Wilson's Contract Extension Now Unlikely

The sizzling start of the Maple Leafs is now but a memory.

And Ron Wilson's opportunity to land a contract extension at some point during this season is almost certainly gone as well.

GM Brian Burke wanted to give Wilson an extension last spring, believing the Leaf head coach had earned it with a strong second half to the 2010-11 season. But then Burke re-considered, and ultimately decided to let Wilson go into this season with his contract set to expire next June. The thinking was if the team played well in the opening third of the season, the way would then be clear to give Wilson a new deal.

Early on, that scenario looked favorable to Wilson. But five losses in six games, including last night's 4-1 loss in Nashville, have sucked all the air out of the Leaf balloon. The same problems - inconsistent goaltending, suspect special teams, an absence of a strong team defensive concept - have again crept into the club's game.

It's possible that Wilson will turn this around. Moreover, it's not his doing that No. 1 goalie James Reimer went down with an injury, and certainly not his doing that management opted not to provide the club with an experienced backup to Reimer.

But the errors that doomed the club to defeat last night in Tennessee - is there ever a reason Luke Schenn should be pinching in a one-goal game? - were ones that have tormented this club over the years Wilson has been coaching, not just this season. This is a young club, yes, but the way the club plays night after night, a high-risk game with chances taken at the least opportune times, seems as much a question of coaching philosophy and execution as the age and experience of the players involved.

An Ottawa club that started terribly and looked over-matched by the rest of the league suddenly has the same number of wins as Wilson's Leafs. Briefly first overall not that long ago, the Leafs are for the first time now closer to ninth than first in the Eastern Conference.

None of this is reason to can Wilson, although if the current slump isn't resolved there will be calls for just that. But extending Wilson, unless the teams rips off a 10-game winning streak before Christmas, now seems impossible until after the conclusion of this season. Burke needs to evaluate his coach at the end of this season, whatever this season brings, not now or next month.

With the club still up for sale along with the rest of MLSE - Wayne Gretzky's potential involvement with one or more groups interested in bidding for the sports conglomerate certainly sparked an uproar yesterday - there should be internal reluctance to commit to anything on the management and coaching side without a very good reason to do so. Layer on to that an uncertain NHL labour situation, and given that teams prefer not to pay people they don't have to pay during a work stoppage, there's no reason to make financial commitments beyond this season until they are necessary.

Wilson has some injuries to deal with, and probably more coming out of the Nashville game. But the fine work of Dan Byslma and the Pittsburgh Penguins during the frequent absence of stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeny Malkin has taken the injury excuse out of the mix for more teams than just the Leafs.

If Wilson is ever going to convince a large element of the Leaf Nation that he is the coach this team needs to have, it needs to happen soon.

He'll just have to do it, one suspects, without any new contractual committment from the team for the forseeable future.

Now on to this week's mail bag:

Q: I went to the Vancouver/Predators playoff game 6 last spring. Believe it or not I got a phone call from one of their sales reps asking me how I enjoyed the game? We would love to have you back again. I told them I had a blast (what a fun city) and would love to come back. He kept in touch with me and emailed me their schedule when it came out. I noticed that the Leafs were there on Nov. 17, so I convinced 5 other friends of mine to go to Nashville for a long weekend and take in the Leafs/Predators game.

I was able to buy tickets directly from the team before they went on sale to the public, pick out what seats I wanted and saved money by dealing with the team directly. They offered assistance with any hotel deals that they had available to the team as well. I have never heard of this happening, of course living in Toronto this would never happen here. My ticket costs $90 for a centre ice first level ticket. WOW! Now I understand why Brett Wilson (Dragons Den) wanted to have a 5 per cent ownership of this team.

Fans were great in Nashville with a very good understanding of the game. Things will only get better in the future for that franchise! I know that the Maple Leafs don't have to go to these extremes to sell tickets, but what a great feeling it was to really feel your presence at the game was truly appreciated.  Well off to Nashville in the morning. We will still be cheering for the Leafs.

Bob Witmeyer, Oakville

A: The turnaround for the Preds since the days when Boots del Biaggio was being courted as an investor has been amazing. A lot of the credit goes to the stability established through GM David Poile and coach Barry Trotz, and on the business side, the new owners that have joined the club over the past 18 months and the new executives brought in to run the business. The Preds still have issues in such a small market, but this is a very well-run hockey club with, as you experienced Bob, a good sense of how to sell tickets in "Smash-ville" and beyond. Not surprised at all you had such a positive experience.

Q: Once again you hit the nail squarely on the head! I was on the Fan590 over a year ago complaining about the arrogance level of both Wilson and Burke. I find their condescending, self-serving communication skills disgraceful. I would have also thought that same level of arrogance level be reserved for people that have won something, anything.

Gary O'Neill, Toronto

A: Yeah, I basically agree. I think the way in which Wilson, in particular, carries himself publicly is somewhat of a self-preservation technique required by any coach with such a mediocre record in one city. He came to Toronto with a big rep and hasn't been able to make that convert into a better Leaf team. If and when the time comes that Wilson's job really is on the line, I'm not sure he'll get much support from any media people or outlets. You reap what you sow.

Q: Damien, do you think Burke has so many players unsigned in two years because he wants to sign Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry in two years when they become UFAs. I believe they will sign in Toronto because they love Burke and Perry wants to come home. Thank you

JJ Bancroft, Smiths Falls

A: No. The past few years have made it clear planning for young players to become free agents is a poor strategy because those players usually lock up long-term with their current team. Maybe it'll be different with Getzlaf and Perry, but it's worth nothing that when the Sedin twins were free agents, they didn't sign with the Leafs just because the manager who brought them to the NHL - Burke - was in Toronto.

Q: Damien: Just please read this: The Leafs are gutless. They have very little "Jam". That is why they won’t win consistently. You have danced around it in your articles but haven't said it. They have very little character. Too many "average" players like Steckel and Liles and Brown and Kulemin and Grabovski ....Gardiner, Komeserik, Gunnerson, these guys make a lot of dough and don't bring it even every other night. It reminds me of what Dave Keon said to a rookie that had just made the Leafs, "you made the team, but are you going to make the team better?”

Quinn McCabe, Ottawa

A: I think you're preaching to the choir, Quinn, and saying things that I and others have been saying for some time. So sorry, I can't credit you with seeing something the rest of us can't see. I would think even Burke must be dismayed with the lack of grit there is on his club. This is not the truculence and belligerence he promised.

Q: Hey Damien.

The Leafs are one big defensive SCREWUP but you knew that.

Pete Johnson, Calgary

A: Yes, I did. But I believed your use of CAPITAL LETTERS was fair and reasonable.

Q: Damien, after thinking about it at present, the NHL has one 30-second timeout per team to slow the game down. What about using the same time limit as a gauge when teams try the nonsense that occurred in the Philly-Tampa game the other night. If some team uses the "trap" to slow the game down, whistle the play dead and call 2-minute minor penalties to BOTH teams which would result in 4-on-4 hockey for 2 minutes or less -- much more exciting hockey and less ice time for "enforcers."

Michael Roncetti, Toronto

A: Interesting idea. But I would imagine we'll see no such measure taken until what happened in the Philly-Tampa came starts to become a regular occurance. Until then, this was a one-time, extreme situation.

Q: Sorry Mr. Cox this is not a question but just a comment. I've been reading your columns for well over a decade now. Agree many times with your points and disagree as well. But regarding the whole Penn State scandal why should student athletes be punished for huge, gross errors made by the authoritative figures of the school. This was a scandal of the criminal kind not one of athletics. Maybe all the profits that are made by the school from the football program be given to a charitable cause or something but to punish student athletes who the vast majority have a small window of opportunity to live out their dreams be shattered by a monster almost a decade ago.  Not fair.

Parmveer Singh, Quebec City

 A: Nope, not fair. But these kinds of scandals always affect the innocent in team sports. When Tulane University shut down it's basketball program because of a points-shaving scandal, that wasn't fair to the coaches or players who weren't involved. At Penn State, my belief is that this was institutional failure at its most egregious, and the only way to truly address that chronic problem would be to take a pause with the football program. Would innocent athletes be affected? Sure. Life ain't fair.

Comments

[Conn Smythe]

Wilson should be fired...I'm not one for automatically calling for a coach's head when their team is a slump, but Cox has hit the nail on the head with the consistent fundamental problems with this team since Wilson has taken over; GAA, PP and PK. Time for a change.

[Raj Singh]

These are some of Coach Wilson's post game comments after last night's loss:
“Best game we played all season to be honest with you from start till finish, their goalie came up huge, we came as advertised, speed, created opportunities got into the fore check, one of those games it happens like that, we did our best”
Really? And your team lost 4-1? In real professional sports world only winners linger around and keep their jobs. That includes coaches. In the peculiar and antithetical world of Toronto Maple Leafs mediocrity and failure equals success and accomplishment.

[Fred]

If this were any other company Wilson would have been axed along time ago for non-performance. This team needs to be shaken up and maybe then these over paid spoiled children will start to perform. Where is the accountability?

[RRWM]

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that RW will retire from coaching after this season and take a front office job with BB. There never was a contract extension discussed or planned, but they had to spin it properly for you media fools and the rabid Leafs nation.

[Jeff Prince]

@ Damien

So the Leafs fire ron wilson, whats does that accomplish?

Reimer is still out with no time table for return, we have no backup (as you always mention), we have an injury prone stop gap first line centre, and a group of players who in general do not know how to win.

Sure you can make a coaching change and it might shake up the team a bit, but it doesnt change the players on the team. There needs to be more size, toughness, and LEADERSHIP up front.

[Glen]

The time for a Leafs head coaching change is now, not the end of the season. Since Wilson was brought in as head coach the team has turned over players and a couple of assistant coaches, yet they still have PP & PK near the bottom of the league. The only common denominator in that is Wilson. Don't wait to miss the playoffs again because Burke is afraid to pull the trigger on this firing. One lucky streak by a goaltender should not save his job.

Regarding the Leafs goaltending issues, I still do not understand why the have Gustavsson if they aren't going to play him. As I have said before I believe the Leafs has shattered his confidence. His first year with the team he was 3 games over .500 while playing for a team that was 8 games under .500 This year he wins 4 games, same as the starting goaltender, and he was rewarded by having the goaltender from the minors come up and play instead of him. Why keep the guy around? When Reimer comes back will Gustavsson still be the backup?? Makes no sense to me.

[Steve C.]

Ahhh, what a silver lining this is around the current losing streak. Getting Wilson out of town would be such a breath of fresh air, I can hardly wait. And Gretzky possibly being part of the Leafs (finally)? Wow, thanks for the good thoughts today Damien.

[Aaron Campbell]

Umm... no mention of injuries to Grabovski, McCarthur, Armstrong or Connelly??? That's like half of your top 6 forwards and your starting goalie out, no wonder they have been struggling a bit.

[O'Malley]

C'mon Quinn McCabe, you can't have a team full of Crosby's and Malkins. And while I agree that grit is a problem, guys like Gardiner and Liles are there to be offensive defensemen. Liles is better than average and a useful puck mover. Gardiner looks like a keeper too - they're not the problem on this team.

With regard to the other guys Komisarek, Brown, Gunnarson - I agree. I'd add MacArthur to that list - he's too streaky and I get the feeling he just doesn't show up for every game. Steckel is a face-off specialist, and that's all. Kulemin played well last year, and isn't supposed to be a grit player, but he certainly hasn't done much this year. Grabovski...the man works and come to play every night, but he's just not that good. The Leafs can certainly use some more A-list offensive talent (and some more A-list defensive talent too ).

[RRWM]

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that that a RW contract extension has never been discussed or planned. He will retire at the end of the season and join BB in a front office capacity. They just have to spin it properly for you media fools and the rabid Leafs Nation that you spin your crap to for hits and sales. It's called the double-spin effect that Leafs management unfortunately has to use in this hockey mecca due to the media speculation/interpretion/marketing barrier b/w the Leafs and their fans.

[Ron]

Right on Damien. The Leafs were always going to be life and death this year to make the playoffs. Burke's option of trying to build a Cup contender without some number one or very high draft picks may work out in the end but at this time it appears to be a very long process. He has some depth in the organization at both management and player level but he still does not have a couple of studs that he can build the team around. He is trying to fit in pieces but does not have the foundation to build on. I believe he has one more year on his contract and maybe the old Leaf panic management is starting to set in as he watches the same bad habits play out on a regular basis.It may be time for a young coach to come in and change the method of teaching.

[DC]

hmm, who could we replace the bench with? Crawford at the helm with Gilmour and Gill as assistants? Wilson and the other college grads to Kingston? Fair swap I say.

[Geoff Read]

Wilson's attitude is certainly obnoxious, but I think you're wrong to give Burke a pass (sort of). I heard him on CBC radio last year talking about a PhD thesis that'd been done demonstrating that the golden horseshoe could support not one but two more NHL teams. Now, granted, you can't expect Burke, given who pays his salary, to agree with that proposition, but he was so condescending towards and dismissive of the guy who'd done it, without backing any of his statements up with evidence, that it turned me definitively off the guy. He's an obnoxious, arrogant blowhard who personifies the culture of entitlement at MLSE.

[paul]

the arrogance level of both Wilson and Burke. I find their condescending, self-serving communication skills disgraceful - the reder who posted this has summed everhting up to a tee on these 2 ego happy buzzons

[johnnyk]

Wilson may be a dork or whatever but even if he is canned the new guy gets to work with the same lame bunch. Execution on the ice, not executing Wilson, is the answer. Unfortunately, the bottom line is these guys are not that talented, they are mostly has-beens, castoffs, AHLers and marginals other than Kessel and he is far from a complete player.

[Peter]

Damien, going for the easy congratulatory comments? It's easy to crap on Leafs when they are in a slump...
It's probably time for Wilson to go, all right. You can not have consecutive bad seasons in this city.
But, how is that the coach in Nesville is praised to haven while they haven't win anything ever? Why is it fine there but not in TO?

[Spanky]

Wow Damien, hardly an article is ever written by you that doesn't comment somewhere on how Luke Schenn pooched something (do you carry some sort of deep seeded animosity towards this young player). Luke had a tough start to this season but the last two games he has started to play much better. Last nights pinch was not that unreasonable if the high forward had reacted properly in support. The standard mistakes that young teams will make! Can you tell me something though....what exactly does Dupuis bring to this team, no hands, can't catch a pass, not fast, not a big hitter, so so shot blocker, not much grit, can't fight? He doesn't cost much though.

[RCR6]

When is Brian Burke going to realize it's time to promote Dallas Eakins. Given the job he has done with the Marlies, the time has come. The Leafs are going nowhere with the current coaching staff

[prize maple]

This line from a 70's song sums up the Leafs coaching situation; "How long has this been going on, how lo-o-ong?". The Leafs continue to play one of the least disciplined styles in the NHL today. They do not possess anywhere near the level of talent to play a high risk, trading chances, style of game. Yet, night after night this is how they play. Brian Burke has often stated that he wishes his team to play a high-tempo "entertaining" style, so perhaps Wilson has orders to provide this garbage. Either way, the Leafs, as currently constructed, can't possibly go very far playing this way. Defensive hockey may be boring to some people (although I prefer to see structured hockey), but it does win games. Too bad Dave Tippet is already employed.