Wilson Fired

Strange timing on a Friday night, but inevitable.

Ron Wilson's 3 1/2 season reign as head coach of the Maple Leafs ended tonight when he was dismissed by GM Brian Burke. The Leafs have lost 10 of 11 games and fallen to 11th place in the conference after sitting in the eighth and final playoff position in the Eastern Conference as late as Feb. 23.

The Leafs haven't made the playoffs since 2004. Randy Carlyle, fired as coach of the Anaheim Ducks this season, may be the replacement.

Hired by then interim GM Cliff Fletcher just months before Burke took over the Leafs, Wilson missed the playoffs the first three seasons he was behind the Leaf bench, and the club is likely headed for another non-playoff spring.

Wilson signed a contract extension before Christmas, which makes him unusual in being a coach who signed an extension and was fired in the same season.

Carlyle is expected to be behind the Leaf bench in Montreal tomorrow night. Wilson's latest loss came Wednesday night in Chicago, and its not clear why Burke waited two days to announce his firing.

When the Leafs lost their last home game on Tuesday to Florida, fans chanted "Fire Wilson" loudly and frequently.

 

 

 

 

Comments

[pb]

no difference. shuffle cards, and it's the same deck.

still one of the worst managed franchises in professional sports. loves to project a history of success and tradition but it's all a mirage. it pales in comparison to many teams.

[Bob]

Why would they not have given Dallas Eakins an opportunity? He is doing a great job with the Marlies and knows how to coach a young team.

[Daniel Amsler]

I can't fathom the timing of this, why wait until the day before a key game to fire Wilson? It seems to be more a desperation move by Burke to save his job in advance of the new owners taking over.

The more things change in Leafs Land, the more they stay the same.

[Pete]

We need you again King Clancy

[pupilz]

WOW, Burke actually pulled the trigger........lol

[orngcrush]

Like the minister of health on Ornge or the US prez, the big guy is where the buck supposedly stops. But let no one forget that is was the players and not the coach on the ice for all those failing 60 minute games. Ron may have had to go, but his is not the only problem point on the team.

[Steve C.]

Hallelujah!!! I've been dreaming about this for years. GOOD RIDDANCE! I always knew that ridiculous attitude of his would be the end of him here (you gotta think the 'Fire Wilson' chant had some influence here - it would've reached an intolerable, embarrassing crescendo in the final weeks). After all the years of treating this market as though we know nothing about hockey, it's nice to think his hubris was part of his downfall. This is a great day (but I would've liked at least one more chant in his honor).

[Ron]

Well Damien, I am from the school of ..Be careful what you wish for...Now the Leafs have Mr Happy...NOT.. to deal with. Ron Wilson did not build this team. Brian Burke built this team and because of his ego he cannot admit that his blueprint for success is wrong. You cannot finish around 8th every year and expect to get draft picks that will be the foundation of your team. They cannot get out of the vicious circle with this approach. Burke had the perfect opportunity to go the draft route when he cleaned out the locker room shortly after arriving but chose his own path. It is now 4 years and counting and although he has built a good off ice organization his overestimation of the quality of players he has and where they are in their learning curve has created the no win situation for the team as well as the coach. Good luck to Randy Carlyle, he is going to need it.

[Wes Newton]

Burke summer talking points rundown:

Summer of 2010: "We were a playoff team after the Phaneuf trade"

Summer of 2011: "We were a playoff team after the Remier callup"

Summer of 2012: "We were a playoff team but for a 10 game stretch and looked great under Carlyle"

Bottom line: no playoffs, no elite prospects, no Burkie in the summer of 2013 if we're no better off by then.