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.

Comments

[tom]

My observation from the shoot-out was that Gustavsson was totally unprepared for it. Is this a fault of Wilson that he was not?

[Leftturn]

The worst thing the Leafs did in the last year or so is hire Brian Burke as GM. Not only has he made this team worse, he has also ruined their immediate future.

[Nerual]

Ron Wilson is not motivating this team with his"shame on you attitude". His old style of coaching is killing the joy of these guys who want to play hockey...and have fun doing it. He and Burke think it's everyone else's fault...but in truth it is just their old dried up hockey mentality...get some decent new coaching and watch the team flourish.

[Carl Braun]

Perhaps the Leafs should get rid of Wilson, but there is little substance to your post. Also, as you have pointed out several times, Wilson is not going to be axed by the man who is his associate with the US Olympic team.

[LOCKSTOCK93]

That being said, what do the Leafs get from Chicago for taking Brian Campbell from them? Or Huet? And then performing the old Marlies dunk.

I think there is room to maneuver and money to spend and that Burke doesn't want the Bruins to draft in the top 5 when he can add some prospects/upside players in money deals and make the whole thing seem like it worked out regardless of the position in the standings.

Getting Kessel, finishing in the top 20-23 in the league and accruing some prospects along the way would be a successful year from Burke, and they can segue into next year with the college/AHL players.

Even the Sidney Crosby Penguins were out of the playoffs his first year.

[Moe Green]

Damien,

Respectfully, I don't understand why the trade doors are so closed at this time of the season. If a team is struggling, isn't it sometimes chemistry? If so, isn't swapping under performing assets still an option. I don't understand why a teams like the Canadians and Leafs don't engineer some sort of multi-player swap for example that might help their struggling teams. What have they got to lose? Furthermore, it seems to me that coaching is a major part of the problem. Instead of dumping Wilson, why not send him down to the minors so to speak. Or whatever that equivalent would be?

[Bruce]

The days of old, when Leaf players played with pride, passion, character, and TRUE truculence, are sorely missed. Not the effort that these players put out. These guys don't block shots, don't go to the net, display very little feistyness, don't play like they care - although every day through the media they SAY they care. At least back in the of Wendel and Mats, Tucker and Gilmour, the players PLAYED as if they cared. Is that coachable? Character? I don't know. I think you have to look at the exec who assembled this wilting group - and then left them without a leader on the ice to boot.

[Remi]

I don't like Cox and never will.He always says bad things about the Maple Leafs who are my favourite team.The referee made a huge mistake last night by giving defenceman White a 4 minute penalty for high sticking.It was not White who high sticked the Carolina player,it was a Carolina player who did it and the referee made a horrible mistake by penalizing White.Carolina scored while White was in the penalty box.

[Moe Green]

Just noticed that all is the same during practise. Are you suggesting there is nothing Wilson could do? Here are some suggestions. Grabovski, Kessel and Mayers or Orr on the first line. How about Schenn to the minors with Blake and Mitchell, How about the trio of Bozak, Hanson and Stalberg brouht up as a line. How about Kabby at centre. What about a different strategy by the coaches. What about the trap. How about telling Grabovski he can no longer take a shot and has to pass or he's benched. There is a lot a coach can do if he thinks outside the stupid box. Do you really think any of these moves could hurt the team long term? How?

[NJS]

This team is going nowhere fast - and its pretty disappointing given all the optimism with the offseason moves (kessel notwithstanding).
The blackhawks need to shed salary - a lot of salary; and the leafs will have a lot of salary to use shortly. SO, heres my proposition - trade kaberle + 1st rounder in 2012 for : Sharp, Campbell, 1st rounder 2010, 1st rounder 2011. That way Burkes at least gets back two draft picks he can play with to improve position in the upcoming draft; Sharp is a servicable vet that would work well with kessel, Campbell still has a ton of talent and potential. The hawks can then trade Kaberle if they need to to shed more salary and/or get a draft pick back. Plus they clear room to accomodate the contract extensions they just signed.

[Moe Green]

My point isn't that these are necessarly good moves but how can they make things worse. Let another boss take over behind the bench fora few games? Oh, that's not done in the nhl? Too bad, neither is winning three out of twenty. Wilson's a big boy. Wan't some more thoughts? How about mandating straight or wooden sticks. How about playing Kessel with the bruisers. Wilson has proven to be just as uncreative as the rest of them. This year, in my opinion, is all about Wilson.

[oldtimer]

Wilson must realize that you can not have steak if you only have noodles, His system is a failure now due to the lack of the type of player needed to play it. Right now the Leafs need to play a "trap system", like Lemaire coached the Minnesota team when they first came into the leaque.
I realize the "Trap" is not as interesting to watch, but Leaf fans want wins, especially since we don't have a first round pick.
God a first round pick would look awful good right now

[Lew McClain]

Damian, you are right on. At this point i wish we had Tucker,McCabe,Kubina,Steen. That Cliff Fletcher would have stayed in Arizona and Paul Maurice was still here. That team seemed to be only a couple of pieces away from being damn good. I know hindsight is 20/20. Such a waste...

[Frank]

Last night's game just makes you cry a little. Even in a best case scenario, all they can muster is some hard work, some forecheck, some moving legs. But there is no imagination or chemistry on the ice, players feeding off each other and standing out. And how a defense could be so unprepared to hold a 3 goal lead is also incredible. There was no discernible difference in the leaf's play style in the second period that showed a conscious effort to frustrate Carolina in neutral ice and prevent plays from forming at the blue line.

...oh, and if I see Blake one more time dipsy-doodling in the corner or back of the net, just to give the puck away eventually I'm going to yak.

[Ernie Armstrong]

Damien's point about roster changes is well-taken; unfortunately the same applies to the coaching staff. If the team is still this bad and Ron Wilson is still around after the Olympics, Brian Burke will have failed in his job.

[Byron Collins]

Well, if changing the roster is pointless, then why not the old standby of replacing the coach? Sure, you can't blame Ron Wilson for a bad roster, but I do believe that that is the only "shake-up" available. And likely much easier for Burke to replace his pal in this environment then further down the road. Look at it this way, if we just get the "two victory bounceback" that comes as a result of a coaching change, then we will all but doubled this seasons production!

[Pat Vaughan]

MLSE is quite a stubborn organization. Coming out of the lockout and new CBA it was apparent you have to build a team through the draft. MLSE was not positioned very well for the new NHL because they gave away all of their future draft picks before the lockout and continued to do so after the lockout. This is known in the history books as the JFJ Reign of Disaster. I'm not drinking this Burke Cool Aid that there is a faster way to build a team without having to wait for the high draft picks. Think of this .. if for the past 20 years MLSE would have had a GM who simply did not trade away not one single draft pick nor a single prospect and simply picked the player NHL Central Scouting listed that should be picked at the respective draft position the Leaf organization would be a lot deeper in terms of players. For starters Roberto Luongo would be playing for us as our franchise goalie and Scott Neidermayor as our franchise defenceman. The only other thing the GM would have to accomplish was convince Scotty Bowman to coach the Leafs once he became available in 1994 and we would have had the best coach of all time for 10 years. That's how simple it can be; but Leaf GM's have to justify their existence and ridiculous salaries and keep tinkering only to have things blow up in their face.

[Travis]

Damien, are you suggesting that changing the coaching staff is the quickest way to see different results on the ice?

[ivan dewar]

why did burke give boston two first round picks and a second rounder for kessel when he could have signed him to an offer sheet for a first,second and a third pick.

[Are Be]

Let's go Clippers! I know- let's trade away two consecutive first round draft picks and a second rounder. It's what the Clippers would do!

[Arun]

I wonder if you would have been this kind to Pat Quinn.

[John A]

1. Name a Captain or go and get one. Primeau for the short year or Whitey/Kabs for the longer haul. At this point it can't hurt.
2. Stop shooting yourself in the foot COACH. Finger / Kulemin / Mitchell had no business being on that ice in the last 30 seconds of the Carolina game especially when you have Kaberle/White/Stajan/Mayers on the bench...bad coaching decision by someone who apparently doesn't know his team and is not situationally aware. And if this were an Acton/Hunter/Zettler decission then you better put em on notice to smarten up.
3. 4th liners can still munch minutes by occasionally being inserted into the lineup on different lines later in the game so that you can give the odd player an extra rest (not punishment)...start coaching your team to win by managing your bench properly. For example an Orr/Mayers getting one shift on wing for Poni or Hagman or Kulemin would make them work that much harder and they would not be a threat to the players RESTING. Even Domi played with Mats now and then.
4. This powerplay blows because teams are allowed to skate out of their own zone uncontested and transition through the neutral zone easily to a flat footed team on the blueline. Break aways during the PK are absolutely ludicrous... Next, they are not agressive...EVER...in their own zone. If a power play player bobbles or momentarily loses control of the puck attack immediately everywhere on the ice in your own zone. Prevent defence prevents you from winning. Let the forwards jump some routes or take off and attack, might start getting some deadly shorthanded (other team) moral killer goals. If your PK is last your doing something wrong which is probably that your not doing something. Unleash your dogs.
5. Note to the media, it ain't who scores 1st or last its who scores most. Yup, you can preach the stats about first goals but I guarantee you that the team that scores the most goals wins 100% of the time. Take that stat to the bank and quit the bull about blah blah 1st or second goals etc...win the game!!!
6. Last but not least, Coach Wilson, you tinker teams to destruction...did it in San Jose in the playoffs and your routinely doing it now. Stop this stupid practice. Most hockey players ain't that bright and don't or won't get it. If you are unhappy with someones play put em in the press box next game. Educate before you discipline and have some faith in your players...it can't hurt...oh yeah it is not them players and us Coach's it is WE WE WE.
PS: give Kaberle a contract extension now..because he is worth it!!! Coach's share the blame for losing with your team or better yet take resposibility and admit your screwups because it is absolutely true! Accountabilty means everyone which does not mean firings or demotions etc just fess up!

[Omar]

Why is it that nobody is addressing the Kessel heist (from the Bruins perspective at least) from the lens of the current NHL, as opposed to the NHL pre-salary cap. Pre-cap days, the Kessel move is a good move for the Leafs. They got a proven scorer who is young and will be good for many years down the road. They gave up draft picks that may or may not pan out - fine. However in a salary cap, players that can play and are on an entry-level contract are invaluable. They are paying Kessel $5 million/year. If they hadn't made that trade, they could have easily played poorly enough to get a top 5 draft pick in each of the next two years (possibly 1st overall). On top of that, they would have a lot of cap space to sign free agents down the road. Yes I know Kessel is a good player. The Kessel trade is not a trade that a bottom-feeder team should ever make, it should be made by a team on the cusp of serious contention. Now the Leafs rebuilding is set back at least 3 years. No 1st pick until 2012, by then, Kessel will have a couple of years left on his contract, and if he bolts...wow, that'll be a huge mess. Burke needs to hire a salary capologist to advise on decisions like this. Or at least follow the NBA and how teams manage the cap there.

[Fung Chang]

The Lafs give pro hockey a bad name. It's not merely this years roster that's stinking it up all over the continent, but former versions of the laughable clowns have stunk it up too. Would it be presumtuous to say they'll stink in the future as well?

[Bob Harrison]

Question about Schen.
What about throwing him up on forward for a game or 2. Let him run around, crash a few people, get a few shots and maybe take his mind off his problems on Defence.

Then let him go back to his regular position with a new attitude.