MLSE Off the Market and the Friday Mail Bag

As it turns out, a buyer couldn't be found for MLSE.

Not at $1.5 billion or more. Not under current economic conditions.

So the nameless, faceless, championship-less mandarins of the Ontario Teachers Pension Fund, those people who have sponsored the wholly unsuccessful current era in Toronto hockey, basketball and soccer, will keep their stake in the sports conglomerate.

And nobody applauded.

The news, and a passionate-less statement, came from the Teachers this morning. No appreciative note to fans, or promises of increased efforts to win. Nothing, other than complimenting themselves on torontomapleleafs.com as "great owners." The fund calls MLSE a "very successful investment" but promised no other comment.

These suits just don't get it. Never have.

The pension fund has made lots of money owning MLSE, but despite hiring big names like Bryan Colangelo and Brian Burke, hasn't figured out ways to move its basketball and hockey properties into the elite of either the NBA and NHL. It can develop and open a good sports bar; winning games has never been something it has done well.

With more than $100 billion in assets, MLSE is but a small part of the pension fund's holdings, and Leaf fans need to understand that. Even under MLSE, the Leafs are only a part of the puzzle. In a generation, the hockey franchise has gone from being owned by a man who's sole interest was being the proprietor of the team to being owned by a corporate entity with only a passing interest in the needs of the hockey club.

And there's no end in sight. Now on to this week's mail bag;

Q: Damien, how goes it? Wondering should the Leafs continue to play .500 hockey for the next while, as in win one, lose one, do you think they will make a trade, fire Wilson, or keep the status quo?

Terry Halloran, Boissevain, Man.

A: Plan seems to be hold with the status quo. I believe Brian Burke is kicking tires everywhere, but until James Reimer returns, holding the line seems to be the game plan. And probably the right one.

Q: One of the faults of the Brian Burke regime is its poor track record with assessing and projecting its talent.

They tend to lean towards optimism (Pegging draft picks in the Kessel trade, Bozak as a No. 1 centre).  Obviously no one could have predicted James Reimer's injury, the absolute worst case. But with a second-year goalie, how many times have we seen them take a step back or completely fall off (Steve Mason)?

As a fan I hoped Reimer could continue his quality of play, I didn’t expect him to be a whole lot better or a whole lot worse.

But as a GM, you need some contingency plans, especially when a second-year goalie is your starter.

When the contingency plan is Jonas Gustavsson, given his playing and health track record, then it seems poorly thought out. (I have to wonder how much better the Monster would be if he played a full season in the AHL before joining the Leafs? The adjustment from Swedish elite league to NHL is a big deal for a goalie)

Now With James Reimer seemingly closer to returning; what are the chances he returns to form and can finish the season playing like he did last year? I don’t seem him starting an NHL game until January. (A couple more weeks healing, then conditioning in the AHL…)

Can the Monster hold the fort for another month?

Matt Ferraro, Guelph

A: That's a long intro to a short question. Gustavsson has been somewhat better, but getting massive offensive support has been a big key to that. Ben Scrivens will be the odd man out when Reimer returns. So the evidence seems to be that Gustavsson can hold the fort, particularly as long as Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul remain as hot as they have been.

Q: On Wednesday, the Leafs sat in second place (in the conference). Everyone in the playoff race (8th place and up), including Washington in 8th, can catch the Leafs because they have games in hand. This just might be a "House of Cards". The Leafs will be fighting for a playoff spot until the end of the year. What da ya think?

Andy Pizans, Longford Mills

A: Sounds like your assessment is bang on. The only change to this, in my mind, would be if Reimer returns and starts playing like an all-star. Otherwise, they'll be part of a pack grinding it out, hoping to get a playoff berth, to the end.

Q: Is it possible that MLSE will never panic about the Leafs as long as they continue to sell out the seats - boxes - condos – etc., etc.?

An unhealthy balance sheet may be the only thing that actually forces the Leafs to do something radical —- i.e.: fire Wilson -- or (God forbid)fire Burke.

Pete Geraghty, Whitby

A: Well, based on the decision of the pension fund to keep the team, it looks like an unhealthy balance sheet isn't in the cards. This has been the theory about the Leafs for years, and there's no question that it means little or nothing to ownership from a financial perspective whether the hockey club finished first or last. That said, they've hired some expensive, qualified people to run the Leafs and Raptors and otherwise stood back and watched. To some, that would be ideal ownership.

Q: Hey Damien,

Love your columns and hearing your opinions on the Fan. I was wondering if you've heard anything about the status of the improvements to NHL rinks that were shown in the pre-season and R&D camp? The curved glass at the ends of benches, the goal verification line and the thinner mesh at the top of the net. The NHL was saying during the pre-season they wanted these changes for the start of the season, but I haven't heard anything about them since. Have you heard anything about the holdup?

Cheers,

Dan Thompson, Toronto

A: All logistical. I would have thought the the verification line, in particular, would have been instituted by now. But apparently there's still bugs needed to be sorted out. The hockey world awaits.

Q: Hi Damien,

Love your column. Best substance per word ratio among hockey commentators.

My question is more of a beginning of the season question, but here goes: What is with Brian Burke and "truculence"? Every year, the Leafs miss the playoffs, and every offseason, the thing Burke always thinks is missing is the ever-elusive "truculence." As if the Leafs suffer from a dearth of 3rd-line forwards and no. 4 defencemen.

If he was bringing in Corey Perrys, Ryan Getzlafs and Milan Lucics, fine, but on a team that has (1) no reliable starting or backup goaltender, (2) no No. 1 centre, and (3) only one first-line player, his obsession with role players is kind of myopic. Role players can certainly enhance a team on the cusp, but the Leafs are not on the cusp.

Richard Blanco, New York

A: Well, it's a lot easier to get role players than stars. To me, there's no question the Leafs aren't nearly as physical (or truculent) as team as they need to be, that is, if you understand physical to be the need to be an aggressive, hitting team that pushes the play and dictates the game. Boston proved last spring how having a strong, physical club can pay off. That's the kind of team Burke would like to develop. In three years on the job, it's still a work in progress.

Q: While certainly not a Wilson fan, Damien, I do not think Burke will hang the pink slip on Wilson. Because if Reimer wasn't hurt, things would be a lot different as you know. Yes, there are other team deficiencies which the coach is responsible for but had Reimer been playing all the time, his goaltending would have covered up many of those deficiencies. Plus they have a ton of injuries to boot right now. It's kind of a tough spot for Burke because he made the terrible mistake in the offseason, not getting a proper talented backup goalie in the event Reimer got hurt. Doug McLean at the start of the season said that Leafs would go a lot farther this year PROVIDED REIMER DIDN'T GET HURT. Boy was he ever right on that one.

Paul McNamara, Midland

A: I don't think anybody believed Wilson would get fired this season unless the team got off to a horrible start. The issue has been whether, and when, he'll get an extension. Look, you cannot criticize a GM who stubbornly stands by his coach. You and I may or may not think Wilson is the right man to coach the Leafs, but you have to admit it's refreshing in this day and age to see a GM not use firing the coach as the first and easiest option when things don't go well.

Comments

[Sherman]

The Pension Fund has done everything the fans have asked in regards to the Leafs. Hire Brian Burke at an ungodly amount, the fans waited for a whole year and he came promising to win the cup and bring John Tavares to Toronto. He has the whole cap to spend on players and has no restrictions on who Burke gets and yet they still have no talent. The Teachers fund is not to problem here, they are willing to spend the fact remains, the best talent has no interest in coming here. The fans are lucky to have an owner who simply leaves the handling to the GM. The problem is Burke is past his best before date and the fans would melt down if he was fired. As for the Raptors, Colangelo was the highly touted GM prospect that when he was signed was a major deal, problem is he is a horrible GM and should be fired, but replaced with who? The Raptors have shown willingness to spend for players, again, the best don't want to be here. The owners are not to blame for the mess, stop basing the ownership, that's a bandwagon that is going nowhere!

[l;adjl;kfj]

Hi Mr.Cox,

By hiring Mr.Burke and Mr. C (thought of as the cream of the crops of GM's) how did the TEACHER"S PENSION PLAN (and I emphasis this because this isn't the "TEACHER'S" AS YOU SUGGEST) go in a direction that is seriously misguided? They were considered to be the best at what they do. The "suits" as you word it have never lost a dime? Do you blame this on them or the fan that will spend ridiculous amounts of money on something that isn't worth it? Last I looked the Leafs were a cap team and always spent more than most, even when bad management was hired (not entirely the fault of the "Pension Plan."). Come on it's getting old that the Pension Plan is being blamed for the dismal years of the Leaf's when others have a stronger hold on things that they do.

[Spiker]

I am getting tired of the constant sniping done at the Teachers' Pension Plan. The comments made about that group can be applied to any major sports team owner. At least the Teachers' Plan has hired quality senior management to improve the fortunes of the teams. Brian Burke in particular has made great strides in putting a plan together that has created an exciting young team rather than an aged team on the slide. Much money has been provided to improve scouting, coaching and player development. Best of all, the Teachers' stay out of it all and let the experts run the show unlike private and high profile owners who stick their nose into everything. So, let's give a little more credit when it is due and lay off 'these suits' comments. It is becoming a tired act and an act that is really not reflective of the current state of MLSE.

[Jimmy]

Some of these questions are preposterous. Burke made a 'terrible mistake' by not getting a 'quality backup'? Really? Just how good do you think most backup goalies are? Gustuvson is at least as good as any of the available goalies Burke could concievable get, unless he was willing to get a guy better or as good as Riemer, but why ruin the kids confidence by aquiring Corey Schneider ? Give me a break.

[Jimmy]

Secondly, the Leafs are a pretty truculant team and Burkes aquiring depth at the 3rd and 4th line is hardly "myopic". Actually, I believe he has been quite astute in finding an edge to best other managers. Most teams wont pay almost 2 million for a 4th line face off specialist (steckel) or 3 million for a 3rd line grinder (Armstrong) but Burke found an area he can exploit and the Leafs are one of the deeper teams in the league in bottom six players. Look, Lupel, Macarthur, Grabovski and Kulemin are all pretty tough guys who hit and make room on the ice. Thats 4/6 of your top line players. As for the bottom six, Armstrong, Brown, Steckel, Crabb, Boyce . All Tough. One of the things that makes the Leafs hard to play against is they can grind you on every line. Maybe by "truculance" you think the Leafs need to fight and make huge hits constantly, but that isnt what Burke meant. The Leafs are grinding team that never lets up and is hard to play against. Not to mention Schenn, Phaneuf and Komiserik is a pretty formidable trio of guys who can CRUSH YOU. If the Leafs get good goaltending, this overall team toughness will make them a cup contender, not a playoff bubble team. So, in conclusion, Burke has lived up to his mandate to make a team that is 'truculant' and to disagree is to not have watched many games. Or to only pay attention when theres a goal.

[Glen]

Well said everyone.
I am curious why when Reimer wins people say it is good goaltending but when Gustavsson wins it was, as Mr. Cox puts it, a result of "massive offensive support". In his last 4 starts he is 4-0, and has allowed 1 goal vs Washington, 1 vs Tampa, 3 vs Dallas, and 2 vs the Ducks. Clearly 3 of those games did not require massive offensive support to win.
He is now 8-4 in 13 appearances, with a save percentage of .901. What more can be expected from a back-up goaltender? As comparison, Corey Schneider is 6-4 in 12 appearances, with a .931 save percentage.