Moving Forward with Fists Clenched

If there's a plausible explanation for MLSE's leisurely approach to finding a new man to run the hockey operation - no candidates interviewed to date, no haste in doing so, leaving Cliff Fletcher in charge indefinitely - it may be that the top candidate has already been identified.

That person would most likely be Anaheim GM Brian Burke, and certainly the absence of a contract extension for Burke with the Ducks has raised many suspicions.

For now, we'll put aside the logic of waiting for just one person. Instead, it's worth wondering how Burke's approach would be welcomed in Toronto.

Specifically, his affection for smashmouth hockey.

Clearly, it's an approach that has worked in Anaheim, and the Ducks again lead the NHL in fighting this season. It's a mix of skill and muscle to be sure, and without Scott Niedermayer the Ducks are probably no better than most of the playoff teams in the west.

But is this really the style of hockey that Toronto would embrace?

For starters, to be accurate, it's an approach that has worked exactly once since the Flyers punched their way to Cups in the 1970s. Anaheim's immediate championship predecessors, Tampa Bay and Carolina, were hardly muscle teams, and the Hurricanes didn't even bother carrying an enforcer. Generally speaking, the toughest teams haven't usually won in the end.

The Leafs, it's fair to say, have been intermittently tough over the decades. There was the mid-1970s with Tiger Williams et al, the bizarre Paul Higgins experiment, the early 1990s with Ken Baumgartner and the teams of the late 1990s and early 2000s when Tie Domi, Gary Roberts, Shayne Corson, Darcy Tucker and others made the Leafs one of the more ornery NHL squads.

Enforcers have always been popular in this town, often far more popular than their actual abilities dictated. The late John Kordic, for example, drew many an ovation for his antics, and it was only recently that ACC crowds chanted Wade Belak's name.

But there's a big difference between that and the Burke approach, which is to use force first, second and third, then follow up with a touch of skill.

You can't criticize it too much because, in the end, it worked, and at least the man is honest about the type of hockey he prefers. He's not trying to fool anybody, and has also worked hard to protect the prospects the Ducks have and keep more coming, which is certainly more than has been the case with the Leafs.

But still, it's worth asking that if Burke were to come and the Leafs were the team leading the NHL in fighting in two years with a roster that might or might not be a playoff team by then, would it be a popular approach locally?

Or would the GTA respond more to a team built on speed and skill, like the Detroit Red Wings or Montreal Canadiens? The Leafs, after all, have never really tried that, have they?

Comments

[Spencer]

In the time I've walked on this earth, the Leafs have never made it to the finals let alone won a Cup. Somebody needs to be punched in the face for it. So yeah, bring on Brian 'sandpaper' Burke. Maybe he'll drop Peddie with a quick right hook.

[Mike Hammond]

Uh,,,yeah, I'd support it. Team toughness is not all about fighting is it? How many fights were there in the finals last year? All I remember is a big tough Ducks team hammering on Sens players at every opportunity, great goaltending, and skill players performing. It looked like men against boys. Who would look forward to playing them again? I think that's the kind of team I could get behind.

[David Browne]

Recent polls I have seen regarding serious roughing infractions shows the majority of respondents are against the kind of hockey advocated by Brian Burke. It is the American GMs and owners that seem to see this rough play as a necessary (to the interest in hockey) in the U.S. Canadians I believe are more appreciative of the skill of hockey players. Brian Burke may be appreciated in the U.S. but he does not represent the style of play favoured by Canadians. The Leafs should look elsewhere but I fear Brian Burke is their man. How much influence does Don Cherry have in this organizations decision making?

[Steve]

You hit some nerves Damien.

First, yes they are a tough team and have been at or near the top of fighting majors since Burke took over but have you watched any of their games. Most nights they are involved in fast paced on the edge of your seat hockey. Most nights in the East are the opposite. In the east we are lucky to see West Coast style (speed, action, skill) hockey once every 4-5 games. If the right players are brought in that can play at that pace of hockey for 70 games a year you would wear down the other teams in the East most nights. Anaheim players respect their team mates and wouldn't allow some of the garbage to go on that Leafs fans witnessed this year. To go back to Broad Street Bully style hockey is to far but bringing in the right mix of speed, toughness, and skill (some players have it all) would improve any team in the east.

As for Burke possibly being the only GM on MLSE radar, that’s just stupid. But it wouldn’t surprise me; nothing out of the board does anymore. Let’s hope they do talk to a few others but at least if they have focused on one guy he has some experience.

[Hockey Fan, therefore by Definition Not a Leaf Fan]

Hey Jams.

The chances of the Laffs convincing a good hockey man to come to Toronto are about as high as Scarlett Johanson showing up at my door with champagne and whip cream. As I said before, and you completely ignored, there is ZERO chance of any good hockey man coming to Toronto while Peddie and the board exist. No sane GM believes the board will actually back off and let someone actually run the team.

That is, except for delusional Laff fans like you. And as for my going to the pub to watch a game, once again you miss the point. The team they were playing was the Laffs, and the GTA has already started turning them off for non-hockey events.

Laff fans are not sports fans, and especially not hockey fans.

[kenny d]

Smashmouth hockey. Do I want to see four fights a night? Not really. What I would like to see is a team who stands up for one another. A guy gets crushed into the boards and lies on the ice and his team mates stand around wagging fingers. Reminds me of that joke, What's the difference between The Leafs and a wet paper bag? Conn Smythe used to have a slogan in the dressing room that said'if you can't beat them in an alley you can't beat them on the ice'. His teams won a few cups. What slogan do they have now? 'Tip toe through the tulips and you will be rewarded'. Haven't seen too many cups with that one. Oh ya back to the joke. I'm thinking I'm thinking.

[Bill]

Damion
Personally I think Burke is a pompous, egotistical , grudge holding, revenge seeking meathead, who had a lot more to do with the Moore incident than has become evident and a lot less to do with the success of the Ducks than he is been given credit for.
However he will definitely come to Toronto if he is offered enough money.
As far as toughness versus skill goes ,If it were possible to switch the Ducks for the Leafs would any Leaf fan refuse?
Didn't think so.

[Peter B]

Horner, Kennedy, Clancy, Day, Jackson, Smythe
I think Toronto has seen tough intense skilled hockey before..........and we liked it!
You do not have to fight to be tough you just have to let the other guy know your willing to mix it up and battle for every inch of ice surface to win.
Time to get back to the Toronto way that "Hap" Day demanded and a team this city richly deserves.

[Ian]

The tough guys create room for the skill guys. A mix of both, obviously skewed more towards the skill, is a recipe for success. We're not talking about 18 John Kordics. That would never win the Cup (least of all because Kordic's dead and not much worse of a hockey player as a result). Heck, I'd take an entertaining bunch of losers over the sappy bunch of losers we have today.

[FRT]

Frankly my dear...I don't give a damn!! Smash-mouth hockey or a team wearing pink ballet tutu's...All I want after what will be 42 years and counting since "The Chief" hoisted Lord Stanley IS ANOTHER STANLEY CUP NO MATTER WHAT TYPE OF TEAM IS ASSEMBLED FOR THE ICE!!