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.

Comments

[Math Guy]

Actually in the last 100 games there have been 218 points available (with 18 overtime games) so the leafs have 92 of 218 points for a percentage record of 42.2% (.422). Sorry, it's worse than you think.

[KeithT]

Damien I doubt you really think that either the Wayner or MacT are the answers.

[ams]

Are you sure about that percentage? Looks more like 37 percent to me...???

[Rob Sykes]

Its about time someone ..anyone..even Mr.Cox brought Wilson to the carpet..no offence to Wilson..but i've been watching the leafs closely..and he isnt a very good coach...he's more the old school shout and hope type..epic fail in todays NHL...but alas..Burke is too up in his own ego to do anything..he's under the misguided belief that a poor copy of the 76' Flyers will win it all..Leafs lead the league in another stat...most 4th liners used on 4 lines :D

[Matthew Karelse]

Hey Damian,
37 wins in 100 games is a 46% winning percetage?
I don't think so!
Matthew

[Billion Dollar Belfour]

On any other team, a coach who led his team out of the gate to the worst start in franchise history, and then failed to improve much beyond that in the ensuing month, would have been canned. There is an inherent conflict of interest in the fact that Burke and Wilson are GM/coach for both Team USA and the Leafs. It would appear that at the present moment Burke is putting the interests of his part-time employer (Team USA) ahead of those of his full-time employer (Leafs). If that is true, there is something very wrong with that. The media, our supposed "watchdogs", has been by and large asleep on this glaring problem.

[Paul]

Gretsky and MacTavish are mentioned as possible replacements for Wilson but I very seldom hear mention of Ted Nolan. Has he completely worn out his welcome in NHL circles because from what I can remember he was a pretty decent coach. On another note, I can only assume that one way contracts are the reason some of the Leaf slugs are still playing in the NHL when there appear to be capable players with the Marlies who could do no worse than what the Leafs are currently throwing on the ice game after game.

[Wild Wes]

It's too bad their isn't a Worst Coach of the Year Award, or else Wilson would be the runaway winner!

[Frank E]

Poor Burke...he does a decent job of upgrading the talent to a level that should have the Leafs competing night after night with a shot at the playoffs. Then it turns out that his best buddy Ron Wilson is a demotivating stiff of a coach, incapable of creating any sort of stable work ethic or a solid defensive system...Burke's in a real pickle. Look for Wilson to be fired this summer unless something significant occurs with this team.

[Art]

Fans seem to forget that the Leafs are in a rebuilding stage and losses, mistakes and inconsistent play should be no surprise. Sure Burke and company traded away early draft picks for Phil Kessel but in Phil we got what looks like a great player now instead of gambling on an unknown prospect down the road. Hockey is supposed to be entertainment and the Leafs are entertaining and some of the games have been fun to watch (some not so much) but let's look for the positives instead of always crapping on them.

[Steve Martin]

Lets face it, get rid of Wilson.He has done very little for this team.The truth is "The Leafs stink again this year.The team needs to make some changes if it hopes to get into the playoffs.I've been watching the Leafs since 1963.That's quite a number of yrs.I've seen it all and this yr they are going no where unless changes are made.Maybe then they will start to play as a team.They need to start with the defense.So far............Just awful.

[general borschevsky]

"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."

Question: Or what? Where's the pressure to do anything if he's got nothing to lose? How bad do they have to be before Wilson's job security becomes a motivating factor for him? Seriously, how bad do they have to be for that happen?

[Dave]

Here we go with another experts opinion!! He is a hall of fame coach and these replacements you talk about are not!!!! Maybe the fact that we have under performed should be the talent level. These players are just bad and why is it that wearing a Leaf sweater makes you better than what the opinion around the league is? This blog is just another "Knee jerk" reaction, if the team sucks "fire the coach". Thank goodness we have real management who do not care less what the media thinks. This time around the tail does not wag the dog as it did in past years.

[Garmo]

While I have never been a huge fan of Wilson, what do you people expect? Besides Kessel, the entire offence is a bunch of 3rd and 4th liners. When Matt Stajan is your number one centre, you have big problems. He would be lucky to make the 3rd line on pretty much any other team. I give Burke a bit of a break, as it takes time to revamp an entire team...but he brought this on himself with talk of the playoffs.

[Lew McClain]

As it has been said before.. Even a mob has a leader. No captain, no positive influence. This coach just demeans his players. More than once he has stated the lack of talent etc. Well why were they successful in the minors, jr's, or on other teams? The Leafs need a coach, and a captain....

[Jon K.]

Craig MacTavish and Gretzky aren't good enough coaches for this bunch. The best one could do is bring in a defensive specialist, like a Lemaire, and teach this group to play shutdown hockey.

[Steve@The Spectator]

Damien, I found it interesting to hear your comments on the FAN Monday, suggesting that the playoffs aren't necessarily beyond possibility. The math suggests otherwise. By your own earlier estimation, it should take approximately 94 points or so to qualify for the playoffs. The Leafs currently have 11. To reach the posteason would require 83 points from 64 games. That means the Leafs must win 19 more games than they lose (in regulation) over the remainder of the season, however you slice it.
They have currently won three games. Total. Out of 18.
You're right, I guess technically it's possible. I suppose it's possible that I might one day marry Beyonce. Or you might grow a full head of dreadlocks.

[Geoff Turner]

He's in Bill Laforge territory.

[Mike]

Damien, If anybody has a record that is worse than the Leafs, it is you in your role as critic. You continue to focus on the symptoms rather than the disease. The Leafs are where they are because that's how good they are. They are a team with primarily four fourth lines. Benching Matt Stajan for the next millenium will not make him into Sydney Crosby.
And yet you continue to let Leaf management off the hook. You drank the coolaid that the club was serving about busting up Club Muskoka and you were one of the chief cheerleaders as the Leafs lopped off the heads of the latest scapegoats- McCabe, Tucker, Colaiacovo, Kubina- with the promise that the new crop would be better. They let these players go for virtually nothing and none of the replacements has played any better. The rebuilding process that the Leafs promised lasted just one year and then they went back to the failed tactics that have guaranteed mediocrity for the past 40 years. They traded away prospects and draft choices for an outside chance of makihng the playoffs. With Brian Burke's latest antics in trading away their number one draft choice for the next two years, they've likely solidified another decade of mediocrity. The first step they can take to change is the institute an iron-clad rule, call it the Burke rule, that forbids trading away their first two draft choices under any circumstances.

[Brian]

He is not a bad coach however maybe he is not the right coach for this team. Ron Wilson does not like the media attention and well it is clearly obvious his massive ego is getting quite boring. The Leafs need a coach that can related to the younger players and instill a system that players can enjoy and learn easily.
Luke Schenn is close to be ruined by Wilson here is a kid that was playing regular minutes being told he could be another Adam Foote. Well when I see this promising defenceman I see a kid loosing his confidence. I would not have my best friend has my coach to me their could possible conflicts of interest. Craig MacTavish would be good choice because of his coaching of the young Oilers so he could relate better to the younger kids. The season is not over yet but the Leafs management have to make that tough decision or else this season could be well over.

[NJS]

It's no secret.. at this point Wilson has to go.
If the player's are repeatedly coming out looking un-interested and not playing at the level they're capable, then it is the coach's fault for not finding a way to motivate them. All signs point to the idea that Ron's has lost his dressing room and players are just tuning him out. The empty threats and nonchalant attitude to losses will do that. I say he needs to go the route of Sam Mitchell a la the Raptors and beat it. He's no longer the man to run this team - they're not responding to him.

[Math Wiz]

Math guy,

There have been 18 overtime defeats, but that doesn't include the Leafs overtime wins (meaning even more games where 3 points were awarded). So technically, by your logic, there have been even more points that the Leafs have missed out on. But in 100 games, at most, the Leafs could have picked up 200 points. Sorry, it isn't worse than Damien thinks.

[other mark]

As they say, if you need to make a change and you can't 'fire' 23 players, where does that leave you? Wilson's act was bound to eventually grow stale. He talks the talk but doesn't walk the talk. Players can't respect that. Don Cherry got this one right.

[PAT]

Phil Kessle is about to find out what Sundin had to deal with all those years - nobody to play with. This has to be the worst version of the Leafs ever. Even in rebuilding there has to be some bright spots, I have yet to see them. Beauchemin is brutal, he thinks he's a winger, Kabina would sure look great right about now. I feel sorry for the players, on a team there are roles, this is a team of mostly third and fourth liners who have no supporting first and second lines - sad. And I didn't like Wilson from the start so I'm not surprised at how things are turning out.

[Bernie Mac]

THERE IS NOT ENOUGH SKILL..PERIOD