Thursday Mail Bag

Anybody else find it a little strange on Tuesday when, during Cliff Fletcher’s post-trade deadline chat, he sure made it sound like he wasn’t going anywhere soon?

Lots of “we’re going to do this” or “we’re going to do that.” Talk about the entry draft in June, then free agency in July, and how this team is going to have a very different face in September.

Umm, wasn’t the idea that Fletcher was a temporary fill, a caretaker? Now he’s sounding like a man determined to leave his imprint on the team, either because he wants to or because he figures, probably correctly, that the dopes on the MLSE board won’t get around to hiring a new hockey boss until, oh, maybe December.

In other words, it looks like mini-Fletchermania II is turning into full-blown Fletchermania II. Can the Return of Wendel One-More-Time be far behind?

Now on to this week’s mail bag:

Q: Hi Damien, So at the deadline Fletcher moves three guys who are clearly not part of the problem on this team (ie: they live up to the dollars on their contracts, modest as they may have been). And he gets back draft picks that are so late in the draft it would be ridiculous to think that they will yield a significant part of the solution. Basically he made trades for the sake of making trades. My verdict on the Fletcher interim era is in, it's a complete and total failure.

And now with the Leafs starting to roll (as Maurice plays the heck out of his veterans in attempt to save his job; 9th place anyone?) my dreams of Stamkos in blue and white are starting to fade.

My question is, is there any hope for Leaf fans like myself? The same core of players is comming back (even if we buy them out, they still count against the cap so what is gained by doing that?). And at this rate no exciting star potential young talent is comming from the draft.

What do we have to look forward to?

Bradley Meldrew, Toronto

A: Uh, Justin Pogge, maybe? Seriously, there could be lots to look forward to, particularly if the next czar of the Leaf kingdom turns out to be a true heavyweight with a clear plan and total freedom to make it happen. This organization needs to be cleaned out, top to bottom, and if that begins in June with a true star at the top then, sure, Leaf fans have something to look forward to even if Stamkos doesn’t land in their lap. But if it turns out to be another compromise candidate, a lightweight who Richard Peddie can manipulate, another executive whose focus will be on getting MLSE two or three playoff dates a year and that’s it, well, let the nightmare continues.

Q: Do you think Fletcher was waiting for teams to call him about players or was he actually trying to peddle them? I am sure there was a value for Colaiacovo, Stajan, Poni, Wellwood on top of Antropov and Toskala? None of the forementioned four are hardly "battleships" and would of been happy to see first and second picks for these guys.

Dave Callaghan, Toronto

A: I’m sure Cliff was calling around like mad. But while Antropov and Toskala certainly would have fetched a significant amount, none of Colaiacovo, Stajan, Ponikarovsky or Wellwood would have brought a first rounder back. Moreover, all are cheap and affordable at the moment, so keeping them makes more sense.

Q: Hi Damien,

We have been hearing for years that the the Leafs don't care about contending as long as they keep making money. What this trade deadline proved was it's not the ownership but the players who have no desire to be part of a winner. They are happy to play in a great hockey town and be very well compensated. I can understand Sundin not wanting to be a rental player but the other guys have no excuse. Cliff Fletcher gave these guys the chance to do this the easy way and they refused. They better be prepared for this summer because I believe the gloves will come off.

Mike Verdile, Thorold

A: I agree, Mike, that the gloves will come off this summer. I’m not surprised that some of them just wanted to stay, that they have families who love living here and business interests that make it convenient to be in Toronto. I am surprised, however, that none one of the five untradeables said, “Get me out of here,” or wanted to play for a contender, or wanted to be closer to their hometown, or wanted to play somewhere warm, or wanted to play on a team with a buddy. It’s like a hockey version of the Stockholm Syndrome, or the result of a Manchurian Candidate-like brainwashing scheme.

Q: Hi Damien,

Isn't it time yet to officially shatter the great myth that "it's so hard to play in Toronto"? It's so hard that when 5 different players on the 1967s are offered a choice between playing in the playoffs in a different city or missing the playoffs in Toronto, they all chose to stay in Toronto. I guess that also shatters the myth that winning the Stanley Cup is why hockey players play the game. With the drive to win displayed by these 5 Hall of Famers, you can almost smell that parade. Good luck 1967 fans, I'm sure the next 41 years will go by quicker than the past 41.

Phil S., Thornhill

A: Phil, I’ve been trying to shatter that myth for a while. People want to make it seem as though there’s this crushing pressure to play for the Leafs, and that these poor fellows and their families are hounded night and day by a ceaseless media. The opposite is true. You can be very comfortable playing for the Leafs, being a mediocre player and skating for an unsuccessful team. Some folks might squawk, but there’s more than enough admirers out there telling these guys how great they are 24 hours a day to make sure they can be insulated from the nasty stuff. To me, it’s an easy town to play in, one with no expectations, one where the Tie Domis and Darcy Tuckers are held in higher esteem than true stars.

Q: Dear Mr. Cox:

I’m a long-time reader, first-time writer. I’ll try to be succinct:

I can be classified as one of ‘those’ pathetically ardent supporters of the Leafs: I have watched virtually every single televised game over the past nine years, read all three newspapers’ sports sections avidly, and while I fall far outside of the economic stratum required to pay for them, I attend a number of live games each year through gifts from others. I am, in short, one of those fans who have been loudly blamed for MLSE’s complacency, with my apparently insatiable addiction to the team.

However: I have just cancelled my *entire cable package* ($68/mo) due to my anger and frustration at the way the Leafs have been managed into the ground. With the team unwilling and now unable to make any meaningful change, there is simply no point in watching the games any more.

There are some who say that die-hard Toronto fans will never pull out the blue-and-white IV, that we’ll buy anything MLSE sells: well, here’s one who’s kicking the habit until the Leafs show some respect to their fans and start honestly rebuilding. I have no problem with watching a losing Leafs team, but only if it’s headed in the right direction.

Regards,

Robin Paxton-Beesley, Toronto

A: Wow. That’s real testimony. Good for you, man! To be honest, I’m torn on the fans-as-the-real-problem concept. See, I think it's admirable, in many ways, for fans to be loyal to a team, even a frustrating one. At the same time, it’s clearly true that the absence of any financial urgency to make the team better has allowed MLSE and their predecessors to be satisfied with mediocrity or worse because the bottom line remains strong.

I, once upon a time, was a die-hard Minnesota Vikings fan, and lived through all those painful Super Bowl losses. Finally, the team’s idiotic organizational decisions and the odious nature of some of their star players – Randy Moss – just drove me past the point of no return. So I no longer root for the Vikes, and am still looking for a new club. Maybe I’ll never find one. But the point is, we all have our breaking points as fans, and you, Robin, obviously finally reached yours with this hockey club.

Q: Hi Damien,

How on earth did Mats Sundin get vilified in the manner he has for not waiving his no-trade clause? He has been the one of the best "face of the Maple Leafs" ever since he arrived.

The pressure to waive the no trade clauses should have been put on McCabe and Tucker - high price guys who have not delivered for the team. As it stands, valuable assets like Antropov and Poni (productive players at relative low cost) are going to be sacrifice for the sake of "rebuilding" while the festering and expensive dead wood remains.

Drew M., Willowdale, Ont.

A: I agree, basically. Sundin, through his play and class, earned the right to say no to a trade. Maybe Kaberle, too. But the other three? Selfish and short-sighted.

Q: Damien, this is exactly what I feared. Our one and only asset (Sundin) deciding to remain with the club. This holds us back from any chance of rebuilding or going to rebuilding mode. Our one asset that could have helped propel this team into the rebuilding mode is standing pat. While you can't blame Sundin for exercising his rights, you have to question his competetive nature and lack of desire to win something in the NHL. How could he actually want to stay in this sad-sack organization?

Scott O., Toronto

A: I don’t question his competitive nature or the fact he wants to stay. Maybe he just loves being a Leaf. I also don’t think this ends any hope of rebuilding. But hard, more complex decisions are going to have to be made now, a lot harder than trading Kilger and Belak to Florida.

Q: Hi Damien, I am not one the people that thinks Mats Sundin should be vilified for not waiving his no-trade clause. But whenever I see anything on the news or read any articles about this topic, all I ever read is that "the fans" want him to waive it. I read that Mats has actually been surprised and hurt by this sentiment and I can totally understand that. It has bothered me that we could treat such a loyal and accomplished captain like this. So I was wondering, does Mats know that there's just as many people out there that appreciate his desire to stay and are grateful for his loyalty as there are people that want him to waive the no-trade clause? I only ask because I hope you can pass that on to him from all the fans out there that admire him and his true loyalty to the team and the city.

Varun Chakravorty, Brampton

A: I think he knows its about an even-split out there. And I know he knows you can’t keep the entire hockey public in Toronto happy. Ever.

Q: If they were too nice to force some trades, they will never do this: put all of the No-trade 5 on waivers and say thank you for your time and good luck in future endeavours.

Jamie S., Thornhill

A: Couldn’t do that with Tucker or McCabe, because they have no-movement clause. Pointless and stupid to do that with Sundin or Kaberle. Kubina? You could definitely make a case.

Q: Peter Forsberg being allowed to come back to the NHL this late in the season is a joke. With this on the heels of Scott & Teemu unretiring for the Ducks late in the year as well, the NHL really needs to step in and set a firm date in which players have to declare on way or another whether they will be playing in the NHL in a given season. December 1st sounds about right to me.

Gary Hogan, Truro, NS

A: Don’t agree. Doesn’t bother me at all that these guys return late because they’re all great players who I want to watch and have earned the right and the leverage to call the shots. I will say, however, that a little part of me agrees with a NHL general manager who recently suggested allowing the late comers makes the NHL look a little bit like recreational softball, adding players who never even attend the local pub to join the team for the big tournament and bat cleanup.

Click here to send Damien a question and he'll answer a selection in his mail bag every Thursday in this space.

Comments

[Sanj]

I think the only reason why Cliffy is a GM is because he loves to wheel and deal. I think he saw this past trading deadline as his last kick at the can. He wanted to WOW the NHL by making a big deal involving Sundin, Tucker, etc, etc. But unfortunately he couldn't do it. Thus his disappointment and the minor trades he did make.

[Tim]

Why do so many people think it is OK for management to exercise their contract options but not players?
What is wrong with players wanting to play in the centre of the hockey universe, rather than moving to some hockey backwater and having a 20% chance of winning the Stanley Cup, or in some cases, a 50% chance of making the playoffs?

[Bob Harrison]

Leaf Managers although handcuffed by no-trade clauses are more handcuffed by those above them who think because they are canadian hockey fans and business big-wigs, they know best. Darcy Tucker like Domi, Clarke and Gilmore before is a fan favorite. My guess is that when JFK took contract talks to those same big-wigs he was told to give him a no-trade and less money ...we like him. They would not do this with the Admin assistant or accountant down the hall, but we are talking hockey! good luck Fletcher and whoever else follows. I see no changes happening in Leaf land.

[Ted]

Isn't a second round draft pick good?

[OddyOh]

Oh man, Damien, don't even joke about Fletcher staying long term (I realize you aren't!)! This guy isn't even a good temp, let alone hockey executive...once upon a time, sure he was.

Fletcher-Smetcher! Let the Bowman Era (or whomever of the elite is still interested) begin!

[pt]

Whatever veil that had prevented me from seeing how dysfunctional
this team is has now been pulled back.

Its a team whose top management does not want several of
its top players.

With the players refusing to leave, it prevents the team
from acquiring good young players and top draft picks and
slows the rebuilding process by years.

Originally I was for Mats staying but he missed an opportunity
to leave a legacy of good young players behind and our eternal gratitude.
His tenure will end with a whimper.

And now these players are not playing for management or the
growing number of fans who now wish they had left, they are selfishly
playing for themselves and are going on a pointless winning streak only
to miss the playoffs and again miss a good draft pick.
Ive seen this show before, it ends badly.

So instead of next season already, it'll be a few years with a new GM,
coach and a core of new players, they'll have my interest again.

[Stephen Allen]

After giving it a lot of thought, I have to say that I am very proud of Mats Sundin. I understand that the Leafs ability to turn things around quickly has been compromised (to say the least) by Mats' decision, but on the other hand I think that he is setting a great example for all of the young players, not only on his team, but throughout the NHL. The example that he is setting is not one that is short on desire for competing for a Stanley cup (misinterpreted by many), but rather one that showcases pride, commitment, and identity. Questioning his competitive drive is a complete farce in my mind. Mats wants to win, he just wants to win as a Maple Leaf.
As a huge Leafs fan, I have always said that if I were to wear another team's jersey, that it would feel as though it were burning my skin. Why should I hope for and/or expect anything different from my captain?
Your thoughts?

[mark]

Wow. I've never read so much negative blither blather in my life. Did it ever dawn on anyone that maybe, just maybe, these guys that are getting dumped on by everyone for not waving their no-trade clauses still believe in each other? We used to praise guys who believed in the concept of 'team'. Now, we expect them to desert each other the second they get the chance. While I would not have shed a tear if several of them had decided to leave, I actually think that most of them still think they can win. It starts with Sundin and to this day it amazes me that fans still question this guys heart and leadership abilities. If Mats says it still can happen, you better believe guys in that room believe it too. I'm skeptical, but I respect him for trying. So, let's see if they can pull off a minor miracle and enjoy the ride for now. Summer will see some changes... but I'm looking forward to the next 18 games.

[mark]

Wow. I've never read so much negative blither blather in my life. Did it ever dawn on anyone that maybe, just maybe, these guys that are getting dumped on by everyone for not waving their no-trade clauses still believe in each other? We used to praise guys who believed in the concept of 'team'. Now, we expect them to desert each other the second they get the chance. While I would not have shed a tear if several of them had decided to leave, I actually think that most of them still think they can win. It starts with Sundin and to this day it amazes me that fans still question this guys heart and leadership abilities. If Mats says it still can happen, you better believe guys in that room believe it too. I'm skeptical, but I respect him for trying. So, let's see if they can pull off a minor miracle and enjoy the ride for now. Summer will see some changes... but I'm looking forward to the next 18 games.

[phil/vancouver]

Hello,Damien.....i am wondering many of the leaf "fans" that wanted Sundin to bail out of town watched yesterday's game..they will be the first to complain next season if Mats doesn't sign for another season...i am one Leaf's supporter who hopes he stays for at least two more years..

[Jenny]

Oh dear Damien, that does sound frightening that Fletcher may be around for a while. We knew from that first day he arrived (again), that it would be for eighteen months or so. We also found out that first day, by Peddie mouthing his words at the press conference, that he would be a puppet for MLSE. Last week, when he chose to go to Sundin in the 11th hour to ask him to waive his no-trade clause, he again, flushed any class or credibility (he may have had left) down the crapper. It is funny how he had so much time over the prior 4 weeks to talk to reporters about the Mats situation but didn't have the gonads to go to Mats himself earlier. It is called respect. Instead, he fed the media and fans with tidbits here and there...just to fuel the fire. He did it again yesterday...in an interview on the Leafs website, he said he'd love for Mats to come back next year...him and Peddie smiling away...In another one he said that the team will look alot different next year. It is another way to manipulate the fans and send a message to those players with their no-trade clauses...Lets not forget that the trades he did when he was last here never brought us a cup either. Heres the thing that really bothers me though. It is all very, very simple and it has hardly been discussed at all...The players belong to something called a UNION. Whooo. Scary word--because alot of perception out there is that unions are bad and people in unions are "spoiled". Many of those reporters you see on tv, and writing their nasty columnns in the paper, belong to unions as well...Yeah, and some are freelancers who sign contracts as well...hmnnn. Would they have the gonads to fight for their rights and their contract???? Time and time again corporations do their best to squash the little guy and violate his/her rights. Hey, I know in this situation its hard to think of our Sundin as a little guy, (because he's tall and because of the money he earns), but he was/still is getting the shaft just like many of us do. Frankly MLSE is huge compared to him AND BECAUSE OF HIM. Many of these young punk fans who are pissed at him for not leaving do not have the capacity to understand the concept of integrity and standing up for your rights. By standing up for your rights, you are standing up for other peoples' rights as well. So hats off to you Mats!!! YOU ROCK!!!!!!

[frank]

I have always been a Fletcher fan. For the first time in a while I actually like what I am hearing. Fletcher is letting it be known that there will be something to look forward to in the fall.

It is my opinion that the Leafs should have just asked Sundin 4 weeks ago if he would seriously consider a trade. If he would have said "no", then this could have been put to rest then. The focus could have been placed on players like Kubina and McCabe to wiave their no-trade clauses. The pressure from the media alone would have sent them packing!

[Rob Culley]

I think Damien has a real hate-on for the Leafs. Maybe it's Cliff. If Cliff wasn't taking ownership for his actions, Damien would be trashing him for staying on the periphery and not minding the store. The no trade clauses hand cuffed him, Kubina acted like an 11 year old. He's ticked and he'll eventually do what he was hired to do - I think the new guy would be stupid not to keep cliff as an advisor, he's been watching closely and will have an outline of a plan to re-tool. (Is that too hard to understand Damien?)

[Greg Souin]

What a terrible joke this team has become. I don't so much mind losing seasons, or squeaking into playoffs only to suffer the dissappointment of unmerited hope, but this has become ridiculous.
Being a lifelong fanatic of the blue and white, an expatriated Torontonian living in the Swamp of NJ, land of the 1st place Devils, I can't stand seeing this pathetic winning streak. Although ever since I moved here, I was the first to pay my $150 for the Center Ice package along with TIVO so as not to miss a single second of my beloved Leafs, I now for the first time ever, contrary to my be"leaf" system, hope for nothing more than losses for all the reasons that you, Damien and others having been talking about for weeks.
Leafs: Q; If you were going to win, why didn't you do it when it mattered? All season, in spite of the hopes that I and millions of others in Leaf Nation put in you, you didn't play to win, you didn't play for your fans nor did you play for your coach. Worst of all you didn't play for each other. Now selfishly, you decide that you want to put on this pathetic almost humorous "playoff drive."
Look, boys, stop being so selfish. You had your chance to win all year and failed miserably when it mattered. Now, just give us what your performance all year has earned us. What we want is not a shot at a first round dissmissal from the PLAYOFFS (I couldn't bare the NJ insults if the Leafs get swept)! We are well over that by now. If you don't get it, here it is again. This is what WE want. What we want NOW, is a shot at STAMKOS. Just play at your ability (read Tucker) and we'll all be happy come June. We'll get over your utter failure for 2007-08. Bonus--your young teammates, Steen, Stajan, Strahlman, Toskala, will thank you for it in a few years when you visit as Alumni.

[mark]

Fletcher is playing the cards dealt to him as best as can be expected. In the meantime, let's see if the players who have circled the wagons can put together a streak. I'd written them off and had hoped there would be significant moves. But now that we know the core of this team is here for the remainder of the year, I'm hoping they can pull off a minor miracle. 5 out of their last 6... you never know.

[pt]

Hey, dont get me wrong. Mats can play on my team anytime.
The players negotiated these contracts in good faith and
perhaps even gave up money to do so. Its not their fault
management now wants to change horses in mid stream.

Its just that there was an opportunity to restock with youth
for the next decade; the likes of which Ive never seen in my
30+ years following the Leafs; and now its gone.

The league rewards success (playoffs) and it rewards failure (draft picks).
But it does not reward mediocrity and thats what the Leafs are.
The players and management are involved and therefore both responsible.

[ChuckyCheese]

Well Stephen Allen, the reason you would believe that wearing any other jersey that's not you're beloved Maple Leafs would cause you're skin to burn is that you're foolish.

And mark, these guys have played three-fourths of a season already. There is nothing about this sad sack of losers that would have anyone believe they could possibly get into the playoffs. Please donate your brain to someone else so that they would actually use it to its full capacity.

Leaf Nation, Idiot Faction. Embarassing other Canadians since 1967.