What Goes Around

Man, sport can be cruel.

All week, supporters of the Saskatchewan Roughriders carried signs around the streets of Calgary proclaiming "The 13th Man", referring to the club's terrific fan support.

Then, as fate would have it, the Rider's lost Sunday's Grey Cup game because they had 13 players on the field at the crucial moment.

One moment, Montreal kicker Damon Duval was the goat. The next, because Rider kick returner Jason Armstead wasn't paying attention, Duval had a second shot and ended up the hero.

Cruel, indeed. And that's how Grey Cup lore is created.

So was Sunday the strangest ending to a Grey Cup game?

Perhaps. Those around at the time, of course, would tell you the 1971 Grey Cup contest between the Argos and Cagary Stampeders at Vancouver's Empire Stadium was just as bizarre..

Calgary QB Jerry Keeling, with his team leading 14-11, threw an interception to Dick Thornton with just over two minutes left in the fourth quarter. The Argos, with Joe Theismann at the helm, drove deep into Stamp territory and appeared set to kick a tying field goal when Leon McQuay committed his infamous fumble.

Even then, the Argos still had a chance after the Stamps ran two plays and were then forced to punt. Jim Silye lofted a kick towards Toronto returner Harry Abofs. With the ball bouncing on the slick turf, Abofs thought he could just boot it out of bounds. Wrong.

It was ruled a "kick out", giving the ball back to the Stamps, who ran out the clock and won the Cup.

Pretty weird, with the rulebook again playing a pivotal role.

Longtime Rider fans, meanwhile, know their team once benefited from a similar twist of fate as befell Ken Miller's club on Sunday.

In the '72 Western final in Winnipeg between the Blue Bombers and Green Riders, Regina's Jack Abendschan went to kick the game winning field goal with the game tied 24-24 in the dying moments, but missed. The Bombers in true CFL style, booted the ball back out of the end zone to avoid the single. The Riders kicked it back in. The Bombers booted it out again and then covered the kick to keep the game tied.

Or so they thought.

The Bombers failed to give yards on the play and were penalized, allowing the Riders a second opportunity - shades of Duval -- to kick the winning field goal, win 27-24 and advance to the Grey Cup Game in Hamilton.

So apparently what goes around in the CFL, comes around. It just takes a little while.

Odd But Extraordinarily Passionate. . .And A Word About Santa

CALGARY

It was like one of those old-time Rocky Horror Picture Show gatherings, with no Riff Raff but with The Flame from Regina.

This was CFL commissioner Mark Cohon's town hall session today with about 150 CFL true believers at a downtown hotel designed to let the fans have their say. Believe me, CFL fans are a bit cultish, and proved that by showing up in the ballroom of the Fairmont Palliser in all manner of football booster garb, including the fellow who wears a green cape at Saskatchewan home games and shoots flames from the top of his head.

It was like a CFL Hallowe'en, with the colors of every CFL team represented as well as fans wearing the jerseys of the defunct Ottawa Renegades and the San Antonio Texans. One corpulent fellow wore a full official's uniform complete with orange flags and "NERD" across his back. Two Saskatchewan fans wore "Wheathead" on the nameplates of their jerseys with hats designed to look like wheat sheafs.

These people are all a little crazy, but passionate, oh my goodness. Any league would do well to have fans to care this much. When the question went out as to how many in the room had been to at least 10 Grey Cup games, half the arms in the room shot up. One 78-year-old woman was praised for having visited every CFL city this season.

"We don't care just about the home team," said one Calgary season ticket holder. "We're passionate about all the teams."

Cohon, dignified in an expensive suit, was the most popular guy in the room, although it was the Grey Cup itself that received a standing ovation as two Mounties carried it into the room. Clearly, the commish was speaking to the converted, and it was fascinating to hear that the concerns of the fans during the question-and-answer period were very, very different from those hurled at Cohon when he was grilled by the media earlier.

With the media, Cohon was asked repeatedly about rumours concerning the future of the Argonauts and speculation about the future of the import/non-import ratio.

The fans, however, had a very different list of priorities. They asked about quality of play, having more timeouts, the crossover format (most were in favour), concussions, a league doping policy, the potential rebirth of an all-star game and possibly staring the season earlier.

It was 50 minutes before anyone asked about the rumour suggesting David Braley might soon own both the B.C. Lions and the Argos.

Evasive and non-committal with the media, Cohon was smiling and relaxed with the fans, as if knowing he was among friends.

Now for a quick but important piece of business. . .

The Star's Santa Claus fund is again poised to make Christmas a little more special for 45,000 local kids, but we could still use your help. No donation is too big or too small. If you can pitch in, a lot of kids will have a brighter time this year.

For more information, the main Santa Fund page is here.

Thursday Mail Bag

Of this there can be no argument: The Maple Leafs delivered an awful lot of effort in the past three games.

Two were wins, one an overtime loss to the Islanders despite a 61-shot effort. The win over Washington on Saturday had something to do with a listless Caps team, and last night's game in Tampa was pretty sloppy at both ends, although the Leafs did protect a one-goal lead.

The Caps were first in the conference when the Leafs beat them, the Isles and Lightning are both within a point of the eighth and final conference playoff berth.

These games, you'd have to say, are at the very least positive indicators, and certainly ones that suggest the club may yet respond favourably to the coaching of Ron Wilson. Last night's triumph in Tampa came without regulars Mike Komisarek and John Mitchell and suddenly you can look up and down the lineup and see the growth of a young core.

The Leafs had six players 23 or under in the lineup last night including Carl Gunnarson, Christian Hanson, Nikolai Kulemin, Luke Schenn, Phil Kessel and Jonas Gustavsson. Only Kulemin and Gustavsson Schenn were part of the mix last year, and the likelihood is that the club will be even younger next year.

The results have been lousy this season. But isn't the overall direction one that people have been demanding?

Now on to this week's mail bag:

Q: Hi Damien, 
In trading for Phil Kessel, even though he's an excellent player, the Leafs will have no first rounders for the next two years. Even if Brian Burke trades for a first rounder now it will most likely not be at the level they've given up already. The current thinking seems to be that eventually the new prospects now toiling in the Marlies (i.e. Bozak, Hanson and Stalberg) will come in and provide the kind of support that a player of Kessel's caliber would need. However, if you look at the AHL standings, you'll see that the Marlies are tied for last place in the Western Conference which suggests the new crop of prospects isn't exactly tearing up the league. In fact, Andre Deveaux has more points than Bozak and Stalberg. Is it too early to assume they are not panning out as hoped?

Peter van Hoof, Pickering

A: Way too early. Look at Tyler Bozak, for example. He played only 19 games in college last year. Now he's learning the pro game. Give the kid a couple of seasons before declaring him a bust.

Will any of these guys be top-end players? Probably not. But Nazem Kadri might. Otherwise, Burke's going to have to find other ways to get those types of players, and in a salary cap world with free agency at 27, they'll be available from time to time. That, don't forget, is how Kessel became available.

Q: Damien,

Do you think a "walk out" similar to what Orioles fans did in Baltimore would be beneficial at all for Leafs fans to do during a game? Do you see this possible for an event in which people are paying hundreds of dollars per seat? Just curious as to your thoughts on this.

Paul Selby, Toronto

A: Would it cause MLSE to sit up and take notice? Sure, I suppose. But unless it were to happen for an extended period the suits would just turn their attention to their condominium projects for that day. Besides, I've heard this kind of talk for more than 20 years. Never has any legs.

Q: Hi Damien,

Surely as one of the only voices of reason in Leafland you must admit that the Leafs will not be making the playoffs this season (forget about your prediction, stick to reasoning). The Leafs would need to go 40-22-2 in their remaining 64 games to get to 93 points and any hope of grabbing 8th spot. So, what should the Leafs do to gain any benefits from this season? Particularly in regards to trades and player development?

Andrew Gourley, London, U.K.

A: It's not what I care to admit or not admit. The playoffs indeed look like a remote possibility this season. But that shouldn't stop a team from trying to win as many games as possible. There is a benefit in developing a winning attitude, after all. But I think as the season progresses, there's a very good chance that some veteran players – Kaberle, Hagman, Stajan – will be moved for draft picks. As I mentioned above, younger players are going to get opportunities, although some of those opportunities may be through learning the game at the AHL level. When you're down this far, it's pointless to rush anyone.

Q: Damien,

Read an article today about the turnaround of the Caps and some of the gutsy moves they made moving the likes of Jagr and Lang at the trade deadline for some excellent picks and really creating a future. While we don't have (an Ovechkin to lead the way) or a Jagr or a Lang to move, do you think Burke has the potential to manufacture similar moves to continue to re-stock the cupboard? In terms of Kessel, we may need to come to terms with the fact that we'll give up a potential 1st or 2nd pick this year and (hopefully) a 15th or 16th pick next year. He is as dynamic as they come, the calibre of player we haven't had in some time.

Tom Bajusz, San Antonio

A: You know, it's interesting Tom, but in terms of “gutsy” moves, could Burke have done anything gutsier than the Kessel deal? In fact, many are lambasting him for being reckless. I think when you look at his history – the drafting of Chris Pronger, the deal for the Sedins, trading for Kessel – it's pretty clear this is an executive who doesn't lack for boldness. And it's not going to stop. Burke, I would say, is a tad mystified the team hasn't been better this season. But that's not going to change his approach.

Q: Damien,

Further to your point about the Leafs not improving under Wilson in his first 100 games here, can you think of one player in the organization who has shown improvement in those same 100 games because I sure can't. On the flip side there seems to be a heck of a lot of them who have regressed.

David Isaacs, Toronto

A: Basically, I'd agree with you. The only players I would suggest appear to have progressed would be Ian White and, particularly of late, Nikolai Kulemin. Luke Schenn's obvious regression gets a lot of attention, but otherwise, we're talking mostly players who were here before Wilson arrived and have basically flatlined. One other player who has responded favourably of late has been defenceman Francois Beauchemin. He was outstanding against Tampa last night.

Q: Damien,

Is it just me or are Wilson's tough words about sitting those who don't perform a hollow shell? Case in point was the first goal in Ottawa where Blake watched Fisher net one without much effort to back check. Where was the immediate benching to send a message? Does he really think that sitting Schenn in the third sent the message...way too late by then, "coach"!

Regards,

Jamie Hubbert, Ottawa

A: From 100-plus games of watching, it seems that's just not going to be Wilson's style. He's not going to punish players by anchoring them to the bench. To be fair, neither did Paul Maurice or Pat Quinn. These days, it seems, few NHL coaches can afford to approach their work that way.

Q: Hey Damien,

What is the deal with Mikhail Grabovski?I have never seen a player put so much effort into no results. I feel like he has the tools to be an effective second liner, especially on this team. At the age of 25, I suppose he's got some time, what should we be expecting from him?

Liam Murphy, Barrie

A: There's lots to like and lots to dislike. Basically, he lacks finish. His inaccurate shot betrays him at key moments. What I would be encouraged by if I were the Leafs is a vastly improved attention to defence and defensive hustle by Grabovski. He plays hard and plays in his own end, things that couldn't necessarily be said a year ago.

Q: Do you think the Leafs not having a captain has gone on for too long? Allowing the 1st goal in 17 of 19 games and 0-5 in overtime indicates the team has no leadership. Do you think they need a leader that will prepare the players mentally going into a game or overtime? I think Komisarek would be a good captain as he is here for the long haul, plays a style the Leafs want to emulate, and can act as a leader for the young players. What do you think?

John Mullrooney, Calgary

A: This is clearly an issue that really bothers some people, and I get that. But if its a factor in what's gone on this season, it's a small one. There's no point in just giving the “C” to a player when you're trying to re-define a team and give players a chance to establish roles. Right now, the only player I would argue has anything close to the bona fides to be Leaf captain is Francois Beauchemin. And why would you give the captaincy to a player who has been here less than 30 games? This is just going to take a little time.

Q: Hi Damien,

Just wanted your take on the Leafs' shot blocking. I've noticed that they never do the sprawling block, but continue to attempt a partially-crouched standing block (for lack of a better term). This is obviously not working for them, especially during crunch time. Why do you think there is such a reluctance to get down and dirty, Mac-T style?

Peter Ng, Schomberg, Ont.

A: Most coaches, not all, don't like the sprawling block. In New Jersey, for example, its almost forbidden. Why? Well, because you may make the block, but then you're totally out of the play. Most teams prefer the concept of getting players into shooting lanes rather than hurling their bodies at the puck. The Leafs are no exception. They just have some players who lack the proper technique – or courage – at the right moment.

Q: Everyone is saying nothing can be done to fix the Leafs right now. I don't think nothing can be done. Brian Burke needs to get creative. Kyle Turris, a 3rd overall pick a few years ago is playing in the minors for the San Antonio Rampage. He is a crafty centre with a lot of skill that looks to be going nowhere in the Phoenix organization. Phoenix may think he is a bust. Burke can pull off what he did with Tampa last year; take on some salary, give them a Kulemin type of player and get Turris, which they can put with Phil Kessel and see what he can accomplish with a dynamic winger.

What do you think of that move?

Thanks,

Paolo Del Nibletto, Toronto

A: There's an awful lot of conjecture here. What makes you think Turris is “going nowhere” in the Phoenix organization. Just because he's in the minors right now? Perhaps GM Don Maloney simply feels that's the best place for the kid to develop his game. I really don't know where this idea came from that if 19- and 20-year-olds are in the minors they're being written off or are wasting their time. It's called player development, and the Coyotes, for a variety of reasons, are one of those NHL clubs most dedicated to bringing young players along.

Would the Leafs want Turris if he was available? Sure, I suppose. I think Burke and all Gms are constantly on the lookout for undervalued assets, or assets that may be undervalued by others. But Kulemin is just starting to demonstrate he can play at the NHL level, and he's just 23.

Audition Time

You wanted it, you got it.

Those Maple Leaf fans who have been clamouring for callups from the Marlies to come and rescue the four-win parent club got their wish today when forward Christian Hanson was recalled.

That said, the nature of the callup isn't exactly what many wanted. Their fervent wish was that some big money player (Jason Blake) or underachiever (take your pick) would be punished with a demotion, and one of Hanson, Tyler Bozak or Viktor Stalberg would get the call.

The 23-year-old Hanson, however, is being recalled because of a knee injury suffered by centre John Mitchell in Monday's loss to the Islanders, an injury that will put Mitchell on the shelf for six weeks.

Lousy break there. Mitchell, 24, is in a contract year and wasn't exactly burning up the league with two goals in 22 games. He's a confounding youngster, a kid who shows impressive flashes from time to time but is maddeningly inconsistent and doesn't seem to react favourably when given a chance in a prime time role.

The Leafs went into the season a little worried that a breakout year from Mitchell might make him a target of an offer sheet next summer.

That's not likely now.

Hanson, meanwhile, has been impressive in the AHL, with 18 points in 18 games. However, as seen with Jiri (Yo-Yo) Tlustly, success in that league doesn't necessarily translate to the bigs.

Hanson, a centre with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish last year, has been playing mostly right wing for Dallas Eakins at the Ricoh Centre except for taking some draws on the penalty killing unit. That he was recalled instead of pivot Tyler Bozak is either evidence that the Leafs may want to try him in the middle or that there's a determination to promote based on quality of play, regardless of position.

Hanson has outplayed Bozak, who has missed time recently with the flu.

Mitchell's loss leaves the Leafs with Matt Stajan, Mikhail Grabovski, Wayne Primeau and Rickard Wallin up the middle. GM Brian Burke has also suggested he'd like to see Phil Kessel play a little centre, as well.

The danger for the Leafs, meanwhile, is that after a very healthy opening 15 games, injuries are starting to mount. Mike Van Ryn is gone for the season, Mike Komisarek hasn't returned yet, Vesa Toskala's groin is acting up again - enough to force the recall of Joey MacDonald today - and now Mitchell is out.

The last thing these Leafs can afford is a big bite into their depth chart.

Monday Briefings

Join hockey columnist Damien Cox for a noon-hour chat as the Leafs get set to face off against John Tavares and the New York Islanders.

How weird is it that a league with so few teams can actually produce a Grey Cup game in which the participants, Montreal and Regina, have never before met to contest the championship?

CFL weird, I guess, which is still something a lot of Canadians love. Looking for Saskatchewan to put heat on Anthony Calvillo and make Marc Trestman 0-for-2 for Grey Cups, but my oh my the Als looked awesome yesterday.

Some other Monday morning considerations:

--Obviously, the Alouettes were after a big gate, so the Eastern Final was played in the Big Owe. But McGill, the Als usual home, would have been far more interesting than the sanitized Olympic Stadium.

--At some point, don’t coaches have something to say about those broken composite sticks? Just look at Saturday night. Eric Fehr goes in on the first shootout attempt on Vesa Toskala and his stick snaps. Down in Manhattan, the Rangers work a last minute faceoff play in the dying seconds while down a goal and set up Ales Kotalik for a one-timer.

At the moment of impact, Kotalik’s stick breaks in two. Panthers win. Would hockey be destroyed if tomorrow Gary Bettman declared the NHL to be an wood-only league?

--You watch the Capitals on Saturday night and see Mike Green commit a horrific giveaway in the final seconds of OT and you think there’s no chance the talented blueliner can be part of the Olympic. He’s super-skilled, but oh-so-casual and a little too-cool-for-school.

--Dany Heatley got his way out of Ottawa and the Sharks got themselves a sniper who already has 18 goals. But quietly, Milan Michalek, the main piece the Sens got in return for Heatley, has 10 goals himself. And he’s four years younger and a lot cheaper.

--Everyone’s focussed on the Phil Kessel trade. But a far more costly transaction for the Leafs in the short term was that which sent Pavel Kubina to Atlanta for Garnet Exelby.

And what was is about Dominic Moore that ticked off Leaf brass so much that they convinced themselves Rickard Wallin could help more?

--So my great Battle of the Blades conspiracy didn’t come true. See, I figured it was all a set-up for Tie Domi to win, which was about as accurate as suggesting the Leafs were a playoff team.

Still, having a CBC employee (Craig Simpson) win a CBC production just made this figure skating competition look as suspicious as, well, all figure skating competitions. When Nick Kypreos (Sportsnet) or Ray Ferraro (TSN) wins the Battle of the Blades, then I’ll believe its on the up-and-up.

--Something tells me we’ll be hearing from Brendan Shanahan again. He’s just got too much to give to the game, and those colleagues and hockey people who gave Shanahan grief for actually trying to make the game better during the lockout should issue public apologies now that the NHL has lost of its greatest ambassadors.

-- Georges Laraque sticks out a knee on Nicklas Kronwall, Wade Belak viciously reefs Jarred Boll in the groin - in the grand tradition of the departed Chris Simon, it’s usually the NHL policemen who commit the crimes.

Laraque, by the way, should be gone for 20 games. But don’t hold your breath.

--Ian Pulver’s appearance on Hockey Night in Canada was nothing short of completely bizarre. Loved the Mark McGwire defence - let’s all just move forward and please don’t look too closely at what my buddies did. Pulver can claim neutrality all he wants, but everyone knows he’s tightly tied to both Eric Lindros and Ian Penny and, of course, Ron MacLean, which is why Pulver was invited in the first place.

-Let me try to explain this one more time until the next erroneous headline and story appear. Theo Fleury doesn’t get to decide whether charges will be brought against Graham James. The police and crown attorney do. Fleury would be a witness, and getting him to be a credible witness is a big part of the job for the police and crown.

A Complete Nightmare

Two things seem abundantly clear this morning.

One, this notion that sending big-money Leafs to the minors — Jason Blake is the most obvious target — will somehow fix what ails the club is just wrong. Blake may not be much use this season, but unless he is clearly a detrimental figure in the dressing room, just getting rid of him is essentially pointless and probably just symbolic.

Unless you have a replacement, dumping a player isn't much of an answer.

Two, whatever is wrong with this team, Ron Wilson seems powerless to fix it.

The Leafs were the worst defensive team in the NHL last season and the worst penalty killing team. Today, they are the NHL's worst defensive team and worst penalty killing team.

Faces have changed. Bodies have left town, others have been brought in. The blueline was rebuilt.

But still the basic fundamentals of team defence completely escape this team. Some of that is about dumb hockey players, and some of it is about a coaching staff that isn't having a positive impact.

People are upset today in Leaf-dom, and with good reason. Nobody thought the club would be a strong team this season — maybe a playoff team — but nobody forecast it would be this bad, this awful after 20 games.

Believe me, there are other cities in the NHL where there is great unhappiness today. Calgary. Anaheim. Montreal. People in Boston are disappointed. Detroit fans are wondering what happened to their great team.

None of those teams have an easy fix in front of them, and neither do the Leafs. When the majority of hockey fans applauded the concept of a salary cap five years ago, what they didn't appreciate was that this was the world that would be created, a world in which the team that starts the season is basically the team you're stuck with, at least until the trade deadline.

The off-season is when important change is made. Not November.

So Leaf fans can scream all they want, and they have good reason to scream.

But that won't change much. In terms of the playing roster, the options are almost non-existent.

Thursday Mail Bag

Join us at noon Thursday for a live Q&A with Damien Cox, as the Leafs prepare to face the Carolina Hurricanes.

A quick, non-Leaf thought of the day before we get to this week’s mail bag, and not an original one.

It actually came from New Jersey Devils all-world goalie Martin Brodeur. We were chatting recently about the possibility of taking the trapezoid out from behind the net that restricts goalies from playing the puck, a change he (of course) would welcome.

He also proposed a better use for the trapezoid. It would become an area in which players would no longer be allowed to come to a complete stop without opposition players in the vicinity. Brodeur dislikes, as do most, a strategy that has crept into the game in recent years in which players stand behind their nets and wait for their teammates to change, thus essentially delaying the game for 15-20 seconds. The opponent usually goes along with the strategy, and everyone stops playing.

It’s not as annoying as players skating to the bench in a line to slap gloves after scoring a goal. But it’s close. Three seconds in the trapezoid might be a better use for those painted lines than it’s current use.

Now on to this week’s mailbag:

Q: Damien,

I'm slowly waking up to the realization I'm in a classic abusive relationship — they tell me they love me and promise to change, to be better, to respect me. Then they hurt me all over again. This has to stop. Or I have to start cheering for someone else — even Phoenix looks good to me now.

The Leafs have some decent pieces and unless Boston drafts some unknown second coming of Mario Lemieux, Phil Kessel looks like he was worth the price. There is potential.

But ... I want to know: at what point do the Leafs make some real changes to salvage the season? What would you do? On one hand, drastic change is at least partially responsible for this 21 game fiasco. And despite what Burke/Wilson said in the halcyon days of the pre-season, this is a rebuilding year for an under-talented club. Many players with potential are (hopefully) maturing. But it seems to me that it's time to slap some sense into a team that puts up 80 per cent of the effort yet consistently fails to win hockey games.

This is all sounding a lot like the "we did a lot of things right" mantra through the Leafs winter slide in the 07/08 season.

Thanks,
Bill

A: I certainly understand your feeling of frustration. I certainly believed this was a better team than it has proven to be. It appeared there had been enough change that at least a club with a fighting chance to make the playoffs would emerge from training camp. Apparently I was wrong, as were others.

I guess it depends on what you mean by “salvage the season.” Try to make the playoffs? Try to avoid finishing last? I think you mean the latter, but what does that matter at this point? Any move the club makes now should be based on next year and beyond, or at the very least should unduly sacrifice possibilities beyond this year. Did the Kessel deal do that? Possibly, but not necessarily. The Leafs got a young, burgeoning star out of the deal, the Bruins still have to draft one with the picks they received to even make a deal fair from their point-of-view. It seems likelier to me that the Leafs will try to acquire prospects and picks for the veterans they have over the course of this season rather than actively search out help, at least help that would come at a cost. So “real changes” to salvage the season? I don’t think they’ll be coming. More clearing the decks seems likelier.

Q: If baseball can eliminate metal bats because it increases the distance the ball travels then why can't the NHL outlaw metal/graphite sticks because they increase the velocity of the shot? This would put a better spin on stick costs for every body, including kids who copy the NHL players.

Jim Skura, Waterloo

A: The NHL isn’t interested in stick costs for kids. Maybe for themselves. But the league can’t turn back now, and other than the cost and the frustrating propensity of frequent breakage, there’s no concrete reason to argue composite sticks are bad for the sport. This is a game that has embraced every new technology and isn’t about to stop now. That said, teams will tell you stick costs have rocketed in recent years. That’s why the ones they give out to the fans after three-star selections are game-used ones, but rather cheap wood imitations.

Q: Hi Damien,

The Toronto Maple Leafs have been in a very long recent memory been mismanaged, incompetent and a franchise failure. Yet, they are supported beyond loyalty, filling the rink despite embarrassment. Why? How are they given such leverage by Torontonians? Please explain.

George Piccott, Snow Lake

A: A proper answer would clog the World Wide Web for days. The simplest answer, I guess, is that they have an NHL monopoly over the densest, most excitable, most passionate hockey market in the world, something they’ve had for decades and decades. The closest comparison would be baseball’s Chicago Cubs, and they've gone without a championship for a lot longer than the Leafs. The Leafs have legions and legions of fans around the world — something akin to Notre Dame football — and they’re not about to give up now. Is that a bad thing? Depends on your point of view.

Q: Love the mail bag from last week. Big fan.

What do you think would be a bigger draw for MLSE, the recently floated idea of a Leaf game at BMO field, a game at the (Rogers Centre) or shipping in some seats and ice and seeing the Leafs play one game against the Hawks or Canadians at the Gardens?

For me, I know I would take out a loan to spend one more night at the house on Carlton St., if everything were the way it was with banners, the music, heck even the ushers, followed by the Rogers Centre with over 60,000 people at a game. BMO just seems like a wasted opportunity from a fan perspective.

Adam Lebow, Windsor

A: Not interested in a game at the dome or BMO Field, really. Now a night of nostalgia at the Gardens, that I could get behind.

Q: Hi Damien,

Question for you on Tyler Bozak and Christian Hanson.

What will they have to do to get a call up to the Leafs? I'm not just thinking of them fitting in on this rebuilding project but also the possibility of signing other college players in the future.

If Burke signed these guys but they don't get a "fair" shot at making the team, would that hinder future signings of college players?

Really there isn't much standing in their way as far as current roster is concerned, obviously they will have to work hard to make it.

DJ Lake, St. Catharines

A: I think both had a fair shot at making the team. Heck, Viktor Stalberg did make it. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with having them play a half-season or more with the Marlies as they learn the game. No promises were made that any of them would be big leaguers automatically, and none of the three have earned a ticket to the NHL this season, at least not a lasting one. You have to have patience with young players. Not having any with Luke Schenn is proving costly. If the fact that none of Bozak, Hanson and Stalberg aren’t in the NHL right now scares off other U.S. collegiate free agents, well, they may not be the ones you want to recruit anyway.

Q: I really am at a loss sometimes with the way the Leafs use some of the players. I look at Matt Stajan as an example. They moved him from playing with Kessel and Blake to playing with Orr and Primeau. Stajan was the top centre last year, so why not move him to play with Hagman and Stempniak — who did not look dangerous with Wallin. I see Wallin as a 4th-line centre who kills penalties, but with a winger capable of scoring reasonably like Hagman, I see Stajan as being able to get more out of one of the better players the Leafs have. In general I see the juggling that Wilson does more harm than any help — especially when you see lines eventually revert back. What are your thoughts on how the players are bounced around?

Keith Kerfoot, Guelph

A: Stajan has been a massive disappointment this season. He was given an opportunity to be a top six forward, and continues to be given opportunities. Most of the time he is failing to establish himself as that type of player. It’s nobody’s fault but his own.

Q: Hello Damien, I am from Ottawa and have no interest in the Leafs. I would however like your thoughts regarding the Mike Danton interview and whether, as a convicted felon, he has any hope of playing hockey full time again. My concerns would be: 1. can he cross the border and play in the states; and 2. does he have any value that would make a team take a chance on him?

Thanks,

Dan Robinson, Ottawa

A: Danton has two big hurdles to clear. First, he would have to be allowed to play but the NHL, and Gary Bettman might still have penalties of his own to impose. Second, he’d have to get clearance to cross the U.S. border, which is possible, but still would have to be acquired. Do I think a team will take a chance on him? As long as there’s a whiff of David Frost around this young man, any team would be out of their mind to do so. It’s not about second chances. It’s about understanding that with Danton you get Frost, or at least a player controlled by Frost. No team should want that.

Q: I need your immense hockey savvy and proficiency to answer a "dilly of a pickle."

Under the current CBA, could the Leafs send Luke Schenn down to the Marlies without him passing through waivers if they thought that the minors might spark his game a bit? Do you think this is needed due to the current play of the struggling sophomore?

Thanks.

Ian Byrne, Byrne Road, P.E.I.

A: The rules are different for every player. In Schenn’s case, he is exempt from waivers until he has played 160 NHL games. So he’s got 71 games to go until he would need waivers to move up and down from the Marlies. Would I send him to down for a stint? Absolutely. Get the kid playing with confidence again. But the Leafs have no one to blame for this situation but themselves. Putting a kid like Schenn in the NHL at 18 just makes it appear any step away from NHL status is a step backward, even if it ultimately benefits him.

Q: Hi Damien,

The arrival of Phil Kessel, regardless of how he has performed, has really demonstrated what a difference there is between him and the rest of the Leafs forwards. How did the Leafs get to this point of having so many players with marginal talent? What can they do to upgrade the talent on the forward lines now that they don't have a couple of high draft picks to look forward to in the next couple of years? Kessel can't do it all himself.

Varun Chakravorty, Brampton

A: Well, they only have nine players, I believe, under contract beyond this season. So they’ll have cap space and roster room for free agency next summer. They have Nazem Kadri, Bozak, Hanson and Stalberg as future possibilities. They have Tomas Kaberle to trade. They can sign more U.S. free agents. They can try to draft useful players after the first or second rounds. There are lots of options, but it won’t be easy.

Q: The Leafs have three unrestricted free agents (Stajan, Ponikarovsky, Stempniak) who I don't see as fitting into Brian Burke's long-term plan, as they are not talented enough to be top-six forwards, or gritty enough to be bottom six. I think we would have heard talk of re-signing already if they were considered part of the long term future.

Therefore, trading them at the deadline to teams looking to add depth at forward, regardless of the Leafs position in the standings, for whatever picks and prospects Burke could get would seem to be the correct course of action. Any thoughts and have you heard anything on what the Leafs might do with these three players?

Thanks,
Jeff Mills, Cambridge

A: I think they’d trade all three today if they got a good offer. Stempniak had a promising camp but has tailed off, Stajan can’t take the workload of a top six forward and Ponikarovsky is either streaky or maddeningly inconsistent. If the Leafs can move any of the three for draft picks/prospects before March, they likely will.

Q: When Brian Burke was hired a year ago, He stated he wouldn't be scared to bury a high priced player in the minors. Well a year later we still have Jeff Finger and Jason Blake still on the big club, which leads me to believe that Burke is not keeping to his word. My question is this. Obviously, he won't do it. What about a trade with Anaheim? The Ducks take one of those two contracts and The Leafs get Jean-Sebastien Giguere and take his contract. I think this one would make more sense near the trade deadline. What are your thoughts? Friends continually say we are building for the future, but we were told this year we would compete and we have no 1st round picks to look forward to. Mr. Cox, please tell me where this team is going.

Marc Oliver, Vancouver

A: Well, it appears they’re going to have to do a more comprehensive rebuild than Burke anticipated. If that’s the case, adding Giguere at $6 million this year and $7 million next year when there’s fear he’s no longer the goalie he wasn’t doesn’t make much sense. You might like to unload salaries on the Ducks, but why would the Ducks want to take those players. If they’re moving Giguere, it will be to get rid of his contract, not to take others on.

Q: Hey Damien

If the leafs need to make a change to get things going, and it is obvious that Wilson is going anywhere soon (until after the Olympics) is it possible that the assistant coaches could be replaced by guys like Craig MacTavish or Mike Keenan that would only be defence coaches or power play coaches etc. This would give new direction without risking the U.S. Olympic teams’ hopes.

Mark, Ottawa

A: Unlikely. Ron Wilson, Rob Zettler and Tim Hunter come as a package. They’ll likely leave that way some day. But I can’t imagine Burke trying to insert another coach into the mix.

One Hundred Games, Thirty-Seven Wins

The first 100 days of any U.S. presidency are often viewed as critical. The tone is set, the optimism from the election is still vibrant and there's a freshness to it all.

Maybe the same's the case for the first 100 games for an NHL coach with a team, a milestone Ron Wilson hit Saturday night with the Leafs against Calgary.

With another loss.

If you're keeping score at home, that's 63 losses for Wilson during his Leaf tenure against 37 triumphs. Of those 63 defeats, 18 have been through either overtime or a shootout.

Of a possible 200 points, Wilson has achieved 92 for a "winning" percentage of .460.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is not good. The optimism from Wilson's hiring is gone and it sure doesn't feel fresh.

The tone? Well, the idea was that a teacher was coming to town, a no-nonsense bench boss who would make sure everything, from defensive zone coverage to the laundry, was done correctly. Wilson spoke of a new culture, an end to any sense of entitlement players might have, something he called the blue-and-white disease.

Interesting, then, to hear Wilson discussing on Monday the need to start benching players who make major errors early in games and punishing players for egregious errors.

Shouldn't that have been happening, oh, 100 games earlier?

When Jason Blake didn't do much opening night on the backcheck to stop the winning goal in overtime by the Montreal Canadiens, nothing much happened. When Matt Stajan didn't get to the red line last Friday with the puck, took an icing call to force a group of exhausted Leafs to stay on the ice which resulted in a costly turnover by Luke Schenn, Stajan just kept on playing. There have been occasional instances in which players have been exiled to the press box to put on a big show, but within games, of late only Colton Orr seems to sit in third periods.

Right now, Wilson is safe, which means he's still got time to turn this thing around. In fact, he's probably got at least until early March, after the Olympics, when he'll be guiding Team U.S. under the management team led by Brian Burke, also his boss with the Leafs.

But even though Wilson has a long term contract, this losing, this consistent weak defensive play, can't go on forever. There are people out there right now who could take the helm - Craig MacTavish, even Wayne Gretzky - and there will be more at season's end.

After 100 games, Wilson's honeymoon is over. He's not in danger of losing his job anytime soon. That said, he's got to start winning some hockey games.

Revelations and Belief

'Tis the season, apparently, to un-burden oneself.

First Theo Fleury. Then Tim Donaghy, Andre Agassi and last and probably least, Mike Danton. Fleury and Agassi have published tell-all-or-at-least-some books, Donaghy wants to blab in book form but can't yet get it published and Danton did a sit down with Nick Kypreos.

All interesting. All with Jerry Springer, look-at-me elements to their work, as though they were once addicted to attention and have never been able to get over that addiction.

But who do you believe? What rings true and what sounds just like more fibs from a fibber?

Here's how I'd rank them from most believable to least believable:

1. Agassi: This is no great honour in this group, believe me. No one seems to be able to adequately explain the reasons why Agassi wanted to reveal crystal meth use and trash his ex-wife, but haven't heard anybody suggest he's lying yet.

2. Fleury: Some of the stuff is a bit outlandish, probably hyperbole as opposed to outright untruths. Out of all these guys, Fleury is the only one who can plausibly assert something good may come out of his work given the great shame victims of sexual abuse often feel. One point: People should stop suggesting Fleury is pondering criminal action against Graham James. Its not up to Fleury. It's up to the cops and the crown attorney to decide whether there is sufficient evidence.

3. Donaghy: Some sounds possibly true, some flamboyant exaggerations. Once a cheat and a liar always a cheat and a liar. Tricky for a publisher to get behind.

4. Danton: Don't buy one single solitary word of it. His inability to look in the camera as he dissembled was a dead giveaway. To much of it he really didn't give a clear answer. Just sad to watch.  

Thursday Mail Bag

Well, that was appalling.

The ease with which the Maple Leafs are satisfied, it would seem, follows the team year after year, regardless of who is coaching the team, managing the team or playing for the team. Tuesday’s performance against Minnesota, the worst team in the west, was the latest example. The Wild did some good things, but after just two victories, it was as though the Leafs felt they simply needed to wear the correct jerseys and the Wild would be easily beaten. No franchise in the NHL, it seems, struggles more with maintaining a level of decent consistency than the Leafs. Is it because their fans are so easily satisfied? Is it because the media in Toronto praises the club too extravagantly after moderate achievements? Or is it because there simply isn’t enough urgency in the organization, from ownership on down, because there’s is no financial imperative to motivate icing a winning team?

It’s the No. 1 problem Brian Burke and Ron Wilson have to fix, and judging by Tuesday, it’s as bad as ever.

Now on to this week’s mail bag:

Q: I am having trouble seeing how the NHL ownership of the Phoenix Coyotes really changes anything. The current lease is still in effect between Glendale and the Coyotes because Judge Baum did everything in his power to avoid having to decide the lease status in the bankruptcy proceedings. If the NHL cannot renegotiate the lease, Glendale is still free to pursue the $750 million penalty for relocation of the franchise. What new owner would want to take on this battle?

Glen Wollenberg, Massanutten, Virginia

A: No owner wants this lease. The game plan for the NHL, after all its other contingency plans fell through, was always to re-negotiate the lease and, if unsuccessful, break it and move the team. Nobody takes seriously the City of Glendale’s stated intention to pursue penalties in the hundreds of millions of dollars if that lease isn’t honored. Multiple precedents suggest the city might, at best, be entitled to a penalty payment of $50 million. At any rate, the city has held previous negotations on the lease, most recently with the Jerry Reinsdorf group, and if the Coyotes are to remain in Phoenix, that lease will have to change.

Q: I've heard speculation that Eric Lindros has played a role, behind the scenes, in the events that transpired recently over at the NHLPA. Do you think this is true, and if so, what was the nature of his involvement? His recent resignation from the ombudsman position and all the clashes he's had with others throughout his career don't exactly paint a picture of innocence.

Michael Manno, North York

A: Lindros denies this, although he was remarkably up to speed on all the recent NHLPA events, including an insiders knowledge of the firing of Paul Kelly. Others say that he has been influential all along, or at least, individuals sympathetic to his sentiments about the NHLPA - Ian Penny, in particular - have played a significant role in what has happened at the union in recent months. There are all kinds of conspiracy theories out there, but the pertinent fact now seems to be that Lindros won’t have an influence or role in the union when the current process of finding a new executive director and rewriting the constitution are completed. His union days are done, and given that he resigned as ombudsman last winter, he may be happy with that.

Q: I wanted to hear your thoughts on the Whitby product James Neal. Having seen a few Dallas games (Thank God for Rogers free Centre Ice preview!) James has impressed me with his ability to gather attention from the defense and spreading the puck, and not to mention his left handed shot coming in from the right wing for this Dallas team. Any shot at Team Canada? Future prediction possibly?

Kevin Black, Whitby

A: No shot at Team Canada, at least not if you’re talking about the Vancouver Olympics. But he’s certainly a young player coming into his own after a 24-goal campaign a year ago and nine goals already this season. Moreover, he’s been in the Hockey Canada national team stream for a while, having played in the under-18 program and the national junior program. His time is yet to come as far as playing for his country in the big international events.

Q: Barring a miracle, if things continue as they are , how far do you think Burke will go in terms of compromising the future of this club in order to assure the Bruins are not getting a #1.

If on the other hand he does the right thing and stays the course, can he survive such an outcome?

Filip Gracz, Toronto

A: Well, at this point, Burke can survive pretty much anything. He’s not going to be fired after one full season even if the Leafs finish dead last by 20 points. As far as what he might do to make sure the Bruins don’t get the first overall pick, that’s partly out of his hands. Any of the teams with top five picks could get to No. 1 through the draft lottery. I don’t think you’ll see him moving much in the way of future assets for help now, but he might trade a younger player (Matt Stajan, Ian White, Nikolai Kulemin) for an older NHLer who can help his club more now.

Q: Interesting watching the Leafs promote all the new players that Burke has brought in. To see them sit Stajan, meanwhile Komisarek alone costs them the first three games. Beauchemin is a disaster yet does not miss a shift. Kessel is our best player by far says Wilson. Yet Kaberle is the NHL player of the week. How do you build a team with this type of alienation from the coach towards all the non Burke players?

Dave Nesbitt, Barrie

A: Well, Burke brought in Garnet Exelby and he’s having trouble staying in the lineup. Colton Orr doesn’t play much, and the college signings - Tyler Bozak and Christian Hanson - are in the minors. That said, it’s pretty well established that the players that were here before Burke arrived weren’t very successful as a group, so its not surprising newer players would be seen in a different way. As far as Mike Komisarek supposedly costing the team the first three games, that’s so absurd it’s not even worth addressing.

Q: What are your thoughts on turning Tomas Kaberle into a centre? We all know he is a great skater and passer. Look at the career Red Kelly made for himself at centre after being an all star for years on defence. T.K. sure would look good centering Kessel and Blake.

Jim Gosleigh, Newcastle

A: Kaberle’s gifted enough as athlete to be effective to some degree at any position. But clearly when he’s on his game he’s one of the NHL’s better puck moving, playmaking rearguards. He wouldn’t possibly have that impact playing centre with no training or experience at that position.

Q: Hi Damien,

Am I alone in thinking the Leafs are heading down the wrong path again? For so many years the Leafs would "build" by trading draft picks for aging veterans as a quick-fix attempt to succeed. I still cannot get over what Burke gave to the Bruins for Kessell. Granted he's a young scorer, but he's no Crosby or Malkin. Why can't the Leafs just be patient building via the draft? Look at the Penguins or Hawks, set for the future with draft picks like Fleury, Malkin, Crosby, Toews, Kane etc. We're forced to be satisfied with other teams' mediocre cast-offs.

John Kovacs, Richmond Hill

A: I’m not the sure I’d call Kessel “other teams’ mediocre castoff,” but I get your point. To be honest, I’m not really sure why the Leafs refuse to go down the slow rebuild path. Burke has said you can’t do that in Toronto, but I just don’t buy it. After all, they’ve been selling mostly losing teams in the city for decades. That said, Burke has chosen a different path, drafting Nazem Kadri, signing college free agents and signing Jonas Gustavsson, who looks like he might be the equivalent of a first round draft pick. You can expect Burke will go after more college free agents next summer, and in the 22-year-old Kessel, he now has a player that was regarded as a franchise-type player in his draft year and has already scored 36 goals in a season. We’ll see how this progresses.

Q: Hello there Damien,

Long time reader, first time e-mailer. I'm wondering if you might be able to explain the logic of Brian Burke's mentality when it comes to the "belligerance and truculance" of his players. I understand that there is a physical element to hockey and that fighting will always be part of the game, but why is it that BB would pick up someone like Colton Orr when it is clearly a scoring touch that the Leafs need and not a physical touch? Granted the Leafs got pushed around a lot last season but turning the Leafs from wimps into bullies is not the way to make this a winning team. In all honesty, Toronto needs five more Phil Kessels and about 10 less Colton Orrs. So here's my real question, are there no players in the league that BB can get his hands on that have the physicality of a Colton Orr and the scoring touch of a Phil Kessel and if so, why hasn't he pulled his head out of the sand and traded for one of those types of players?

Shane Rieger, Richmond Hill

A: Well, if such a player were available, Burke would be the first in line making an offer. But such players are rare indeed - Jarome Iginla, Brenden Morrow, Ryan Getzlaf - and not available. So the answer is that the Leafs had many holes to fill, and still have holes to fill, and the addition of Orr, in Burke’s opinion, filled a role the Leafs needed to have filled at a very affordable price. Burke really believes that such players allow skill players to play their games better, and he really doesn’t care whether you or I agree. He has strong opinions on this - and most hockey matters - and right now the shine on his 2007 Stanley Cup ring means his opinions carry a great deal of weight.

Q: Regarding the Ben Fanelli hit, it is noticeable from the clip that his helmet popped off like a champagne cork. Another piece of the hockey culture at the NHL and junior levels is the "dangling chinstrap". Many players in the NHL have been injured because the helmet isn't firmly secured (see Donald Brashear after Marty McSorley clubbed him). I've played hockey for 40 years, and never found it to be a problem to have my chinstrap done up fairly close to my chin. Have you ever heard this issue discussed around the rinks?

Ron Stewart, Oakville

A: Its discussed all the time. But players think its cool to wear the chinstraps loose and the culture of hockey is about fitting in, not being different. It would be an easy rule for leagues to enforce, but they just don’t.

Every Thursday, Damien Cox answers your questions in The Spin, only at thestar.com. Click here to submit a question. **Note: please follow the link above to send a question to Damien. Questions posted in the comments section may not make it to the mailbag. Thanks.**