The Point of it All

One of the most common barbed comments you often get from readers is the following:

"What game were you watching?" Or, "Were you even watching the game?"

Well, thank goodness The Star's beat writer Ken Campbell was watching the game Thursday night in Buffalo between the Leafs and Sabres and was able to detect the real story out of that game.

Too much focus, you see, was placed on a power play opportunity for Darcy Tucker that, if successful, would have tied the game late in the third period. It's so much nicer to emphasize a great save by the opposition goalie, after all.

Campbell, on the other hand, correctly focussed on the winning goal by the Sabres on which Leaf head coach Pat Quinn indentified Tucker and Jason Allison as players who "quit skating" to create the opportunity for Mike Grier to score the goal. Quinn could probably have thrown in Nik Antropov's name, as well.

Well, thank goodness. The coach, as his tenure behind the Leaf bench likely winds down, has decided to get honest and let the public know what he thinks of the play of a number of his veteran players.

He has, after all, benched Jeff O'Neill, possibly permanently. He sat out Tie Domi, and at least Domi has responded with some spirited play.

And as far as what Tucker and Allison did on the winner Thursday night, that stuff has been going on all year. Both have put together strong offensive seasons, but, as Campbell pointed out, there's a reason Tucker is minus-10 this season and Allison is minus-15.

"We were in good shape, but both Allison and Tucker quit skating coming back," said Quinn, referring to Grier's winner. "It's why we're not a playoff team right now. That's the kind of play we're getting."

Exactly. Thank goodness the coach has finally said it.

Captain Mats Sundin, on the other hand, looked at the game in a very different way.

"I thought we played as well as we played in this rink for a long time," he said.

But that didn't quite cut it, did it? Isn't it about time somebody on this team understood that effort isn't optional. It's the least anybody can bring to the party, and then more is required after that.

See, the way out of this jungle for the Leafs is to start being honest with themselves, and wouldn't it be interesting if Quinn decides to lead the way?

See, the Leaf organization has never been big on honesty since the day Mike Murphy was canned. It prefers to pretend, to promote and market itself in a specific way, rather than deal with the issues that have held it back from being a real winner.

In a matter of weeks, Quinn has, in effect, taken on O'Neill, Domi, Tucker and Allison, all very prominent veterans. By installing Marlie grad Ben Ondrus in the lineup and playing him regularly, he has shown his exasperation with the work ethic of others.

Good for Quinn. A little honesty probably won't get the team to the playoffs, but it could be of major service to the team down the line.

Comments

[Brian Kennedy]

Quinn also told the "truth" last night when he said "I've been telling them all year they need to shoot on net, but they're not doing it".

If he's been telling them and they refuse to follow instructions you have only two choices - find a team that will comply with their coach or find a coach that will find a way to make them comply (a.k.a. Ken Hitchcock).

As good as Paul Maurice is, can he really "motivate" these spoiled, overpaid players to follow the most basic of hockey fundamentals? I think not.

[Nik Ruparel]

I think what Sundin meant when he said "I thought we played as well as we played in this rink for a long time," was that they stunk it up at the HSBC like they always do. They've never played that well there and that's how they played last night, not well enough to earn a win.

My biggest concern with the team this year has been their attitude. They have this cockiness about them that just isn't befitting this team. They have a couple of good players on the team, but no one that is by any means a superstar anymore (not even Mr. McCabe - especially after that woeful showing at the Olympics). But their attitude has this way of making fans, the team and management maintain this false sense of hope. The common selling point has been that the Leafs have a good mix of proven veterans (with cranky backs, no legs, constant injury syndrome and hands of rock that would make my grand-mother cry) and young kids that are the future of the team (basically a group of 3rd / 4th liners on their best day ala Steen, Stajan, Ondrus, Wellwood, Wilm, Wozniewski, Colliacovo (if he's ever healthy) and even Harrison). And because of this strong mix of young and old the fans should continue to carry on with the hope that this team will make the playoffs and should not have traded for the future at the deadline. Of note in case you haven’t read the standings lately Mr. Ferguson, the Leafs currently sit in 11th. Behind a much better Atlanta (now that they have a goalie) and this is the real shocker the Islanders (because they’ve won more games then the leafs) a team that gave up at the trade deadline, which to some should be a clear indication that it's game over... But not the Leafs - because somehow this team manages to incite hope. I think its because Leafs Nation has become accustomed to the days when our Mediocre teams got to the Semi-Finals of the Stanley Cup lead by a heart filled Doug Gilmour and Dave Andrychuck. And now that we have a team with some so-called superstars we feel our team has the talent to go beyond the teams of the past.

I just have one thing to say - Sorry Leaf fans but this team may have more talent then the teams of the past, but HEART is what's gets you to the finals and we clearly have none of that. From Quinn and Sundin down to Ondrus and Belak, these guys bleed deep red, not Blue and White... And that my friends is why the Leafs will always be no better then the Islanders.

[Rob Schneider]

What I find interesting is that Quinn is complaining that the team 'is trying to pass the puck into the net' on powerplays. However, every time I saw their number one unit on the power play last night, no one was in front of the net. Both Allison and Tucker were at either side of the net while Sundin was high in the slot. Hey Pat! This is Coaching 1AO. If you don't have anyone screening the goalie there is not much of a point of shooting. Get it together.