Rumblings of Leaf Defections

Don't listen to the rumours that Brian Burke, subjected to an avalanche of public scorn in recent weeks, is planning to take a six-month leave to get his personal and professional house in order while leaving right hand man Dave Nonis in charge.

"I've never considered it and ownership has not asked me about it," Burke said last week. "Quit is not in my vocabulary."

But while those who would have Burke dismissed after his short tenure as Leaf president and GM won't be satisfied, they may be able to take solace in the fact that the club's controversial goaltending coach, Francois Allaire, may be looking to make an exit.

As reported first by Elliotte Friedman on CBC's Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday night, there is strong speculation that a frustrated Allaire may soon resign his position with the Leafs and retire as an active NHL goalie coach. Allaire, the mentor behind Patrick Roy's ascension to hockey imortality, has goaltending-related business interests outside of the NHL.

When contacted by The Star about the reports, Burke said he had not heard directly from Allaire that he was intending to step down. What appears to be the case is that friends and associates of Allaire are making his unhappiness known.

If Allaire does want out, it would be a frustrating development for Burke, who just days ago gave his goalie coach a vote of confidence and said he stands behind him, but now may find Allaire prefers to depart from the media storm that has engulfed the Leafs in the wake of the club's shocking second half collapse. It would be nearly as painful a blow as extending the contract of former head coach Ron Wilson in December, then being forced to fire a nearly helpless Wilson later in the season.

Allaire, who has earned three Stanley Cup rings, left Anaheim in June, 2009 to re-establish his working relationship with Burke in Toronto. He was barely mentioned in his first two seasons or the first five months of the 2011-12 campaign, but when Leaf netminding went sideways in February, many critics targetted Allaire and his goaltending philosophies as the reason behind the inconsistent and often poor play of Jonas Gustavsson and James Reimer.

If Allaire leaves, the Leaf goaltending picture would be tossed into even more uncertainty. Already, its clear Gustavsson won't be back, Reimer was injured again late in the season and while Burke has talked about upgrading the club in the blue paint, there are no marquee free agent goalkeepers on the market this summer.

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Huggy]

After his dismal performance he should check to see if "fired: is in his vocabulary.

[Tim Bates]

Well the status quo won't get in to the play offs, never mind making a serious run at the Cup. Maybe this goalie coach should step aside, since Burke doesn't have the stomach to pull the trigger.

[sageman7@gmail.com]

The only thing Leafs that should be defecting are the fans.

[Markostickboy]

I have had enough of the Leafs news for the year thanks.Now that the real season is here and real hockey has begun lets not pick at festering wounds and let us enjoy relevant stuff.

[Chrisgo]

I think Burke should take 6 months off. There is no shame in recouping your energy and sanity. He's often not well right now. If he hasn't slept in two months, not sleeping for 6 more won't help.

[Sherman]

Jonas Gustavsson and James Reimer are no Patrick Roy. Allaire cannot work miracles with these two back up goalies.

[JR]

With the pending move of Phoenix to Quebec. Sean Burke should be the target of Leaf Nation.

[John Burrows]

Hmmm! Lets bring Burke in and he can bring all his buddies and then they can quit or get fired because Burke really doesn't work in Toronto. They have taken what looked like two respecable goalies and made them 2nd stringers, A group of defenceman that can't seem to decide what their positions are and forwards that wish to be elsewhere I am sure.
As a long time Leaf supporter and someone who's shoulders are starting to sag from all the weight it is time for ownership to step up and decide if we deserve a cup in Toronto or at least a legitmate shot at it or not.

[fan of hockey]

Hey I have an idea. WHY dont we send the LEAFS (players and management) to QUEBEC and keep the Coyotes for Toronto.

[Gianluca]

Its been the same excuses, the same apologies and the same false hope every year since Burke took over. I'm not putting all the blame on Burke, he has done some good in Toronto that can't be denied. The real issue with Burke is his "buddy buddy" relationship with his staff. Find the right guys instead of your guys. And don't preach about building from the net forward then sign two inexperienced goalies as your starters.

Now Allaire, i've never been a fan of his ways. Reimer should be a number 1 goalie, but what i've seen is a steady decline in his ability to stop anything glove side or above his waist (something he was excellent at).

The sad truth is it is us, the fans, who put 0 monetary pressure on this organization. We pay the big bucks to see a terrible team. If we swapped the past 10 years with any none original-6 team we'd be cheering in Quebec or Winnipeg right now. But because this is Toronto the money keeps flowing and the share holders keep laughing.

Sad. At this rate it looks like we'll be losers until 2067.

[Jani]

Coaches are graded on results. Wilson wasn't successful so he was fired. Allaire hasn't been successful so he should be fired. Burke is next, this is his make or break season.

[Jimmy0404]

If Ben Scrivens, who just won the AHL equivalent of the Vezina, was playing in any other organization, thousands of Leafs fan would be suggesting that we trade the entire team for him in order to land this "goaltending saviour." Once Vancouver is out (any day now, apparently), what price will we pay to land Luongo? It will be too much, no matter what.

[Bernie D]

I was old enough to see the Leafs win the cup. I still have the tiny Leaf Jersey I first owned with #27 on it. Die hard, true Leaf fan I am! What I can't stand is the band wagon jumpers! Most hockey pundits said it would take 7 years to turn around the mess that was and is the Maple Leafs! There is no more Draft-Shmaft! Booing one of the bright spots on the Leafs at a Jays game (Lupul) makes me sick and ashamed to be a Leaf fan. No wonder players don't want to play here.

[Pat88]

Burke shouldn't be crucified, he's done some good things, but he's made one mistake repeatedly: he miscasts players. Phaneuf is a good scoring D-man, but he's no leader. Bozak's a nice free-agent addition, but he's no first-line centreman. Reimer is a good goalie, but he can't carry the load alone. Kessel is a lights-out scorer, but he's no cornerstone. Burke has put all these players in positions for which they're ill-suited, and they end up looking bad. If someone casts Tom Hanks in the next Die Hard movie, and it flops, is that really Tom Hanks's fault? Or the fault of the idiot who thought Forrest Gump could be an action star?