Not a Statue in Sight

Let's get the nonsense out of the way immediately.

Checked out newspapers, websites and TV highlight reels this morning. Not a single person mentioned "building a statue" in honor of James Reimer, let alone putting him in the Hall of Fame or starting to prepare a screenplay on his life in hockey.

Did read and hear and see lots of mentions about how Reimer got his first NHL shutout last night against Carolina, about how he has played very well now that the Leafs have gone through pretty much every other goaltending option, about how he's a nice young man and how nine games do not a goaltending career make.

So when you hear Ron Wilson start whining about how media coverage in Toronto is ruining Reimer, about how people over-react to everything, remember that wasn't the case at all, that instead most people have a measured response to watching a fourth round pick become the Leafs best goalie at the moment.

When you hear Wilson start blaming "you guys" in the media, take it for what it is, the coach who can't handle the heat in Toronto blaming the people he blames for everything.

Second, two wins, and yet not a mention about how the Leafs are going to win the Stanley Cup this spring. Or next spring. Or the spring after that.

So when the clever folks among you snort "Start planning the parade" when the Leafs come up in conversation, remember nobody in the media and only the silliest of fans are saying such a thing.

Seems people are pretty grounded about the prospects for this hockey club around here.

A few more hockey thoughts before heading off for eight days in the sun.

Just because Reimer looks pretty darn good right now doesn't mean its time to trade Jonas Gustavsson. Patience, people. Don't forget, there were so many in the fall who thought the Leafs had one of the best bluelines in the NHL and imagined part of that defence corps could be traded away to bring back something big in return. What you want to do is build depth, and right now the Leafs appear to be building depth in goal and on defence. Hold on to as much of that depth and add to it.

Sure looks like Phil Kessel wasn't bothered one tiny bit by being taken last in the all-star draft. In his first two games back, he's been the most dynamic player on the ice for either team. While I understand there are those that have already decided that Tyler Seguin (eight goals, nine assists in his first 50 NHL games) and a player to be selected likely to be selected in the top 10 of this spring's NHL draft already add up to more than Kessel, I'm still thinking its worth waiting to see how this turns out. Players in Toronto seem to get either over-rated or criticized to the point their value is barely recognized, but the truth on Kessel is that he is a winger with explosive speed who can do things offensively that only a small number of players in this league can do.

It doesn't make him Rocket Richard. But he's also more than nothing, which is what many would have you believe the Leafs got in that deal.

Next, interesting to see the Edmonton Oilers have slipped into dead last again. Guess they've got their sights set on Gabriel Landeskog, likely the top pick in the June entry draft. But let's make a date for Jan., 2014. Only then, really, will we have any real evidence on whether the Oilers are doing their rebuild correctly or whether Brian Burke has done a better job with different ideas in Toronto. Like the Kessel trade, you're just going to have to wait and let this play out. In Edmonton, I see Taylor Hall with a good chance to be a 35-40 goal scorer in the NHL, a couple of exciting prospect in Jordan Eberle and Magnus Paajarvi and then a bunch of holes that need to be filled by a team that is rated the second least attractive club to be part of in the NHL in a recent survey by NHL players.

The Oilers may indeed be on course for a championship. But there's tons of work to do, and right now, they're significantly worse than the Leafs, who have a similarly youthful team with more kids (Keith Aulie, Nazem Kadri, Brad Ross, Jerry D'Amigo etc) possibly on the way. Edmonton has high hopes for Curtis Hamilton, Tyler Pitlick and Anton Lander, among others. It's impossible to forecast right now which team has the better kids, although Hall is certainly the top blue-chipper in either organization. That said, the gulf that some would have you believe exists between the rebuilding approach of the Oilers and the Leafs is theoretical, at best. The St. Louis Blues have gone about their business in the same way as the Oilers, including picking defenceman Erik Johnson first overall in '06, and right now their rebuilding efforts are barely ahead of Toronto's.

Fact is, whether you're talking the Oilers, Leafs or Blues, nobody really knows which club is really on the right track. There are just too many variables.

 

 

 

Comments

[Neil friesen]

you are right on ,its good for us Blue Fans,for as long as it lasts!!! a ray of hope,, ,Kessel is another story!!
Riemer is young ,it may well be ,he is the man!! Lets enjoy his ride with him!!

[koho]

Yes! sometimes sanity and fact will prevail Damien, but this being LeafsNation you know it's not going to happen that way. If the Leafs tack on a couple of more wins and Reimer again has a good outing, you just know what will happen. Conversely of course, it may serve to shut the fire Wilson/Burke crowd up, even if only for a little while!

[Robert]

The coach who can't handle the heat in Toronto? Common, I don't like the guy, I think he is the wrong coach for this young team, but, the Toronto press are at best difficult to deal with: everyone of them more knowledgeable than the coach.

[Brian Robinson]

In regards to St. Louis - I don't believe it is a fair comparison. They have had their top three forwards out for much of the season (Oshie - broken ankle 31 games lost, Perron - concussion 39 games lost, McDonald - concussion 24 games lost). The Blues have lost 94 man games so far with just these three players, and McDonald and Perron have not yet returned to the lineup. Prior to these injuries, the Blues were in the top 3-4 in the conference. They are WAY ahead of the Leafs and Oilers in terms of development. Damien, you do a disservice to your readers by not do a little more research before making this type of comparison!

[Rodney]

So let me get this right Damien, only the media has the right to point fingers???Fingers can't be pointed at the media? How convenient!

[othermark]

I agree 100% with your analysis of the Leafs rebuild Damien. Very different approaches by Burke and the Leafs vs. the Oilers; only time will tell which rebuild proves to be more successful. As for your comments on Wilson, it's been clear to me for some time now that this guy does not belong in this market. In San Jose or Washington, he could pretty much say whatever he wanted and it would be greeted with a collective yawn (assuming there were people listening). In Toronto, his bipolar approach to the media is just another example of a guy who doesn't understand motivating players. He'll use the media to throw a guy under the bus one minute, then circle the wagons the next. I'm sure players in the Leafs organization learned long ago to tune him out. He should take a lesson from the Blue Jays young GM: keep your mouth shut until you have something to say and, if you are asked about a specific player, always try to say something positive (as opposed to negative or defensive).

[Ken Baumgartner]

Plan the parade route, because wtih Reimer, we can now trade Giggy, Gustavsson and Rynnas for Brad Richards. Reimer is the savior we covet. Wilson is right in blaming the media and we are so close to a championship. In fact we will finish in 6th this year and make it to at least the semi's.... Just kidding!

You are correct on all counts Damien.

[Darren]

Well said Damien. By the way people are saying how terrible that trade was, It seems that many people think Kessel is an over the hill 37 yr old veteran or something of the sort. He's only 23 and still a few years away from his prime!

[Nick Martin]

Without getting carried away after nine games, Reimer is one of three goalies the Leafs have with terrific minor league numbers. It's been a while since anyone could say that, or at least say that without watching those goalies rushed to the NHL too soon or traded away.
A few weeks ago, I saw Reimer give up three goals in the first 22 minutes here in Winnipeg. He's going to have bad games, inevitably, but he, Scrivener, and Rynnas have to be seen as positives so far.

[Anthony]

The best Toronto sports article this year as it relates to the leafs, Kessel and the re-builds in these 3 cities. The Brophy and Spector reporting is being put to shame when compared to Damien's thoughtful anaylsis. Patience and time will tell. As far as I'm concerned Burke has put some great young pieces in place to bulid this team. Let this build come together. No plan B needed. For once let the GM finish what he started and then you can claim he was succesful or not. Way to early to be making the judgements you hear in such foolish and emotional reporting supplied by Spector and Brophy.

[Luke R]

Just like how Ron Wilson misinterprets what the media thinks about building statues and praising players too quickly, I think you've done the same with Phil Kessel and the fans.

I think most sensible fans realize that Kessel is a good player and that he does bring a skill set that few have. I think most fans would say the mistake wasn't getting Phil Kessel, but the evaluation that Burke made of this team when he got here. He thought we were better and so he decided to trade those first rounders, thinking they wouldn't be this high. So, right there it is. That's the mistake, not Phil Kessel himself.

You can't possibly think Burke would make that trade today knowing we'd finish in last place last year and head towards the basement again this year, can you? I don't care if it's hindsight. It was Burke's job to evaluate this team properly and build based on that evaluation. He didn't. He has to take responsibility for that.

[othermark]

Anthony, you are exactly 'the fan' that Damien was calling out. Would Burke make the same trade for Kessel knowing that he would end up in the basement last year and be close to the basement this year? Who knows. Maybe he would. And maybe, a couple years from now, you'll look at the deal and say it was actually a solid one. You have not seen Kessel at his prime and despite the hype, you don't know if Seguin and the B's next pick will actually pan out. Sequin looks pretty good, but you have no idea what his plateau is. Kessel on the other hand can be penciled in for 35-40 goals annually over the next 5 years. At 23 he's already a proven young goal scorer. Is a bird in the hand worth 2 in the bush? Who knows? You seem to think you do... which makes me laugh.

[moe green]

Well said Damien especially regarding Kessel. Maybe the last pick at the All-Star break was just the kick in the pants this kid needed. My criticism has never been about the trade. It been about his apparent lack of effort most nights. Not lately though. Lately he's been good.

[GCC]

Don't forget about the second round pick that Boston got in the Kessel trade. It wasn't just Seguin + Toronto's first round pick this year that Boston got, they got a second round pick last year as well, which they used to pick Jared Knight. I have no idea if he'll be an NHL player some day, but he could be. And like you said, Damien, it's important for teams to have depth.

[Billy Biroux]

Kessel. All flash and little substance.
No goals past nine games.
Oh he had a few chances.
But he didn't score.
Teams know to keep him to the outside and he's neutralized.
Seguin may have fewer points, but he makes one sixth what Kessel gets.
And when you throw in what the next first rounder would have gotten, combined they'd make one third what Kessel gets for one season.
Then again why Burke is paying a guy who isn't close to a point a game guy, who is a a huge minus, and isn't even the top goal scorer on the team is another question

[Duncboy in Bermuda]

The Kessel trade should be evaluated on a year-by-year basis. Since we don't know the future, that is the only sensible way to approach it. The Leafs won the trade last year, and they are going to win the trade this year. So, for me, the Leafs are leading this trade 2-0. What will future years bring? Dunno. Maybe 6-0 for the Leafs, maybe 4-2 for the Bruins. We will just have to wait.

[Guelph Hockey Fan]

Okay we get that your not a fan of Wilson because he is blunt and isn't nec. a fan of you and some others in the media. So what? I enjoy reading your sports column but more often than none, I completely dis-agree with your analysis. Lots of times I think your totally off the mark and I could see why Wilson would be disagreeable with some of the media. As for the media not over-reacting on Reimer, well its stated in today's Start that Reimer has been dazzling. Um a 5 - 3 record doesn't seem fantastic to me? As for Kessel, being the most dynamic player on the ice with out scoring any goals will not win you many hockey games. In fact I would take Clark McArthur over Kessel any day.

[Declan]

Finally, a good article. Not all of it, though.

I hate Wilson and his smug demeanor, but "everyone" will remember the bullsh1t with Kadri and bringing him in as a saviour. Don Cherry saying he had hands of gold, etc.

All nonsense. Kadri should never have been brought up in the first place. Stay down and dominate and earn a spot. There are lifesized murals of the guy and I think that he is referring to that sort of hype and marketing that the media definitely buy into.

MLSE marketing department and MSM that help sell it are bad for young player development in Toronto. Luke Schenn has barely made it out alive.

He's worried that "you guys" MSM and Bloggers will start to overhype him. It's started already, but thankfully the kid is a mormon and probably doesn't have anything electronic in his household.

[Bill Hunt]

Damien:
A big part of the Leafs problem has always been the fact that the media builds players into celebrities and heroes with not very much on their resume. That's always been the case, and while you're being overly sarcastic in the Reimer "build a statue" comments from Wilson, his point is just that: third and fourth liners are made to be celebrities and heroes and are overrated the instant they put on Leaf sweaters.
That was Wilson/Burke's point when they talked about breaking down the country club culture on the hockey team. Players are overrated by the fans and media to begin with. If they play well, they're made into Gods. When they don't deliver to the unrealistic standards set in the media -- and hence by fans who buy and believe the crap -- they're dismissed as terrible players, bums, hobos who can't play the game.
The truth is often somewhere between the two.
You don't like Wilson because he challenges you guys on that very principle. He calls you on it. How dare he! You'd sooner have a coach in place who just repeats back to you what you already believe.
I'm not a huge Wilson fan, as apparently 24 per cent of the 318 players polled, and the Toronto media aren't. But the guy has 600 NHL wins. Four NHL teams have thought he was a pretty good coach.
I'm sure he's taken more heat from many a smarmy reporter. He'll be fired soon and you'll all dance on his grave on the way out of town. But if the Leafs are ever going to get good, breaking that cycle of making guys heroes for ordinary achievements will be a big part of making that happen. Wilson will deserve at least some credit for that

[Puckhead]

Real nice article Damian One day your columns make me seethe (fighting, headshots) & other days I think you're the most level-headed hockey writer out there. Man, I'm confused....
.
But I digress, it appears the guys next doors disagree with you. The top read column is entitled "The ‘miracle' from ‘the middle of nowhere'. Looks like the media is at least mixing the cement to begin building the statue.

[prahapete]

Patience is a tough sell these days. Decades of Leaf "ownership and management" have preceded the Burke era. Not going to be fixed as fast as I want. Build the base and then add the impact players. Kind of like the Canucks.

[DS]

The reason why the Leafs are so bad right now comes down to two huge problems: lack of 1st round players on their team and horrible goaltending. Lets review the 1st rounders the Leafs have taken over the last ten years: Colaiacovo (average player - no longer with the team), Boyes (traded for Owen Nolan), Steen (average player - no longer with team), then JFJ traded first rounder for Leetch, who played for half a season, Rask (traded for Raycroft - probably the worst trade in the NHL the last 20 years and the real reason why the Leafs are so bad right now), Tlusty (average player - traded), then 1st rounder traded for Toskala, which the Sharks used to draft Logan Couture. That is one outstanding record. Thanks Pat Quinn and JFJ! Second, ever since Eddy was hurt in 2004-2005, the Leafs have consistently had the worst goaltending in the NHL. The worst. Based on save percentage and goals against. Having a goalie that can take pressure off a weak team is huge. Just ask the Rangers, Wild, etc. If the Leafs would have had goaltending in the middle of the pack the last four years they probably would have challenged for a playoff spot.

Is getting a 40 goal scorer worse than Seguin + top 10 pick? Maybe. Is trading a potential Vezina winner in Rask for Raycroft the worst trade in Leafs history? Yes. Burke has added some good players with potential, drafted some good players, the Leafs have cap room, and he made one questionable deal for a good player, so I'm reasonably happy with the job he's done. So I think you can argue with some of the moves that Burke has made over the last few years but lets be honest about why the Leafs are so bad right now, and it has nothing to do with the Kessel trade.

[Mr. Nice]

Damian- Your comments make you look like your in Burke's back pocket or are you just trying to make some noise?

[Arthur Bailey]

It's cool, measured and insightful posts such as this, Damien, which makes me glad you are not a Leafs Fan (or else you would not think this way). Still, I wonder how much you can enjoy a sport without someone to root for.

during the all star game, I HAD to choose a side to root for, because the game was kind of boring when I was just watching for the exciting hockey. A rooting interest really adds enjoyability to the proceedings.

[shea]

I put a Reimer photo up as my Facebook icon, does that count as a statue?