The Welcome Whirl

Even in a multi-channel, multi-platform sports media world in which pretty much everything and anything is possible for the viewing public, it's striking how much oxygen the Summer Olympics take up.

For the two weeks in which the London Olympics have been ongoing, the rest of the sports landscape has been lost in a whirl, submerged by the steady drumbeat of stories and information emanating from the British capital. Here in the GTA, the voices of other sports and other leagues are barely heard. The CFL is barely noticed. Ditto for the Canadian Open golf. The Rogers Cup tennis is struggling to be noticed. 

If there's a good side to this, it's that we haven't had to listen to the predictable propaganda coming out of the NHL collective bargaining negotiations. The NHL-NHLPA blather is lost out there in the non-Olympic atmosphere and frankly, given that they're not going to be playing hockey quite probably until December, its a nice break that would only be better if it could last longer.

The other good side to the Olympics in this neck of the woods is that we haven't had to listen, at least not to the same extent, to the usual whining and moaning about the Maple Leafs and what they have and haven't done. GM Brian Burke has added three forwards- James Van Riemsdyk, Leo Komarov and Jay McClement - so far this summer, and drafted and signed a top defence prospect, Morgan Rielly.

Still, you hear the lament of "why haven't the Leafs done anything?" Well, if you accept the premise that adding three forwards is nothing even though JVR may be an impact forward, then you have to at least look around the NHL and acknowledge that few teams have done a great deal.

Yes, the Rangers added Rick Nash, Minny signed both Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, and Carolina traded for Jordan Staal, although the price paid - Brandon Sutter, a good prospect and a high first round pick - was substantial.

Otherwise, unless you consider Jiri Hudler to Calgary or Mike Ribeiro to Washington moves of the earthshaking variety, the vast majority of teams have either done no more than the Leafs or less. That makes sense in this environment, for with the terms of the next CBA yet to be established, making big, expensive moves could end up being very problematic.

Sadly, many in Toronto see only the Leafs, what Burke does and doesn't do, and not the larger context. So the whining and moaning is sure to emerge soon. If only the Olympics could go on for another month.

 

 

Comments

[Toronto losers]

Spoken like true MLSE apologist. Maybe the leafs can go another 50 years without the cup right Damien? Wished higher ups from the Star could hire a real journalist from New York/Philly/pittsburgh where losing is not so acceptable. The cycle continues ah well sighhhhh...

[Ghostrider1174]

Really. Who cares about that. Leaf fans care about this team more and are interested in improving this team than watching the games. Boring really and Canada for the size of the country always sucks in metal count anyways

[Gary Mo]

Let's be honest Damien, besides exchanging one under-achiever for another, this is pretty much the same team as last year. And every team drafts and signs their first rounder, I wouldn't call that doing something.

[Owen]

Is it just me, or does Damien Cox never have anything good to say about the Toronto Maple Leafs? Sounds like someone who's bitter about something...perhaps, like secretly going for a position with MLSE and being rejected. The only one whining and moaning about the Leafs is you, Damien. I've read, and heard your stories, and you're a true jerk. Completely one-sided and always cynical.

[buggy166]

You can also look at the positive. No knee-jerk reactions. Would you give up a first for Luongo? What other deals were there to be had that would improve the team and not destroy it by us having to overspend? Then there's the UFA market, which is to say, there wasnt one. There were only 2 stars available, and both signed to the longest over-payments possible. Would you give 7.5 mil for Suter for 10 years? I wouldnt, but id debate Parise, assuming they'd even consider Toronto, which was clear they did not. Then there's the Weber thing Philly tried and wouldnt make sense for Toronto to do. Only thing left over is Doan, which again, we dont need. Its been a mild summer and it'll continue to be until teams start figuring out what they need to keep or move. Getzlaf in Toronto was another rumour, except he's one of the main reasons our current coach got fired in the first place out of Anaheim.

Seems Burke has a adopted something out of Quinns book we rarely saw but liked. Standing pat.

[Doug C]

Wow, Damien the Burke Defender!!!!! MSLE apologist is right, probably on the payroll in some regard. Again, when you're from Hamilton and used to having nothing other than the Ticats, you get kind of used to being a loser.......and seeing no problem with being one of the biggest and best markets in hockey having not made the playoffs in seven years, let alone not having one "star" on the team.....unless you count Kessel who would crumble in any playoff atmosphere. Maybe its time for you to hang up the writing thing Damien, or just work for the Spectator and see what you have to write about.

[moe green]

"Whining and moaning?" Really? You are right Damien, what the Leafs need in order to build a championship is more time and more understanding fans. Yeah, that's the problem with the organization. They haven't been given enough time. Oh, and the concession and ticket prices are too low I suppose. I see it now... it's all the whining that's what's distasteful about the Leafs. Burke is a genius. I think I could be a genius too with his resources and support staff. "So who do you like scouts? Rielly? K, draft him." What a talent. One thing certain, this article should help awaken all the sleeping moaners for whom you show such disdain.

[moe green]

A serious question: Is there an easier, better paid job than Brian Burke's in all of Christendom? Me thinks not. Give me his support staff and money and I'll do as well or better. And I am a rank outsider. He's the GW Bush of hockey.

[Thundering Silence]

@Toronto Losers and @Gary Mo - you both are missing the point that Damien mentioned. Those criticizing the Leafs for the moves or lack of moves that they have made, don't acknowledge the fact that only a few teams have made a big splash this summer regarding trades and free agency. As Damien said, "the vast majority of teams have either done no more than the Leafs or less". How do you two respond directly to this?

[Stirling Silver]

Nice column, Damien.
Your assessment of the Leafs' off-season moves as compared to those of other NHL teams is bang on. And your point that coverage of the Summer Olympics has managed to steal the sports spotlight in Toronto - while providing a nice break from having to listen "to the usual whining and moaning about the Maple Leafs and what they have and haven't done..." is well made. I doubt you were surprised to see the small parade of "Whiners & Moaners" weigh in with predictable cynicism, spelling mistakes, and bad grammar, here in the comments section. By the way, do you have any idea what a "metal count" is?

[David Hennessey]

Hey Cox

Burke has morphed into Austin Powers and lost his mojo. Either he's told to sit tight until the MLSE deal closes or he's run out of bullets as GM/Cheerleader.

If he's going to stick with Dion as Captain - And I personally love Dion, and the trade with the flames - he should bring in a guy like Modano who's won it all to tutor him. When teams tune out the coach, and then the GM it's the guy like messier/modano/crosby who willing to go to war with the rest of the team and drag out greatness

[54321]

Yeah not so much. I'm not distracted- I know the Leafs depth is still putrid compared to the teams they'll need to leapfrog to make the playoffs or even win a playoff game or two. I'm not distracted because I know Toronto remains the final post-lockout franchise to remain out of said playoffs... what more should I be commenting about the final week of July/first of August? That NYR won the Nash derby- NYR have won a derby every single year & still they can't lift a Cup with Messier- doesn't change much for me.

[DR - New jersey]

The whole point of fans being upset by the lack of player movement is because Toronto was/is a horrible team and needed to do something drastic. By suggesting that most other teams did nothing of significance during this off-season is being a bit disingenuous Damien. If we were already a playoff team or a serious contender for the cup then your point of doing nothing in a limited FA market would make sense. Under our team circumstances it does not. It would appear that there were some valid moves to be made in bringing in decent additions these past few months. Either Burke and Co. are trying for lop-sided deals or other gm's can sense the desperation emanating out of Toronto and are asking for all of our assets in return. With the state of our fan base even attempting something would have appeared better than doing very little. I live just outside of Manhattan and can assure you if this was the Rangers they would have burned MSG to the ground by now.

[Halski]

Damien, come on, you really are not telling me you think adding these three, are actually going to improve this team.

It's time you Toronto sports writers, sportcasters, and especially the Fan's Prime Time host really start to hammer the Leafs GM who talks big but has done squat since he took over. The Fan host isn't much different than Burke.

Big talker until he's one on one, than all of a sudden he's a big pussy cat. The sport franchises in Toronto are a joke and it's about time this group of so called experts who write or talk about start earning your keep.

Call a spade a spade, the everyday sport fan is just an image of what you produced We don't need Cherry's viewpoint, he only says what is good for his image, The only two that seem to shoot from the hip are Kipper and Doug.

[Paul]

actually,there are similarities between the Olympics and Leafs last season,peaks and valley's..joy and disappointment...so far l think its been a little more dismay with our Olympians than joy but wasn't that the same with the Leafs last year.Hope is eternal but you have to manage your expectations.

[Gary Mo]

@ moe green - I respond to that by saying "the vast majority of teams" finished ahead of the leafs in the standings. So unless we improve, standing pat will put us where we were last year, and the year before, and the year before....

[StephenB]

The Olympics, like pro tennis, are nothing more tha a distraction. (at best; usually they are not even distracting.). Thanks for the brief thought on what really matters, i.e. the Leafs.

[80s Leafs]

Actually, that horrid call in the US-Canada Olympic women's soccer game completely took me back to '93 and Kerry Fraser...

[vek]

Burke set the expectation at the end of the year when he talked about getting "bigger, tougher and meaner" in the offseason as a top priority - which has gone 100% unrealized.

I don't blame him for not overpaying for Prust or Tootoo, but he set the expectation, not the fans.

[Paul McDougall]

I suspect the reason the Leafs haven't done much is that Burkie has quietly gotten the word from Rogers to cut spending. So forget about Luongo. It will be Reimer and Scrivens next year, because the Leafs already have to pay them anyway. Exhibit A: The Toronto Blue Jays.

[BlahbiddyBlah]

Stirling, you realise Mike Modano is retired right? So unless you want to bring him in as an assistant coach aint gonna happen.

And here I thought Toronto could go more than a month without talking about the leafs, guess I was wrong!

[A13276]

People are wondering about what Burkie is doing? Well when he started, he had to clean house and start over. Go back and look at the roster he inherited from JFJ and look at it now. The only game changing moves that are required are down to getting a dominant centreman and a proven goalie to support Reimer. All of the other parts are in place and there's lots of young talent coming!

[Thundering Silence]

Before Burke arrived, fans complained that the team was trading away their prospects for a dubious playoff run. Now that Burke is slowly building up the team with prospects, people are complaining that he isn't focusing on the immediate here and now, which would lead to a rather doubtful playoff run. Clearly talking out of both sides of their mouths. As Damien has said in previous articles, to develop a team that is built for a promising playoff run takes time.