Silliness

No chance I'm getting in the middle of this Don Cherry-Brian Burke spat. Got my own wars to wage.

But let's get off this silliness about the Leafs not having enough players from Ontario. I mean seriously, people, how small do we want to get. Should Willowdale be outraged until a boy from that GTA quadrant is on the Leaf roster?

I suppose you could, if you were so inclined, be bothered if the Leafs had no Canadian player. But is Luke Schenn not Canadian enough, not homegrown as much as a kind from Haliburton would be? This is just the old xenophobia heard weekly on Saturday night squeezed a little tighter.

The point is, be upset if you wish about the quality of Burke's team. You have reason to be. But discussing the nationality of the players or coaches or executives is so irrelevant as to only be necessary for use as a straw man in an absurd debate.

Burke and Cherry are squabbling, and perhaps each man has a reasonable grievance. But to suggest this is seriously about whether the Leafs have Ontario-born players is to completely misunderstand that which is going on.

By the way, the Leafs took a player from the GTA in the first round of the NHL draft last summer. And when Burke won the Cup in Anaheim, the vast majority of players were from Canada.

You may dislike the guy or his managerial style. But he's not out to make the Leafs into Team America. He's just trying to win.

I'm pretty sure if the Leafs had no Ontarians and were in first place nothing would be said. That said, just saying the team would be better now if it had more Ontarians is as ridiculous as claiming Phil Kessel would be more successful if he just shot left-handed.

You know, like Bobby Orr did.

 

Comments

[Brian Christoph]

Burke started it when he went behind Cherry's back and tried to have him fired. That is a coward in my books, shame on you Burke.

Discussing the nationality of the players or coaches or executives normally would be irrelevant, however not in this case. Burke has on many occasions used the excuse other teams come into the Air Canada Center and play before there friends and family, thus giving them an edge because of there Ontario content. Cherry was suggesting maybe if Toronto had some Ontario players it would be an offset.

None the less, the Leafs have a very strong American influence and it is proving to be a big fail.

Having said that, if the team continues to underachieve under Randy Carlyle then Burke must go.

[ljdriscoll]

I think that the point Mr Cherry is trying to make is that the Toronto team should be an accurate reflection of the local population and that by doing this, TML is likely to garner even greater loyalty, patience and passion from the fans. The players, if they are local, are also much more likely to play with a passion and determination that goes beyond their pay packet. This is not "xenophobia" but is an ideal way to try and engender genuine and sustained high level performance from the players. I believe that this is the way forward for the team.

If you consider other professional sports bodies, such as in Europe, there are rules already in place in terms of having a certain proportion of home-grown players on the roster based upon the location of the team.

The question therefore becomes one of whether the Americans could operate their NHL teams successfully on this basis, which effectively ultimately means that the question comes down to money-making in the NHL or local pride.

[A13276]

God Cherry (and hachet man Strachan) would have this franchise that has a world wide following into a GTH club team - pathetic - can you say Montreal Canadiens? Cherry's rant comes just the night before his Sunday night movie - but that's just coincidence? A Sudbury boy, who played for the Leafs, takes over as Coach and Rosehill is recalled to the big club and Cherry takes this time to do a rant like that. It's all about you eh Don - always was. I'm done with ya - retire and take that bootlicker Mac Lean with ya!!!

[Mook]

It's always fun to cheer for a hometown player. Given the number of NHL players from Ontario in the league, it is pretty amazing that not one is on the leafs. His comment is about making the fans happy, which is accomplished by doing more than just winning.
Also, of course "if they were in first place" noone would be complaining, but that hasn't happened for over 10 years.

[ignites]

don does have a point. look at those burkie drafted - lowest % of ontario players (compared to other teams in the same period). also look at % of american player (one of the top relative to rest of league) and % of canadian player (one of the least compared to other teams)....

[Jimmy]

Never thought I'd see the day where I agree with Cox and disagree with Cherry. I think Cherry is right almost always when he sticks to game issues, but this was just stupid. The list of players he names : The Staals, Stamkos, Spezza, Nash........Come on. As if the Leafs wouldnt take every one of those players if they could. Maybe his rant would have made more sense if he had named a bunch of third liners the leafs had passed up, but it was just extremely stupid. And Burke trying to get him fired? I am sure theres more to it than that.

[Brian Mercer]

Cherry and his advisors are brilliant. They see that Burke is the best thing to happen to the show in years and are taking full advantage. The ratings for Coach's Corner will just keep going up and up as long as Burke keeps throwing softballs to Don. Keep it up Don, I find it very entertaining.

[Steve]

Well said Cox, I completly agree. Love Don Cherry and what he discusses most times, but this is crazy talk. I cannot even fathom why this point was brought up by him

[Nik Culoman]

Great blog Mr. Cox; But one more piece of information to show you how wrong Cherry is...Under the years of Quinn and JFJ aprox. 4 players were drafted from Ontario. Under Burke's tenure we had aprox. 4 drafted last year alone, and that doesn't count the Canadian/Ontario born players that he has traded for and brought into the system.

But facts get lost in a race for ratings, and some fans eat it up as look for things to hate on Burke for....But the whole picture will come clearer for Cherry and the Boo birds once these prospects make it to the Leafs and the roster make up changes once again.

But close this argument, Winning in Toronto is cure all for all that ailes this team...Lose and the boo birds want to fire the ushers who take you to your seat.

[Wayne Fairman]

Don Cherry is the classic version of the "Incessant babbling of a diseased mind"

[80s Leafs]

Why WOULD you try to get in the middle of the Cherry-Burke spat? I like Grapes, and I like Burke, each with his role: Grapes as the loud-mouthed, blustery, opinionated guy with the old-time hockey mindset, and Burke with his curmudgeonly way of presenting/defending himself. I keep the two separate. If they want to wage war with each other, let 'em go at it.
By the way, Burkie deserves a medal for being able to keep up with MacLean's roundablut pre-(R)ambled questions on Inside HOckey the other night, as I certainly couldn't.

[Moe Quevillon]

Silly is right! This is the same Donn Cherry who, during last spring's Stanley Cup Finals, declared, "I hope Vancouver wins, but MY HEART IS STILL WITH THE BRUINS. So much for Cherry the Proud Canadian! My advice: It's time to retire, Don. Moe Q.

[Steelyman]

Totally agree , build me a winner & I will be quite happy . I'm sure Burke picks the best available player from any country. Cherry , though entertaining in the past with his straight shooter approach is off base with this rant. The Leafs have a clean slate right now , lets put all the negative comments behind us now & give them a chance to finish off the season on a positive note. Even after a huge win the Tor media still seems to nitpick this team. I can't believe it.

[Steve]

Cherry was right. How do you writers keep your jobs writing this junk all day ? Oh ya, becuase you don't need facts to back up anything you say, just an opinion ... The best players in the world come from Canada, you only need to start the argument with Gretzky, Orr, Howe, Lemieux.... And a hell of a lot of them from Ontario. You have an American GM hiring a bunch of American frat boys. Paying his dues I guess. When the playoffs come and the pay cheques stop its the Canadians who grew up living and breathing hockey that are going to get you to the Holy Land. Not a bunch of frat boys who got cut from the baseball and football teams and took up hockey as a last resort because they're still good athletes and not nearly as many people play it and they stand a much better shot ... just look around at the teams that win... probably just a coincidence they have one or two full lines of players from Ontario ... they're the guys you want on your team because they live for it, it's not just a job to them.

[R. Scott]

I find it ironic that a guy who played in the U.S. and coached the Boston Bruins could take such an insular position as Mr. Cherry has taken on this one.

[Mike Rakic]

Thank you Damien for so clearly identifying what this whole "controversy" is...silly (if not downright stupid). Is it a coincidence that Don Cherry unloaded with a new high-profile rant the same weekend that the sequel to his biopic debuted on CBC?
If this were a real concern amongst teams in the NHL don't you think there would be 29 other commentators begging for local players to be on their teams? What about Nashville having a load of players for the GNA (Greater Nashville Area)? Truly laughable.

[Will]

Agreed. I don't care where the players come from as long as they win. However, Burke can't have it both ways. You can't complain other teams get all pumped up to play in Toronto because they have Ontario born players and then turn around and say a players birth certificate doesn't matter to you when defending the lack of Ontario born players on your team. Typical bs from a hyprocritical failure of a GM.

[Michael C.]

Here is the problem with management regardless of any industry from the workplace to the sports arena, people try to replicate success based upon who they know and who they have been successful with in the past. I am not a fan of Brian Burke, but I understand what he is doing. He has brought in a coach that he is familliar with and a team that either he or his management can vouch for their performance. Mr. Burke really does want to make the right decision for this team and will analyze it from evey angle.

What he is missing, and you can see it in the way he operates is the vision or ability to go outside his comfort zone and gamble. People may point out certain examples, but they are not on a grand scale. He has his inner-circle of people in management, coaching, and players that he relies on a sober second thought.

Give him another year with the draft picks and you will see that there will be more Ontario kids. He just has to become comfortable with those potentially new players around him.

The only thing that may curtail Mr. Burke's ability to draft more Ontarians is his steadfast belief in people and an unwillingness to take a big gamble. He is the captain of this ship, and rightfully or wrongfully so, you have to make decisions that are often not comfortable or sound, but feel right in your heart.

[Chop]

The team has 11 Canadians, 8 Americans, and only 1 European and 2 Russians. (if anything, it seems odd having so few Swedes and Finns).

However, this post does not address the fact that Burke does seem to trawl through the NCAA ranks. Maybe this is due to the fact that the Leafs didn't have a lot of draft picks when he came in. But his natural inclination, having played college himself, is to help out and give chances to players that he identifies himself with. And US players want to sign here, to impress the likely head of the US Olympic team.

Burke had a team in Anaheim with many CHL players through. I am not sure how much of that was due to his predecessor Murray though. Bottom line: if Dustin Brown or a Canadian equivalent becomes available, Burke signs Brown.

I admit being Canadian that I am biased towards our junior leagues being superior in terms of player development for the NHL. There are some US college players who are very good (Kessel). Equally many US players played in the CHL, like Kane, or Lafontaine, and Canadians who played college (Toewes, Heatley). Overall though if you are trying to win a Cup, I"ll go with guys who dedicated their entire lives to hockey, even at the cost of a degree.

Some teams in the US try to get players from around their own region, like Minnesota, Buffalo. It seems very strange that the Leafs don't have anyone from the largest province, that's all Cherry was saying, after Burke mentioned that 'all these Ontraio players come home and play well in front of family and friends'.

[Steve C.]

Burke said in his interview with Ron McLean that (paraphrasing) "players from Ontario on other teams come to the ACC and play the games of their lives in front of their friends and families". This is something many of have realized and pointed out for years. This should be reason enough ALONE to stack the Leafs with local boys.....or maybe just one. Toronto is one of the few sports teams in the WORLD that could field a team of local players and compete at the top levels of its sport.....thereby giving it the true meaning of 'playing for one's city'. We should take advantage of this....or maybe just one. If you, or Burke prefer such a cold, corporate version of hockey that is your prerogative, but some of are not wrong for desiring a more pure version of proffessional sports teams should look like. And by the way, a winning team of local players would be SOOOO much more satisfying than one with greedy, fickle players that can't wait to go home after the season is done. If you don't see this, you are missing the point.

[brian hancox]

Cox obviously never heard Burke during his HNIC interview Saturday night when he said, that the Leafs have to face teams that come into the ACC with 7 or 8 canadian kids on their roster and these kids play the best hockey of their lives knowing they are in front of family and relatives.
So, Mr. Cox after that statement why does Burke not have any Ontario kids on his team?i

[Al Levy]

I think it is time for Mr Cherry and his thoughts to take a journey to retirement land. He just seems to look for something these days to rant about. Don it's been fin. Enough now.

[nugentmania]

I agree with everything you're saying.....save for his emotional tributes to fallen soldiers, as well as his tear-inducing one this week for that little boy who died, I usually find Don Cherry irrelevant.......however, when Brian Burke did his interview with Ron McLean to start HNIC and decided to add on to his laundry list of reasons why he's failed at his job but none are his fault....that Ontario players come into the ACC and have the "game of their lives" in front of family and friends, then the make-up of his team is fair game. This whole individualized deadline he plans on implementing next year because they some how have it worse in Toronto is absurd. He's looking at the optics of 4 years with no playoffs and instead of taking any responsibility he tries to create the idea that his job is somehow harder than 29 other General Managers. Newsflash.....your rink is sold out every single night. Want unnecessary pressure? Try managing in Phoenix. What a crybaby.

[Jay]

Brian neeeds to stay silent for a while. Getting out of hand all his rants, press conferences and wavering on how the team is going to be built. Fans are starting to turn on you Brian. Please be silent and just let the team play.

[Ronnie MacQuarrie]

Damien, I believe went too far went commenting on the American born players on the Leafs but you are completely missing the point that Don Cherry was making.

Cherry's comments were in response to the interview that Brian Burke gave Ron MacLean earlier in the evening. MacLean was questioning Burke on whether it is wise for a GM to be giving his players so many potential excuses for not playing well, i.e. trade deadline, pressure in Toronto, the media, etc. Burke then threw out a new one: it is hard playing in Toronto at the ACC because every other team has 5 guys from Ontario who want to play well in front of their family and friends. MacLean then smartly asked Burke, if Ontario born players play well in Toronto, then why not have a few Ontario players in the line up? To which Burke gave a patented bizarro logic answer that it doesn't matter where the players are from on the roster.

So which is it Burke? If it is an advantage for the other team to have Ontario born players, why not have Ontario players on the Leafs giving that extra effort in front of family and friends? If it really doesn't matter, stop throwing out excuses for this team to fail.