hasn't exactly had much of a lineup to work with the past few years until recently. When it comes to line juggling, I sit on the fence, because on one hand I agree that it looks like RW is trying anything, but on the other hand I recall Pat Burns also doing the same thing during his tenure here. Do you remember how often Killer would be double-shifted between the 1st and 3rd lines during a game?
.
Is Wilson the type of coach that the players would go to Hell and back for? Maybe the Leafs success in the latter half of the season is proof. I believe that come next season should the Leafs find themselves at the bottom of the division, Wilson or Burke (or maybe both) will be gone. Leafs Nation has endured far too long a drought of the post-season and Burke's long view of the future success of the team needs to sooner, rather than later.
.
GO LEAFS GO!

[TimB]

@We BeLeaf.Double shifting Dougie is not the same as juggling lines.

[hoofheartz]

I can always find humour in the habs and the Sens. Someone please tell me what these two clowns got a penalty for. My guess is delay of game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dC-vL6zkZAc&feature=related

[Robert]

@moe: I don't know. I have not attended a Leaf practice, so I don't know if Ron runs them, or one of the assistants. He has had an uphill battle this year because he does not have a #l centre and I believe he needs a #1 large winger. When you remember Grabovski was a #3 I think centre in Montreal and not liked, he has done quite well here. And certainly Burke has brought in some decent players to upgrade the team. I also think they need a hard shooting left defenceman.
So, given the above, in a run for a playoff spot, why Giggy in Florida? His selection of shooters in SO games has also come into question. There are several games over the season when I thought a decent power play would get us the goal and probably the win. Why didn't we have one?
If he gets his #1 centre and a first line winger. It means Grabbo's line would not have to play against the #1 defence on the other team. I think all of these things are important over an 82 game season. It will also likely change the makeup of whatever power play Toronto has next season.
I just don't think Ron is a good coach. Nor a good motivator. He needs to be able to teach the system he wants his guys to play. Implement it and then make it work. Some coaches will juggle lines for a game or two, it does apparently change the chemistry. But, not continually. Why Tim Brent was on the point on the power play is anyone's guess.
I ramble on.
I think this group has some serious potential - but, it will go unrewarded if Wilson can't get them out of the gate fast every game. My thought has often been that Dallas Eakins would be a good fit. Or Kirk Mueller if they could pry him away from Montreal. Younger thinking men with good communications skills.

[palbo]

Maybe this has already been mentioned (I haven't read every post), but if we're looking for a Pat to coach the Leafs, how about Pat of indeterminate gender from Saturday Night Live ... probably be an upgrade.

[TimB]

@Palbo.What about Pat Boone.He recorded that metal album.That should count for something.

[Alecia]

For what it's worth... 5-2 Leafs.

Go Leafs Go!!!!

[oakville_girl]

Hmmmm, Palbo, my name is Pat. Cant I be the coach? LOL

BTW - I'm the house tonight cheering in my usual attire. go Leafs!

[Pyramid Power]

Get well soon Vinay. A little case of pneumonia in April knocks you off the blog? I think you're a big sissy like Tomas Plekanec. Man up man! :)

Will sure be fun to see Colborne centre the first line. Very excited to see that, and have a look at Frattin.

GO LEAFS GO!

[Pyramid Power]

Canadiens: 23rd in GF in the league.
4+ goal differential on the year.
27th in shooting percentage
10th most shots allowed.
22nd best faceoff team.
3rd most shutouts against.

Leafs 8-3-3 in their past 14 games vs the Canadiens including 3-2 this year. Yeah, the Bruins are salivating or whoever gets to blast The Little Dudes outta the playoffs in four or perhaps five if Price robs a game.

Yeah, I'm jealous the Canadiens are in the playoffs for the fourth straight year and Toronto is not. Am a bitter Leaf fan but a hopeful one. Bright days ahead for Toronto in all likelihood. Dark nuclear winters await Montreal re hockey imo. Beautiful.

GO LEAFS GO!

[maxwelledison]

Sir Vinay Menon...

You really are an inspiration to myself, and no-doubt, many who write here. Your ebullient attitude for Leafs hockey, the litany of commentators, and life pertaining to an inherent ability you possess, to relate fabulously, to people from all walks of life.

It's a gift, sir.

Get well very quickly.
I imagine the planning quotient for ALF B next year, will command your utmost attention throughout the summer.

We look for it in anticipation.
... And a big thank you.

[Pyramid Power]

Cheap goal to give up by White. Decent little scrap between Fu and White.
White almost has the Gordie Howe hattie already.

Love seeing Colborne roam around. The man is a tree, a large tree.

Gionta scores. Ugh. 2-0 Montreal. This is not fun.