Weekly Mail Bag

Oh, Toronto can be a quirky sports town, if only for the very different way in which the different teams are perceived and handled by the sports media.

Just look at the announcement two days ago that Paul Beeston had, after a long “search” for a new Blue Jays president, decided that he was, in fact, the best man for the job. This was wildly heralded as a good thing, at least partially a reflection of Beeston’s success in baseball more than 15 years ago and the deep, loyal contacts he has throughout the Toronto sports media. He’s a friendly guy who has a lot of friends.

But remember back in 1997 when Ken Dryden pretty much did the same thing? Dryden was president of the Leafs and after conducting a search for a new general manager, chose himself. For this, he was widely mocked, as was the organization. People rolled their eyes at his inability to find a real hockey person to take the job. Interestingly, and you rarely hear this said, the Leafs went on to have a fair bit of success during Dryden’s tenure, although mostly after he handed the GM reins to Pat Quinn.

So why the two standards? Beeston fires J.P. Ricciardi and hires Ricciardi’s right hand man rather than going outside the organization, then hires himself to be president.

But you don’t see one negative or even mildly critical word.

Had Richard Peddie done the same maneuver, he would have been scalded in criticism. Guess it shows that with Beeston and Cito Gaston, the Jays organization believes it can just keep selling the past.

Interesting. Now on to this week’s mail bag:

Q: Watching the Leafs lately, it seems like they're all waiting for someone/something to come in from the outside to save them, rather than stepping up themselves. Everything seems to be "when Toskala gets better" "When Gustavsson heals" "When Kessel's ready". Even this summer it was all about the new players coming in rather than the existing ones doing more. A few years ago when they barely missed the finals and Sundin was out with a broken arm, McCauley and Roberts stepped up. When Sundin was out with an eye issue a year or two later, Lindros filled in. And if you look at Edmonton now, they have mostly the same lineup as last year but are suddenly figuring out that it's up to the guys in the room to win. Is it just that the current Leafs don't have that extra gear or are unwilling to go deeper to succeed?

Mark Harwood, Los Angeles

A: I think what you’re seeing is a team that hasn’t been in the playoffs for a long, long time and doesn’t believe in itself. In Toronto, becaue of the heavy media focus on the Leafs and the NHL, that attitude can manifest itself in players playing not to be noticed rather than to be noticed, and therefore hoping some other player can deliver the big moments. For years, this seemed to be the case with Wendel Clark, and the mantra over and over was that it would be better when Wendel got back from whatever injury he had. Well, it usually didn’t. To me, that’s the great fear with the Kessel situation, that he’ll show up next week or soon thereafter and be expected to be an impact player immediately. I would imagine it would be a month before you really get to see any consistent play from Kessel, and maybe into next season before the Leafs really understand what they have in this player. What we know for sure is that good teams overcome injury problems through depth and performance from players further down the depth chart.

Q: Goaltending. Everyone loves to blame the goalies. Why is that? I'll bet that if we were to get Brodeur or Fleury or even Luongo, they would look just as "average" as Toskala, McDonald, Pogge and even the Monster. There are five other members of this team people, and there is plenty of blame to share for these losses. How many 2 on 1's and breakaways can one team give up and expect a tender to stop. I know that the goaltending has had some weak moments but to evaluate them based on goals rather than the play causing the goal is ridiculous.

In my opinion, we need to look at our "truculent" defence core and re-evaluate Brian Burke's concept of a tough team because it isn't working. They are too slow on the back end and there is no fire power up front. Even when Kessel gets here, who is he gonna play with in order to produce the kind of offence Leafland expects?

What do you think Damien?

Paul Knipe, Brantford, Ont.

A: Couldn’t disagree with you more. Goaltending is, like pitching in baseball, the most important position in the game. Give the Leafs one of those top goalies you mentioned and they’d be a much improved team. It’s just a fact. Scuffling around with uncertainty between the pipes is the worst situation for any team. Look at the spectacular difference Craig Anderson is making for Colorado. By contrast, Philly knew they were taking a gamble with Ray Emery, and so far they remain a so-so defensive team. Obviously team defence matters, but great goaltending means so much.

As far as the Leafs’ “truculence,” none of their brawnier types are on the blueline, really, unless you look at Mike Komisarek or Garnet Exelby as some kind of enforcer. I do think they’re a little slow, which is probably why Luke Schenn is playing far less and Jeff Finger isn’t playing at all.

Q: A few weeks back you made mention of Ron Wilson's curt demeanor with the media. I was wondering how you would rank all the past Leafs coaches you've covered. Use any criteria you wish aside from overall record (too obvious). Thanks

Michael Nestlehut, Harper Woods

A: Well this is going to be fun. I have personally dealt with nine Leaf head coaches over the past 20 years, although George Armstrong was only around for a matter of weeks after I came on the beat in 1989.

If I were to rank them in order of how easy they were to deal with on a regular basis and how willing they were to fulfill the media end of the job, they would go in the following order; Mike Murphy, Paul Maurice, Pat Burns, George Armstrong, Nick Beverley, Tom Watt, Ron Wilson, Doug Carpenter and Pat Quinn.

Murphy was outstanding, Quinn viewed every reporter/columnist as the enemy except for those willing to suck up to him. Burns would bully you if he could but genuinely liked people in the media. Wilson is somewhere in the middle of this spectrum, generally available, sometimes really helpful but generally not overally impressed with the I.Q. of media members.

Q: Hey Damien! You hear coaches and even media types tell us about he should play in the minors as he has lots to learn or that "he is still learning". What does this mean? I mean, these players have been playing the game now for years and years and yet they still don't know how to play? The game itself and the concepts don't change from the OHL to AHL to NHL. Positional playing and the like = same. Only thing to learn is how to play with your linemates and you can't do that in the minors. I don't get it how these players who have played so long can be so lost. The game is the game is the game.

Ron Gillespie, Listowel, Ont.

A: Sorry, Ron, but I don’t agree. In fact you talk to players in their thirties and they’ll tell you how they’re still learning how to play the game. Mathieu Schneider, to me, is a great example. He was a much better player at 35 than he was at 25. It’s about maturing as an athlete and a person, about taking care of your body and mind, about learning when urgency is required and when to sit back, about being able to read the attack in order to defend and correctly seize the moment on offence. The game does, in fact, change drastically from the OHL to the AHL to the NHL, and its not just that it gets faster. What people should understand is that there are no bad players anymore by the time you get to the NHL, no players who aren’t fit or can’t skate, at least in relative terms. Finally, experience allows players to handle the pressure of being a pro. Athletes gain all these skills gradually as they play, and some never really grasp them at all.

Q: Damien, I meant to submit this question last week but assumed that someone else would. Since no one did, I hope that you still find it relevant.

I am surprised that no one mentioned Don Cherry’s recommendation last week that Wilson institute a trap so that the defence plays to their strengths and gains some confidence while cutting down on the shots that the goalies have to face. I am not a big fan of the trap and think that the trap in minor hockey stifles the development of young players. However, it seems like the trap may be a good fit for this Leafs team. Other than the obvious goaltending issues it seems like the most glowing deficiencies so far has been the defence running around trying to do too much. Might the more confining role of the trap help?

Stephen Sems, St. Catharines, Ont.

A: Well, sure it might. But I think this has to do with a longer term vision of Brian Burke and Ron Wilson. They don’t want to play that way and so see no value in being a trap team now and trying to become an aggressive pursue-the-puck squad later. Frankly, I wouldn’t really want to watch them as a passive trap team either. But most teams play a version of the trap depending on the situation, and clearly Wilson’s team has been having problems with communication and positioning in the defensive zone.

Q: Good job as usual in reporting on the latest NHLPA goings-on. I have a comment and a question for you. First off, good for Shawn Horcoff in calling the NHLPA executives (Penny and Hargrove in particular)to account. It sounds like Horcoff has actually taken the time to familiarize himself with the NHLPA constitution. Too bad that other players (player reps included) don't seem to have done the same.

My question is this (and it's nothing new, regrettably): why is it that the NHLPA, unlike any other trade union I can think of, refuses to push for measures to protect its own from physical injury? I'm thinking of things like mandatory face shields, pushing severe punishment (ie, long suspensions or outright bans for those offenders who repeatedly hit from behind or do other flagrant acts in an attempt to injure, etc. etc.) Most unions I know of would fight hard to ensure their workplace was as safe as possible for workers, yet the NHLPA seems to be stuck in a 1950s time warp where "The Code" prevails. I just don't get it. Thanks.

Reg Sackmann, Toronto

A: Yeah, I don’t really get it, either. I guess that’s the culture of hockey, and really, this isn’t a true union, is it? These are independent contractors who all sign individual contracts with the same company, the NHL, for vast sums of money. So their attention to the details of workplace safety aren’t going to be the same as they would in a regular union. Moreover, there are many NHL players who differ on the definition of what’s safe. For example, many believe fighting keeps the game safe. So while they may care, they may differ on how to fix the problem. Finally, while popular analysts like Don Cherry keep telling the hockey world that more violence, less equipment and more lenient officiating would produce a better game, there are going to be very few hockey players willing to buck that attitude and attract the scorn of Cherry and his supporters.

Damien Cox answers your questions in The Spin, only at thestar.com. Click here to submit a question.
**Note: please follow the link above to send a question to Damien. Questions posted in the comments section may not make it to the mailbag. Thanks.**

Thursday Mail Bag

By this time next week, the Maple Leafs will either have won a couple of hockey games and ended their terrible slide or they’ll have slipped even deeper into the large hole they’ve dug for themselves in October.

But I really don’t believe they’re this bad. Moreover, even lousy hockey teams usually feature a player or two that either excels amidst the mediocrity or plays so selfishly that they’re able to rack up some good numbers.

Right now, there’s not a Leaf having a decent year, let alone a good one. That has to end at some point.

More important, sometime during the upcoming five-game trip, one or both of Vesa Toskala and Jonas Gustavsson will be back in the net for the Leafs. While Toskala hasn’t been good this season, he’s better than Joey McDonald, and Gustavsson offers a real possibility that the Leafs might own a true No. 1 goalie if they can ever get him healthy.

So by this time next week, the Leafs may have a win, their goaltending may be coming back together and somebody, either a forward or a defenceman, will have started to make a positive impact.

That’s all progress. Unless, of course, none of it actually happens.

Now on to this week’s mail bag:

Q; Damien, with the Leafs going 6-3 in the pre-season using all the "younger guys" - I know it was only pre-season - but their team game on both sides of the puck was more exciting and the effort (hustle) was there game in and game out. (I enjoyed watching them, now not so much). I think the time has come for Burke to forget about the contract issues he has and bring back the "Young Guns". Let's see what they can do for the year and if we end up in last place we still have Phil Kessell (not a bad first rounder). Please Mr Burke let's reload the guns and restart the hunt.

Mark Pettigrew, Kitchener, Ont.

A: Well, for starters, I think you’re going to see all of those younger players as the year progresses. In fact, Tyler Bozak has already played, Viktor Stalberg is on the roster and Christian Hanson is working on his game in the AHL. If you’re referring to Nazem Kadri, it was clearly the smart move to send him back to the OHL. All you have to do is look at the struggles Luke Schenn is having this season to understand being rushed as an 18-year-old often causes a lot more problems than seem evident at first.

That said, I think, Mark, that people should also understand clearly now that the pre-season has only a passing resemblance to the regular season. So successes in September don’t necessarily translate into successes in October and beyond. Really, going 6-3 in the pre-season meant nothing, which also means that evaluating players solely on how they played in those games doesn’t make a lot of sense either. Stalberg deserved to make the NHL roster, but he’s not quite the same scoring star anymore now that he’s facing live bullets, is he? Making decisions based on those exhibition tilts rarely helps.

Q: Hello Damien. I was just wondering how a team that went 6-3 in the pre-season can look so bad a mere few weeks later. The Leafs were really very good in the pre-season as we saw, and it's about more than just winning. The team was in synch, they were skating, hitting, and fights were far more spontaneous than staged. Could the OT loss to Montreal have broken the confidence of a team so soon? Or is this just a case of the world's worst slumps all happening at once? Should they just bring up half the Marlies' roster and see what happens? I am at a loss, and I follow this team very closely. Your thoughts?

Joe Scott, London, Ont.

A: To some extent, I already answered this, suggesting that far too much is made out of pre-season results. I mean, you have to look at the opposition roster as well, and its rarely truly an NHL calibre squad. You can’t be fooled by that.

In terms of the current losing streak, most teams will have a streak like this during the season. It’s just magnified when it happens right out of the gate. Look at New Jersey. The Devils lost six straight in late March/early April last year, but they were still a 106-point club. The Leafs simply haven’t had NHL calibre goaltending for most of the season, and that colors everything. That said, where’s the effort? Where’s the urgency and the desperation? People wonder about why this team doesn’t have a captain, a designated leader. I wonder more about whether there are too many players on the current roster that can’t be led.

Q: At the start of the season I agreed with the "competition" philosophy instilled by Burke and Wilson but now I'm starting to think, is it really that beneficial?  Competition is great but job security is also great.  These players look too tense out there, reminds me of a fugitive always looking over their shoulders, eventually they will make a mistake. Your thoughts?

Justin Minks, Toronto

A: I don’t see tension. I see uncertainty, confusion and players stepping outside their areas of responsibility and making errors. Much of this is caused by the goaltending problems. You see Mike Komisarek running around because he’s getting little help from the forwards and knows if he even allows a shot on his goal, it may go in. Internal competition on any team is always a good thing, doubly so on a club like this on which so few have accomplished much if anything at the NHL level.

Q: RE: the NHLPA. Gretzky seems to have some time on his hands and does have some clout. Was he active in the PA as a player, and would he be of any help to this ship of fools?

Steve H., Sudbury, Ont.

A: I can’t imagine Gretzky would want any part of this. Moreover, Glenn Healy has made it clear that the current administration headed by Ian Penny seems to believe Gretzky did not contribute significantly to the health of the union during his playing days. Why would Gretzky want to help these morons?

Q: Love the blog and perhaps the only independent view on the Leafs in the city. Last year, the Leafs could have sent Schenn back to junior after 9 games and not have it count towards service time for free agency. 

Is that option still available?  Could they send him to the Marlies now and if they keep him their all year, save a year of service time?  If so, I have to think that would be the best thing for everyone.  The kid is game, but physically and mentally a step slow in the NHL and that is not a knock on him, considering he's 19 and not supposed to be ready.  To put him with his peers where he can develop under less pressure this year and get tons of special teams minutes seems like the way to go regardless of whether the Leafs think they can make the playoffs this year.  Surely Exelby and/or Frogren can do no worse than what Schenn has shown so far at the NHL level.

James Hodgins, Stouffville, Ont.

A: Yes, they can send him to the Marlies. But it would still count as a year on his existing contract. See, that’s another problem with elevating 18-year-olds so quickly. They become free agents by age 25. So while Colorado, for example, can understandably be excited that Matt Duchene and Ryan O’Reilly have made the grade so early, both will be free agents at 25. How does that help a team trying to build its way back to contention? Moreover, what does it gain? The Leafs weren’t going to win the Cup last year with Schenn and the Avs aren’t going to win it this year with Duchene and O’Reilly. Colorado, at least, has attendance concerns, and so it can argue it needed these young faces to start winning over fans again. But the Leafs have no such concerns. They just did it to try and prove they’d picked well in the June draft by sacrificing picks to move up and grab Schenn. It’s not exactly blowing up in their faces - Schenn is still a very good prospect - but the down side of the decision is now becoming clear. And he’ll be a free agent at 25. But I would indeed have him in the minors now. The kid has a lot to learn and needs to feel as though he can be a dominant player, just like he was in junior.

Q: Damien,
Your comments on 'The Reporters' with respect to the in-game entertainment at Leafs games was dead on! Thank you for being my voice. I've been to many games at many different rinks around the league and I can tell you that the Toronto 'show' is a national embarrassment. I mean seriously, this is supposed to be the heart of hockey and you go to a Leaf game and you want to fall asleep. In, addition, they try to dumb down the audience during breaks with loud rap music and cheesy giveaways where the audience just sits there dociled out of their minds and stare at the big screen. Somehow they need to bring back some tradition.

You go to a Rangers game and it's awesome compared to this. Please be more vocal on this topic. This is hockey mad Toronto and we should represent so much better.

Darren Burton, Toronto

A: Thanks Darren. Maybe I just see too many Leaf games, but what I see in terms of the in-game entertainment is nightmarishly bad, often boring and frequently juvenile. It’s another expression of MLSE’s contempt for the customer, but as long as the customer continues to buy, why would MLSE possibly change?

Q: Hi Damien,
Can I ask what is the deal with the 16, 17 year anniversaries for Toronto teams?  First with the Blue Jays, and now, watching the Rangers game last Saturday, the Leafs feel the need to honour a team that accomplished what exactly? 

Being a passionate Toronto sports fan, I could maybe understand the Blue Jays celebration, as they actually won something, but the Leafs?

Everyone else is already laughing at us Leaf fans, and it certainly isn't going to get better with these celebrations of "almost" great teams, that came close to having a chance to win something.

Last time I checked, there was no Dean's list, or honours award for a C student.  I can't wait for 5 years from now, when we see Gary Valk and Travis Green paraded out, for helping get one win over the halfway mark to the Stanley Cup in 2001.

David Taylor, Calgary

A: On one hand, I agree with you. Moderate accomplishments should not be treated like monumental achievements. I think the Leafs hit rock bottom in this regard several years ago when they feted Tie Domi for his 1,000th NHL game. At the same time, I don’t mind an ex-Leaf dropping the puck or being acknowledged at a home game in a small way. Players should feel special to have worn the jersey. I just wonder why the only highlight these people seem to have of Felix Potvin is a fight he once had with Ron Hextall.

Damien Cox answers your questions in The Spin, only at thestar.com.

Click here to submit a question.
**Note: please follow the link above to send a question to Damien. Questions posted in the comments section may not make it to the mailbag. Thanks.**

Thursday Mail Bag

Another season, another mail bag.

Safe to say that last year, readers of this blog were remarkably resourceful when it came to participating in the weekly mail bag, often contributing unique points of view and helping to generate conversation and discussion the Leafs and other hockey matters.

So of course it’s back.

Among this week’s questions, of course, there are few that highlight the positives about the Leafs. When the Leafs are down or when they are up, it overshadows pretty much everything else on the hockey horizon in this town. Needless to say, a six-game losing streak to start the season means lots of questions about Ron Wilson, Francois Beauchemin, Mike Komisarek and Luke Schenn, but surprisingly few about the goaltending, which to me, is at the root of all the club’s problems at the moment.

Maybe it’ll all turn around Saturday against the Rangers. Even under the worst case scenario the Leafs are going to win 30 or more games this season, so they might as well start soon.

Now on to this week’s mail bag:

Q: Damien,

I just finished reading your comments about (Luke) Schenn and how you think he was rushed into the league and regressing this year. I think your looking at the wrong side of the ice; the problem is Beauchemin, not Schenn. All you have to do is look at how much better Schenn played with White, then how he is doing with Beauchmin. I'm not sure why the two are struggling so badly together, but I think the team made it clear to Schenn that Beauchemin was to be his "mentor" and Schenn seems to be deferring to Beauchemin and not making his own decisions on the ice. In the end they both look bad but with the "experience" factor of Beauchemin he looks worse.

If this poor play on the part of Beauchmin continues then I think you can begin to spell his name Mc-C-A-B-E!

Your Thoughts?

Jamie Hubbert, Ottawa

A: I hear what you’re saying. Problem is, Schenn has played with other defencemen this season and not really looked better. He’s a hard-working, dedicated young hockey player, but what you’re seeing is the danger of moving youngsters too fast. He may actually be about the same as he was for most of last year, but expectations are higher, and now even something useful - like sitting him down for a game, or sending him to the minors for seasoning - will be viewed as a negative, as a step backwards. But you can’t look at other players and blame them for Schenn’s struggles, although poor team defence exposes individuals. What bothers me most is not sending Schenn back to junior last year cost him a year of being a dominant WHLer, a year of playing on the power play, a year of developing his offensive game. How many other NHL defenceman do you know who can’t take a slapshot? This is so much like the way in which the Leafs “handled” Luke Richardson as a young defenceman it's scary. That said, Schenn is still a very good NHL prospect, one that needs to be protected from the clouds hanging over the team right now.

Q: I'm starting to believe that this is becoming squarely a coaching issue. Sure, on paper it isn't exactly a first class roster by any means but for how multi-dimensional the failure of this team is so far this year all signs lead back to failed leadership from the coaching staff. Still the worst PK in the league and a defense that is perpetually mistake prone. Beauchemin arrives in Toronto and is suddenly a mediocre d-man, ditto Komisarek? Aside of the first game against Montreal the forecheck has been completely MIA. The team is either unwilling or unable to buy into Ron Wilson's system -whatever that is.

Granted I'm just some yutz with an armchair opinion and maybe Wilson will turn it around. But if as the season goes on there's no improvement do you think Burke would be able to set aside personal loyalty and at the risk of destabilizing Team USA fire Ron Wilson?

Thanks,

Matt Kuzyk, North Bay, Ont.

A: Doesn’t seem likely that Burke would can Wilson, just as it doesn’t seem likely that the Leafs will remain this bad. Don’t forget, opening night they looked pretty darn good in many ways. All this said, continued losing would clearly put the job of Wilson at risk during this season, and beyond that, if the Leafs miss the post-season and see no areas of team or individual development under Wilson, this will become a bigger issue next spring. Right now, I don’t think the situation with Team USA has anything to do with it.

Q: Everybody's debating the Phil Kessel deal, but here's a question. What was the urgency to complete the deal for a player that won't play until November? Could Burke have waited a few weeks to see how his team came out of the gate, and then maybe determined he'd rather hold on to his draft picks given that they're looking more like lottery picks?

Dave Paynter, Toronto

A: I guess the answer is that Burke saw an opportunity and seized the moment. Also, the player and his agent were anxious for a move and a new contract, and Boston surely didn’t want an unresolved situation sitting around. From a Leaf point of view, the chance to grab a 21-year-old winger with game-breaking potential was irresistible, plus they wanted to get their cap situation in line. Sometimes the timing of things in the NHL doesn’t make sense but is just kind of the rhythm of when hockey matters get resolved. But don’t underestimate the power of the agent in this one to put pressure on both the Leafs and Bruins to get something done.

Q: Why isn't Burke getting the criticism he deserves? We keep blaming Wilson and Toskala yet look at the team that Burke has created? Colton Orr? Exelby? Kept Mayers? Its a goon fest with no grit. The top line features Gabrovski, Pony and Blake? A third line at best. This team that he has built isn't competitive with the current NHL and it shows by the product on the ice. Finally he traded away our top draft picks so the Leafs losing season will be even more pointless. When is the media going to hold Burke accountable?

Regg Struyk, Guelph, Ont.

A: Well, don’t know what you’re reading or watching or listening to, but it sure seems to me Burke is getting lots of criticism from many different quarters. I think he’s very much being held accountable, and to make “the media” sound like they’re not doing a good job of evaluating the Leaf GM is just incorrect. Look, Burke may be in the early stages of really screwing this thing up. But he’s six games into his first full season and he’s a disaster already? Criticism is fair, but remember the team Burke inherited, and remember he signed a five-year deal. If they’re no better than this after the end of the 2010-11 season, then all bets are off.

Q: Watching the last few Leaf games I am seeing a team very disorganized. The team has no compete level in them to me this is coaching. Do you think the Leafs are tuning out Ron Wilson so early in the season and do you feel the team is simply not that good to compete at a NHL level?

Brian Marto, Markham

A: I think great coaches are made by great players. I also think outstanding coaching can make a team greater than the sum of its parts. Basically, then, at this point, there isn’t a Leaf I would give a passing grade to for individual performance, nor is there a Leaf coach that would pass either.

Q: Damien - how much of the Leafs' performance is down to leadership on the ice - or lack of it? Without a captain it's hard to see how the other parts of Burke's plan can start to deliver. Maybe I'm missing something but it can't help if the boss is saying there isn't ANYONE on this team good enough to wear the C.

Peter Hawkins, Northampton, UK

A: I don’t see the captaincy, per se, as that vital. The veterans certainly aren’t leading the way, but then, an open question is whether there’s much you can do to lead Matt Stajan or Alexei Ponikarovsky or Tomas Kaberle, Leafs who may simply have been Leafs for too long and lack the desperation and urgency to make this team better.

Q; Once Van Ryn is back, the Leafs will have 8 NHL defencemen on the roster. Three of them were brought in by Burke, Schenn is the future, and Kaberle cannot be moved at the moment. It does not make sense to have White, Finger or Van Ryn sitting in the pressbox when any of the Marlies defencemen could do the same. So which one of them is gone by Christmas?

David Gargaro, Thornhill

A: Again, there’s this belief that the Leafs have this great wealth of quality defencemen. I didn’t buy it last year when some commentators were citing Leaf blueline depth on a daily basis, and I don’t buy it this year. Moreover, exactly which Marlie defenceman has already proven he can play at the NHL level? None, to my estimation. If it were up to me - and it’s not - Kaberle would be induced to accept a trade, Schenn would be at the Ricoh Centre working on his offensive and defensive game for a month or two and the other veterans would be forced to fight for ice time. A little competition within the group would be healthy.

Every Thursday, Damien Cox answers your questions in The Spin, only at thestar.com. Click here to submit a question. **Note: please follow the link above to send a question to Damien. Questions posted in the comments section may not make it to the mailbag. Thanks.**

Thursday Mail Bag

Eight days to the entry draft and a new saviour for the Maple Leafs.

That, of course, is how you generate hope and optimism for the future, and whether Brian Burke can move up to get John Tavares or whether he ends up with Brayden Schenn or Jared Cowan at the No. 7 slot, that player will still become a symbol of the future for the downtrodden Leafs.

That player will be added to the likes of Luke Schenn, Christian Hanson, Tyler Bozak and possibly goalie Jonas Gustavsson as the Leafs start to put together the outline of a young team that might be able to break through and become a playoff club again by, optimistically, the spring of 2011.

The draft will be followed by free agency, and its fair to say July and August should be busy months for Burke and the Leafs, a team likely to look very different by training camp in September. There really isn’t much of an off-season in the NHL any more, at least not for the machinery of player acquisitions. After being shuffled to the side for the past two months during the Stanley Cup playoffs and the Phoenix Coyotes saga, the Leafs are hoping to grab some attention back starting next week.

Now on to this week’s mail bag:

Q: At the risk of being run out of Canada on a rail, am I the only person who is tired of Jim Basillie? I feel badly for Hamilton residents, as it seems they are being used as pawns to stroke an ego over a 'white knight' riding to the country’s rescue from the evil clutches of a commissioner who 'hates' our country. Am I wrong?

Brent Victoria, B.C.

A: Well, I don’t know whether you’re right or wrong. What I do find a bit unseemly is watching people cheering for a billionaire to acquire what would be a very lucrative business. I don’t buy the Canadiana angle. I believe Balsillie sees an enormous business opportunity and wants to grab it. Nothing wrong with that, of course. But, like you, I don’t think it’s about white knights or some grand morality play. Re Hamilton (my hometown), it’s been a wonderful place to live for a long time, and it will continue to be whether the NHL ever deigns to put a team there or not.

Q: Hi Damien,

I have to tell you, I think Gary Bettman is the most entertaining commissioner I have ever heard. I was listening to his interview with Ron Maclean during Game 3 of the finals and I was utterly amazed with his ability to fend off difficult questions with answers that exude confidence and calculation, and an ability to wave off at times tough questions with an air of arrogance.

Saying this, I must admit that I have never ever been a Gary Bettman fan, like many others, but when I look at his accomplishments in the game, it's actually quite significant. He introduced a cap which no one ever thought it was possible, and as a result has helped bring stability to the poorer teams. Yes he has introduced expansion teams in market places that have no business of having hockey teams, but tell me, for a league that is starved for television revenue and publicity, how else do you do it?

My main issue with him is that under his regime, the game has sufferred tremendously in terms of quality, but I honestly blame that on teams deciding to play the game with bigger and rougher players, while playing in the same size rinks. As well, in my mind he learned from the best of the best commissioners - David Stern.

So my question to you is this: In your mind, overall, has Gary Bettman been a positive force for the game, or a detriment to it? Thanks.

Zaki Ameen, Mississauga

A: For starters, I often think there is too much focus on Bettman’s wants and desires. He works for the owners. He does what they want him to do.

That said, he often sets the agenda and the priorities. From an owners point of view, he has generally done well, which is why he has such strong support. It’s all about franchise value and being able to maximize revenues, and for the majority of the teams, Bettman has been a big plus.

For hockey fans, well, it’s been a mixed bag. Four-on-four overtime, the shootout and Olympic participation have been pluses. I agree that the game did suffer tremendously under Bettman from about 1995-2005, but it was his administration that fixed the game after the lockout as well, taking out the red line (huge success) and removing hooking from the game (gigantic success). So, on balance, he’s had his good and his bad, but he’s a whole lot better than his predecessor, John Ziegler.

Q: Hi Damien, I think we were all a little surprised to learn that the Toronto Maple Leafs have veto power with the NHL as far as allowing teams to enter their "territory" - a fact that emerged in the Phoenix Coyotes case.

My question is this: How and when did the Leafs acquire this veto power? It seems strange that the NHL would grant this power to a team does it not? What circumstances could have put the NHL in such a weak bargaining position?

My guess is Harold Ballard had a hand in this! Perhaps a threat to join the WHL? I'm sure it's an interesting story whatever it may be and I really hope you can find out for us.

Jason Locey, Toronto

A: When such power was acquired, power that all the franchises have, is an interesting question. I would suspect it would date all the way back at least to the league’s first expansion in 1967. What’s unclear is that while the Leafs have to give written permission to have another team move into their territory under the league’s constitution is whether a vote of the NHL board of governors could override that “veto.” I doubt we’ll ever see that tested.

Q: Damien,

What are your thoughts on Brian Burke acquiring J.S. Giguere? Anaheim would probably want to trade him and Burke originally drafted him in Hartford. What would be the going price to get Giguere?

Also, do you think that Matt Venca is for real?

Irfan V., Ottawa

A: On the second question, no.

On the first question, Burke loves Giguere for his competitiveness and professionalism, and his ability to deliver in the clutch. He probably doesn’t like his salary ($6 million next year, $7 million year following). Anaheim has cap problems and with Jonas Hiller having supplanted Giguere as No. 1 would undoubtedly like to move him for basically not much in return. The Leafs’ plan is to go with Vesa Toskala and Swedish free agent Jonas Gustavsson if they can get Gustavsson signed. Otherwise, if they turned to pursuing Giguere, they’d want Toskala and his salary ($4 million next season) to be going the other way to Anaheim.

Q: The Leafs have no top 6 forwards and maybe one top 4 defenceman on their current roster including players with the Marlies. Can they draft a top 6 forward and sign Bowmeester this year? Who would rather sign, the Sedin twins or Heatley?

Gary Lee, Aurora, Ont.

A: Can they draft a top-six forward and sign Bouwmeester? They surely can, but actually doing it may be something different entirely. That’s Burke’s plan, but he’s got to make it happen, and word is Bouwmeester may not be interested in Toronto. He has no interest in Heatley. He’ll take a shot at the Sedins if they don’t re-sign with Vancouver before July 1st.

Q: Hi Damien,

Will the Leafs re-sign Brad May?

Greg Thomson, Oakville, Ont.

A: That will depend on what else they can get done. Burke hasn’t ruled it out.

Q: Wondered if you noticed and could comment on the play of Hal Gill for Pittsburgh during the terrific playoff games. The big, slow defenceman was not good enough for Toronto but is playing a regular shift for the Pehguins. In Game 4 I thought he was outstanding and I found myself cheering for the guy.

Ted Willing, Owen Sound, Ont.

A: Gill played well. The fact the league chose to lower the standards on interference and other fouls certainly helped his effectiveness. But he had to play against the best Detroit forwards all the time and was very steady. He, Rob Scuderi and Brooks Orpik were, in my mind, major contributors to Pittsburgh’s win.

Idle Chatter and Monday Mailbag

DETROIT—With the Stanley Cup final now shifting to Pittsburgh for Game 3 tomorrow night, NHL general managers and presidents will also be gathering there for meetings, which means there will be lots and lots of rumours in the air.

Here’s two interesting ones emanating out of Montreal these days which are at least worth chewing over.

One, there is chatter that in their search for a new head coach, the Habs might be considering thinking outside of the box and at least considering Russian national team head coach Viacheslav Bykov. Bykov has led the Russians to the last two world titles, last year in Quebec City and this year in Switzerland, and is widely considered to be one of the unifying factors in Russian hockey that makes that country a serious Olympic threat next year in Vancouver.

There hasn’t been a European head coach in the NHL since Czech national Ivan Hlinka was fired by the Pittsburgh Penguins early in the 2001-02 season. Finnish coach Alpo Suhonen was the bench boss in Chicago until he was fired in March, 2001, due to a heart ailment.

The genius behind the notion of hiring Bykov? He can speak French after years playing with Fribourg in the Swiss league, but can’t speak English. Now that would be a twist on Montreal’s legendary linguistic debates.

The second rumour out of Montreal is that the Canadiens would like to host a game involving the Maple Leafs at the Olympic Stadium next November. The catch? The roof on the Big O doesn’t open any more, which means that it would be an indoor/outdoor game without the snowy charm that accompanied games in Edmonton, Chicago and Buffalo in recent years.

Sounds like a money grab to me. Now here’s some samplings from our playoff mail bag:

Q: Damien,
I was interested to see the long term deals Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen recently signed, they will be 35-36 when the dollars start to drop dramatically (ok a few million per year).  When Markus Naslund retired his "cap hit" came off the books as he was under 35 when he signed with the Rangers.  I am sure it is not what the NHL wanted, but do you see this "loophole" continuing in the future?

Thanks,
Rodney MacDonald,
Mississauga

A: No, I don’t. I think the league will seek to close the door on these types of deals in future CBA negotiations, either by putting limits on terms allowed for contracts or not allowing teams to pay significantly more in the early years of these contracts then almost nothing in the final years. If they had to pay nearly the same amount all the way along, teams would be less likely to embrace such arrangements.

Q: I know Pat Quinn has had much recent success with the youth teams, but in your opinion, do you really believe he is the right choice to lead that young group of Oilers?

Don Evans,
Milton, Ont.

A: Right choice? Maybe. Quinn’s record, outside of never having won a Stanley Cup, is very good. I really like the decision to add on Tom Renney as an associate coach in charge of X’s and O’s. Right now, it will have a lot more to do with how GM Steve Tambellini is able to add and improve the Oiler roster than what Quinn and Renney can do. But my guess is that Quinn is as good a coach as he’s ever been, and his work with the national under-18 and national junior programs suggest the game has not passed him by.

Q: Hey Damien,
I was wondering what is is going on with the issue on the TV rights package in the U.S.? Is ESPN going to get the rights or is Versus and NBC going to keep them. Is the NHL leaning a certain way? What is the current situation at this point in regards to the TV rights issue because the NHL needs to get this sorted out in order to promote the game. Just wondering your thoughts

Sean Scofield,
Edmonton

A: The league seems very committed to sticking with Versus, while the players association wants to get back on ESPN. The numbers on Versus are growing, but the problem is that network isn’t nearly as widely available in the U.S. as is ESPN. The NHL is committed to Versus for I believe three more years, so right now the argument is moot.

Q: If the Pens win the Stanley Cup, does Marc-Andre Fleury get an invite to the Team Canada Olympic Camp and a serious look as one of the Vancouver goalies?

Gary Hogan,
Truro, N.S.

A: Well, for the Penguins to come back now, Fleury would have to be brilliant. He hasn’t been in Games 1 or 2, but if he can turn it around now and carry the Penguins to the title, he would at least be invited to Team Canada’s orientation camp in August.

Click here to send a question to Damien for a future mail bag.

Questions and More Questions

Seems like we got off track a bit.

For the first few weeks of the Stanley Cup playoffs, we had a rollicking mail bag going pretty much every day with questions on post-season play and just about everything else.

So, with the final starting tomorrow in Detroit, here’s a chance to get things rolling again, with the Wings-Pens series, Phoenix, the entry draft, steroids and more than a few other tasty topics to debate.

So send ‘em along and we’ll try to finish the playoffs strong. Here’s a few to get us started again:

Q: Hi Damien,

I have two questions. First is does the NHL have concrete boundaries to which a team can claim as their marketing area, in the case of the Maple leafs and Sabres, can they actually claim that a team on Hamilton infringes on their market?

Secondly, wouldn’t a highly profitable team such as the Leafs benefit from the moving a non-profitable team such as the Coyotes to a more profitable area, in terms of the revenue sharing agreement?

Peter K., Toronto

A: The answer to your first question is, I believe, 50 miles. That’s why Hamilton would theoretically infringe, but not Kitchener-Waterloo. On the second question, the Leafs would likely end up contributing the same amount, upwards of $15 million per season, most among NHL teams. It would just go to different teams, so they wouldn’t get any relief, per se.

Q: Damien,

Watching the Memorial Cup, and Kelowna being a part of it just reinforces what a shame it was to have Luke Schenn miss out on the development opportunities he should have had this season.

Instead of only 7 games of WHL playoff experience he got last season, he could have been learning what it takes to win and be a leader on a winner with both Canada (WJC) and Kelowna. While Ronnie Wilson was sure that no one could teach him as well as he and his staff could, it neglected the pressure situations he would face to prepare him to be a winner with the Maple Leafs.

Now the first time he wears the C, and wins a playoff round it might be in the pressure cooker of Toronto, with no experience under his belt.

Everything he learned this year he could have learned next year in the NHL - but the opportunity to expose him to these experiences was wasted.

John Bastedo, Oakville

A: Well, as you probably know, I agree. That was my argument at the start of the season, but the Leafs and Cliff Fletcher and Ron Wilson had a different plan. We’ll never know whether it would have made a difference, but it’s fair to say that Schenn did well in his first exposure to the NHL and, for the most part, didn’t look overmatched or out of place.

Your point that everything he learned this year in the NHL he could have learned next year was well-made. What was the rush? He’ll just get to the end of his entry level contract and to free agency more quickly. Brian Burke has never said this, but my guess is that if he’d been in charge Schenn would have spent the season with Kelowna.

Q: Hi Damien,

In all of this hooplah over Jim Balsillie and a Hamilton team, there's one thing that I haven't seen talked about that I think might actually be an important issue here - conference balance. Is it possible that one of the main reasons Balsillie could have trouble getting a move through the Board of Governors is that moving from Phoenix to Hamilton would presumably require re-organising the Eastern and Western Conferences?

It doesn't seem too likely that a Hamilton team would make sense in the Western Conference, although Detroit is also in the Western Conference but the Eastern time zone. Such a move would likely require rebalancing the conferences yet again (always a contentious issue), and require some serious reworking of the NHL schedule.

Adam B., Kitchener

A: Well, if Hamilton were to get the team – a very big if – they would probably have to stay in the west for at least a season or two for the very reasons you describe. The Leafs used to be in the west and Detroit still is, so while a challenge in terms of travel, having a Hamilton franchise play in the Western Conference isn’t out of the question.

Down the road, I’m guessing the NHL would like to get to 32 teams. That might allow for re-working of the conferences, or some new alignment entirely.

Q: Hi Damien: what affect, or how much, would the Ti-cats be affected by a NHL team in Hamilton?

Brent Achtymichuk, Toronto

A: Well, Ron Joyce has suggested that there isn’t enough corporate support in Hamilton to support an NHL team, so that team would likely suck existing corporate dollars away from the Tiger-Cats. That said, while the Cats do their business mostly in Hamilton, an NHL club might be able to draw corporate and fan support from a larger area, the Golden Horseshoe and beyond. But certainly an NHL team wouldn’t make it any easier to do CFL business in Hamilton.

Q: I see that Mattias Ohlund is a free agent this summer. I remember that many years ago, the Leafs signed him to an offer sheet, which the Canucks were quick to match. Do you think he might be a good stabilizing influence for the young Leaf defense, especially if Kaberle and/or Kubina get traded this summer?

Kevin D., Toronto

A: I like Ohlund. He competes, has good size and is still pretty mobile. He made $3.5 million this season. He’ll be 33 in September and should have some mileage on him, so, yeah, as long as you didn’t overpay – nothing north of $4 million – he’d be a solid short-term addition.

Q: Brian Campbell and Zedno Chara went to the Blackhawks and Bruins, respectively, when those teams were still in the process of rebuilding. Do you see the Leafs in a similar position and do you think Jay Bouwmeester would find the Leafs an attractive destination, especially if neither Calgary nor Edmonton have the cap space or willingness to make a serious offer?

John Hunt, Harvard, Massachusetts

A: Well, the Leafs would love to think Bouwmeester, still only 25, would consider them. If he’s still available in July they’ll take a run at him, although suggestions are he’s inclined to head west, probably Edmonton, if he can. He played for Pat Quinn before on Olympic and World Cup teams.

Just to refer to an earlier question, this is, of course, the same situation in which the Leafs have placed themselves by keeping Luke Schenn in the NHL this season. By 25, he could be unrestricted.

Q: Damien,

Yes, I'm a Bruins' fan. But am I the only one out there willing to ask if Milan Lucic is even on the 2010 radar for Team Canada? Sure, he's not fleet of foot, but he competes, he loves to bang, he's from B.C. for even more motivation. We all know we're not going to have four lines of Ferraris out there. I suppose his biggest weakness is on the PK. However, is there an inkling of support?

Brad Janes, Fredericton

A: Unlikely. While sometimes dominating, he’s still raw. In general, I love his game and I like his chances much more for 2014. That said, its not impossible he could be invited to Team Canada’s orientation camp in August.

Click here to submit a question and Damien will answer a selection in his blog.
**Note: please follow the link above to send a question to Damien. Questions posted in the comments section may not make it to the mailbag. Thanks.**

Thursday Mail Bag

Well, as my colleague Dave Feschuk astutely pointed out, Brian Burke is apparently the best columnist in town and had everybody talking this week over his apparent plan to land John Tavares.

If only I had that ability to stir it up.

Damien is taking your questions and comments throughout the NHL playoffs and will publish a daily selection in this space. Click here to submit a question or comment and check the blog daily for answers.

I think what you’re seeing is all that Anaheim lost when Burke left, and that is an extraordinary ability to make his team the centre of attention in any number of ways. Not many people talk about the Ducks now in the same way they did when Burke was there, and now the Leafs are a daily topic across the league. What the value of that is precisely is unclear, but it sure makes things interesting.

What I do know is that it is nothing less than an absolute travesty that it has been five years since there was a Stanley Cup playoff game in Toronto, the longest drought in the history of this franchise. Watching the playoffs open Wednesday night in four very excited cities just drove home the point that having the Leafs on the sidelines year after year is not only bad for the league, its sucking the life out of this market.

That means when Burke does get this club back into post-season play, it should be exciting as hell because there will be years of pent-up frustration and emotion.

Until then, well, we’ll just have to enjoy the circus.

Now on to this week’s mail bag:

Q; Damien,

I can't help but find optimism in Brian Burke's openness with the media. The newest being the draft and how he covets John Tavares. One thing that has caught my attention is the way he has signed the NCAA free agents. What I am baffled by is how he can sign players like Chris Hansen and Tyler Bozak to one-way contracts yet he turns around and refuses to sign Matt Gilroy to a one-way contract. Isn't Gilroy a more highly sought after free agent? He did win the Hobey Baker Award.

Rob Ryder, Georgetown, Ont.

A: You are partly right. Gilroy is the more sought after free agent. But Hanson and Bozak did not get one-way deals. In fact, part of the CBA dictates that players on entry level contracts like those two get mandatory two-ways. The difference with Gilroy is that because of his age he falls outside of the entry level system, so he can get a one-way and whatever salary he can negotiate.

Q: Hey D.C.

Who is the Kane/Stamkos/Tavares of 2010? The last 3 years it's been pretty obvious who's going 1st overall in the draft - and we've been hearing about J.T. specifically since he was 15 - but who's the big fish every bottom feeder will be wanting a year from now?

Terry Bridge, Waterloo, Ont.

A: Well, I’m still trying to get my head around this draft, to be honest. But the name you keep hearing over and over in terms of the 2010 draft is Taylor Hall of the Windsor Spitfires. He’s a Kingston boy, and wouldn’t it be terrific if, assuming John Tavares does go first this summer, we had three consecutive Ontario-born teenagers go No. 1 in the NHL draft.

Q: Hey Damien,

So Burke has declared he wants Tavares. Likely a long shot at best. In the off-season, what options are really there for the Leafs? As if they really had so much talent to trade they would have made the playoffs. Obviously there are some tradable assets, but I guess the real asset the Leafs have is cap space and money. What teams out there are looking to dump a high salary or 2? And how could that benefit Toronto? On the Tavares issue an interesting idea I heard is Rick DiPietro to Toronto, assuming he is injured and of no use to NYI.

Jason Higgins, Orangeville, Ont.

A: There are any number of clubs with potential cap issues – New York, Philly – and others who may be looking to cut costs, like Colorado. But we won’t really know which team is where until the summer after contract buyouts and free agency.

It would benefit the Leafs potentially because theoretically they could take on a bad contract in a trade if it meant they were able to use that as leverage to get something better out of the deal. I’ve heard the DiPietro idea too; he’s under contract until 2021 (!) at $4.5 million. Obviously his injury problems are becoming an issue, but I can’t imagine any team wanting to assume that liability unless they were absolutely convinced the cap was going to increase significantly to upwards of $70 million in the next five years.

I think everything’s on the table. While Burke’s predecessor, Cliff Fletcher, said publicly that he didn’t believe there were special players in this draft, it seems pretty evident that Burke, rightly or wrongly, feels very differently. He wants one of the top teenagers available, and I’m not sure even Luke Schenn is untouchable if that’s what it takes to make a deal happen. This will be fascinating to watch.

Q: What do you think of Brian Burke's very public goal to move up to the top draft pick? A lot of Leaf fans I know figure it is a done deal and they are already planning to buy a Tavares a Leaf Jersey.

But if he does not land the top pick, does he risk looking foolish? How would he be able to save face given the high optimism and now expectations of Leaf fans?

Brent Achtymichuk, Toronto

A: It’s an interesting strategy. I guess he believes by declaring his intent he can build pressure on the Islanders to move the pick by draft day. I don’t think he’s guaranteed anything, however, and I think Leaf fans by and large are pleased with his aggressive attitude.

Thursday Mail Bag

One game left in a very forgettable season.

ANDREW WALLACE/TORONTO STAR

Probably one of the highlights from the 2009 season.

Sure, there were some highlights, starting with the stunning opening night victory in Detroit.

But this was supposed to be the year of the Big New Beginning, and really, it’s not even clear whether the Maple Leafs have hit rock bottom yet. Next year, with the current roster sure to change, could be even tougher.

But there never was any way to get around this, and at least the franchise is staring cold, hard reality straight in the face, eschewing any and all shortcuts to try to build this thing right. That’s laudable. The Brian Burke administration isn’t looking for any easy answers, but at the same time there’s a sense this GM and this coach just won’t accept the mediocre, go-for-eighth-place approach that’s been acceptable in the past.

In Luke Schenn, John Mitchell and Mikhail Grabovski, there’s hope. In Ian White, there’s an example of a player who worked his guts out just to be a Leaf.

Otherwise, for the most part, this has been a season to forget.

Now, with apologies in advance to all those questions that didn’t make the cut this week, on to this week’s (bulging) mail bag:

Q: I've been watching hockey a long time, long enough to realize that superstars alone don't win championships, hockey teams do. Do these college signings help the Maple Leafs become a better hockey team and will these young men even make this team next year?

Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Terry Wilder, Toronto

A: I wouldn’t slot either Christian Hanson or Tyler Bozak in the Leafs’ NHL lineup for next fall. If either makes it right out of camp, it will be a happy surprise. From taking off their full face masks to confronting a much longer regular season than college, these two young men have a lot of learning to do. Moreover, the Leafs don’t want to be in the position of giving jobs to kids until they’ve put their time in. I would imagine the reasonable hope is that one of the two will turn out to be a good NHLer. If that turns out to be the case, the exercise was worth it. But I don’t think in either case we’re talking superstar status.

Q: Hello Damien,

I’m hoping you can help me understand the ‘potential’ of the recently signed Hanson and Bozak. When I look forward to draft day I understand the implication and ‘potential’ quality that can be realized from a low first round pick and two other picks in the top 50. What would you say the equivalent of these two new guys is? Should we think of them as, and apply the expectations we would on a second round pick, a first round pick? Hanson (played) in Philly, and Bozak is, many say, NHL ready – that sounds like ‘first round’ to me.

What do you equate these guys as?

Bill Cabel, Toronto

A: Wow, interesting question. Hmmm. I would say equivalent to second round picks, perhaps. Actually, I think they’re more like the young prospects teams pick up in exchange from experienced talent partway through the season or at the trade deadline. Sometimes they turn out to be Steve Sullivan (Doug Gilmour deal), sometimes they turn out to be Rich Costello (Darryl Sittler deal). They are young players with proven potential. What’s hard to gauge is how badly either wants to be a pro.

Thursday Mail Bag

It’s pretty much indisputable now that the best thing to happen to the Maple Leafs was that Anaheim got antsy.

DAVID COOPER/TORONTO STAR

Burke's arrival came just in time.

If the Ducks had chosen to, they could have kept Brian Burke right through to the end of this regular season. Burke’s calculation, after telling them he wouldn’t sign a new deal, was that president Michael Schulman wouldn’t want him to be a lame duck GM all year, and that proved to be a case.

Lucky for the Leafs.

Had that not happened, Cliff Fletcher would have remained in charge through to this coming June, and it's difficult to imagine the damage that might have been done by that time.

Fletcher’s a nice man who owns a Stanley Cup ring and is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. He is part of hockey history, and that will never change.

But he wasn’t a suitable fit to run an NHL team in the cap era, yet Richard Peddie was prepared to let him to do so. Fletcher gave away viable draft picks like candy last summer (even a fifth rounder was obscene for Ryan Hollweg) to try and put a better team on the ice immediately and in so doing hang on to the “interim” GM position. The last piece evidence that he was prepared to sell the future was the deal that brought Lee Stempniak to town for Alex Steen and Carlo Colaiacovo, a deal that will be even more difficult to swallow next season when the light-weight winger earns a $3.5 million salary.

Yesterday, meanwhile, the league fined the Leafs $500,000 and stripped them of a fourth round pick for the Jonas Frogren signing last summer. The contract was illegal, but rather than running it past the NHL first, Fletcher just did it and now the Burke administration is paying the price.

Whether Fletcher really understood that the deal wouldn’t pass muster is unclear. The new CBA, after all, is a complicated beast. But that this was all done to sign Frogren, a marginal NHLer with suspect foot speed who can’t stay healthy, is ridiculous.

Again, the notion was that Frogren would make an immediate difference, however, and that, not long-term growth, was the priority of Fletcher, which is why Jeff Finger was signed to such an outlandish contract

How’s three more years at $3.5 million hit you today?

Burke may never lack for bluster, but he showed great class yesterday in not making any comment at all that could be seen as a condemnation of the previous caretaker administration for the Frogren screwup, and good for him. It would have been easy for him to roll his eyes at the loss of the very same draft pick that he essentially bought from Tampa for $500,000 in a complicated deadline deal, one that he made sure the league would accept BEFORE he did it, so instead he refused comment and issued an nondescript, let's-move-on press release.

But can you imagine if Anaheim had forced Burke to stay and Fletcher had remained in charge for another seven months? For sure, the Leafs would have been buyers before the trade deadline, looking for any and all veterans, even over-priced ones, that could help push the team into a playoff position this season.

Burke offered many reasons for missing the playoffs this season, but he left out the part that he traded away the team’s two best forwards for draft picks a month ago because it was the right thing to do even if it meant making the team less competitive in the short-term.

Fletcher, on the other hand, might have gone out and traded picks away. In fact, we know he did toy with the idea of dealing away the club’s 2009 first rounder to the Ducks.

The good news for Leaf fans is that while Burke and his underrated sidekick Dave Nonis are aggressive managers, they know the CBA and always make the extra phone call.

They’ll make mistakes. Christian Hanson may be the first one, who knows.

But it won’t be because they don’t have a logical plan or don’t know the rules.

Now on to this week’s mail bag:

Q: Hi Damien,

Just want to hear your thoughts on Brian Burke's progress with the Leafs thus far. A year-end report card, if you will. I realize that it is pointless to assess the success of the rebuild at this point, but in my own humble estimation, Burke has done well to pick up prospects/AHL players to help re-stock his cupboard. I like what I see so far, but it's early. Your thoughts?

J.P. Nikota, London

A: It’s way too early to tell. I’m not sure outside of Hanson which prospects/AHL players you are referring to, unless it's Jay Harrison and Jeff Hamilton. The reason for Leaf fans to be hopeful about Burke is that he has a plan and has demonstrated before he can make a plan reality. Moreover, he’s running the organization, which means no interference from ownership or Peddie, he has a strong right-hand man in Nonis and has a good working relationship with head coach Ron Wilson. This is the most unified this organization has been in decades, and it will be even more so once Burke restructures the pro scouting staff this summer and continues to sculpt the hockey office to his liking.

Q: Hey Damien, Do you really think that Justin Pogge has what it takes to be a starter or am I just an impatient Leafhead. Nothing to date with his play, Marlies or Leafs, inspires me. Thanks.

Mark Thornberry, Toronto

A: I don’t see it at this point. But I didn’t see in it Todd Gill when he was 22, either, and he ended up having a long, long NHL career. What is unclear to me is whether Corey Hirsch is a suitable goaltending coach to bring the best out in Pogge, and Burke will have to make that assessment this summer. It would be a shame if the Leafs decided they didn’t even want to re-sign the young goaltender, but these are the tough decisions you have to make in a cap world.

Q: Hey Damien,

Is it just me or has Anton Stralman looked much better since his last stint in the minors? He seems to be stronger on the puck and generally makes a good first pass out of his zone or at least carries it out and sets up a rush.

Could his improved play make it easier for Burke to move Kaberle for a stronger draft choice?

Your thoughts...

Jamie Hubbert, Ottawa

A: Stralman looks the same to me. Fast and a good puck mover, but weak physically and suspect in his own end. That said, the Leafs still believe he’s a good prospect, and teams have asked about him. Tampa was interested in including him in that peculiar deadline deal. So he’ll continue to get a chance, although I have difficulty seeing how he fits the Burke blueline model.

Q: Hey Damien,

Although I don't always agree with your opinions, I always look forward to reading your articles and blogs. Anyway, do you think Ron Wilson should be considered for the Jack Adams award for best coach?

I know he is not the obvious choices, like a Todd McLellan, Claude Julien, Mike Babcock, but I think he has done a much better job with what he was given than these three guys. McLellan inheirited Wilson's work ethic already cemented in the team and if you would have given Wilson Rob Blake and Dan Boyle last year, I'm sure the team would be just as good. Anyways, I think Wilson should be considered for his work this year but if not Wilson then my choice is Ken Hitchcock over any of those other three guys. What do you think?

Kyle D., Burlington

A: I think Wilson has done a very good job with limited resources. But I think you pretty much have to be a playoff team for a coach to win the Jack Adams. If you wanted to consider Wilson, you’d have to look at Peter DeBoer in Florida and Terry Murray in Los Angeles, both of whom have done similarly strong work with mediocre rosters. Wilson just gets a lot more attention because he’s in Toronto. And what about the job ex-Leaf coach Paul Maurice has done in Carolina?

Broadcasters vote on coach-of-the-year. If I had a vote, my top three would be Julien, Hitchcock and either McLellan or Babcock, in that order.

Q: Hi Damien,

First time writer and long time reader. I really think that Wilson and the Leafs are right on the money on trying to win games instead of "tank". You need a winning environment in order for your youth to be successful and losing doesn't always nab you the #1 pick.

My question to you is, what would you look for in the draft if you were Burke? Also, I haven't heard of any top flight goalies in this years crop of players, do you have any insight on that?

Calvin, Milton

A: There isn’t a goalie there they’d take with their top pick, unless they trade down. Burke’s history shows he goes for the best player, regardless of size, nationality or position. I suspect he’ll do the same. He can’t draft an 18-year-old player based on what the team needs now, and by the time that player is truly ready to make a difference in three or four years (at the earliest), the team’s needs may be entirely different. The only thing I would guess is that Burke will make size a priority.

Q: Hi Damien,

Love your column - keep up the good work! I have a question that relates to a mailbag question from last week. It appears that the Leafs will have lots of cap room next year, so here's my idea: the Leafs should sign a big-name guy like Jay Bouwmeester in the off-season.

I understand that he may be looking for $6 million a year, so why not sign him to a 4 year contract at $24 million and pay him $10 million next year (when the Leafs have lots of cap room), and under $5 million in each of the next three years? Or, better yet, why not pay him $10 million next year, $8 million the year after, and $3 million in the remaining two years of his contract? This would give the Leafs a great defenceman at a bargain price in the remaining two years of his contract, and would create lots of cap space for the Leafs to sign free agents when they are (hopefully) poised to make a playoff (... or Cup?) run. I don't know if this would be legal under the current CBA, but I think it would be a great use of all the wasted cap space that the Leafs have.

Aaron McGregor, Kingston

A: The contract would be legal. But if I understand you’re question correctly, you have to understand the cap hit is the average of the contract over its term. So, if as you suggest, Bouwmeester got $10 million in the first year and then $5 million for each of three years, the annual cap hit would be $25 million divided by four, or $6.25 million each year.

The salary would be less, and that’s meaningful in another way, but in terms of using cap space, you can’t do a deal that varies the cap hit from year to year.

Q: Hey Damien,

How many future draft picks do general managers have available to them? For instance, could a GM trade his next 7 first round picks for Ovechkin?

Eric T., Toronto

A: I don’t know of any limitation on the number of draft picks you can trade away, although at some point the league might step in.

Every Thursday, Damien Cox answers your questions in The Spin, only at thestar.com. Click here to submit a question. **Note: please follow the link above to send a question to Damien. Questions posted in the comments section may not make it to the mailbag. Thanks.**

Thursday Mail Bag

It’s not exactly do or die time for Justin Pogge.

But its time for the kid to make a statement.

TONY BOCK/TORONTO STAR

It's Pogge's time to make a statement that he's an NHLer.

We’ve seen him come up to the NHL on multiple occasions, do okay at times, but generally not do a whole lot to convince anyone he’s the answer in the near future for the Maple Leafs in goal.

Now, with Martin Gerber having acted like a complete idiot over a goal that, in my opinion, was correctly counted as legal, Pogge gets another shot.

So Gerber’s suspended, Vesa Toskala is out for the year and Curtis Joseph apparently is only trusted to play once in a blue moon.

How much opportunity does Pogge need? Here’s a chance to grab the bull by the horns and make the Leafs believe he can be something significant next year and beyond.

Right now, it’s doubtful he’ll even be the NHL backup to Toskala right now. But he can change that over the next week.

It’s up to him now, and time to stop holding his hand and start demanding results.

Now on to this week’s mail bag:

Q: Hi Damien, this question may have come up before so I apologize for the duplication. Don Cherry really seems to have it in for Ron Wilson. Do you know why or how this little feud originated? Did they butt heads some time in the past?

Michael Manno, Toronto

A: I don’t know what created this mini-feud, although I do think

Wilson has done well to pretty much ignore all the barbs thrown his way by Cherry this season. They certainly aren’t of the same mind when it comes to the way the game should be played or coached, with Wilson one of the more innovative, cutting edge coaches around. Cherry doesn’t seem to like Wilson’s attitude or manner, and I can tell you this – he’s not the only one in hockey that feels that way. The Leaf coach tends to rub people the wrong way.

Q: If an NHL team is worried about a falling cap number and committing dollars to a free agrent which squeezes room for other players, why not sign contracts where the salary is a percentage of the cap number and not a flat amount. It probably makes sense to assign all players a percentage of the cap and you don't have to worry about being squeezed. (Provided the GM isn't Max Bialystock and his assistant isn't Leo Bloom.)

James Piper, Kitchener

A: Yes, if it were only so that we knew those who have run the Leafs for the past 40 years were simply channeling The Producers. It would all make so much more sense.

Basically, what you’re suggesting is an interesting idea, but not legal under the current collective bargaining agreement. Each player must have defined salary and number for cap purposes. The only way in which a percentage of the cap can be used is to generate the maximum salary allowable, which can be no more than 20 per cent of the maximum cap figure for any individual.

Q: Damien, very much enjoy the questions and your answers in your blog. My question refers to the loss of Dominic Moore who I thought was the best Leaf player most nights this season. Is there any reason why a new contract could not have been structured to pay him, for example, 2.5 million next year, 1.5 million the year after, and 1 million the third year? MLSE has lots of money and cap space for next year. The last two years address the possible lower cap and salary additions during the following two seasons while allowing the Leafs to keep a very talented player and still give him close to what he was asking. He gets much of his money up front don't see a problem that way.

Would this type of contract violate any NHL rules or be an issue for the players association or do you see any other reasons why it would not have been a solution to the stalemate? Is there a maximum decrease per year that might come into play?

It is hard for me to believe that a proven effective younger NHL player is not much more valuable than a second round draft choice who probably isn't a Leaf for three or four years if ever.

Thanks,

Don Jones, Vineland

A: There is certainly nothing illegal under current CBA rules about the type of contract you suggested.

Moore, however, was looking for more than the approximately $1.7 million average salary that your figures would have produced. He was somewhere around $2.3 million average, which was more than the Leafs were willing to pay.

Interestingly, Moore has one goal and two assists in eight games with the Sabres while averaging around 13-16 minutes of ice time and without getting the power play opportunities he was getting before. The Leafs believed his offensive numbers were artificially inflated by the fact he was playing much higher in the lineup than he would have on a better team.

As far as the draft pick, if you’re going to see a second round pick as basically worthless, then this kind of deal wouldn’t appeal to you. In my mind, having a good collection of draft picks every year just increases your chances of finding better players. If you constantly have few picks, the draft isn’t going to pay dividends. At the end of the day, I think there’s a chance the Leafs could end up with the pick AND Moore. They have an interest in signing him as a free agent this summer.