The Official LEAFS NATION Hockey thread

[Doc Holliday]

MLSE sale to Bell & Rogers imminent

TORONTO - The Ontario Teachers Pension Plan is about to cash out its controlling stake of the Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment empire -- selling to a pair of media giants.

Sources have told QMI Agency that a deal worth as much as $2 billion is close to being settled with telecommunications behemoths Bell Media and Rogers Communications, who have been rivals in the past for the much desired 79.5% shares of MLSE.

Bell and Rogers represent TSN and Sportsnet, the No. 1 and 2 sports broadcasting powers in Canada, but they will call a truce and split the shares with so many lucrative deals to be spun off their union.

An announcement could come as early as Friday, but there are many moving pieces that could delay the final sale until closer to Christmas. MLSE runs the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC, the Air Canada Centre and has high profile real estate holdings. They also own LeafsTV, as well as basketball and soccer television holdings. Rogers, meanwhile, owns the Toronto Blue Jays, making the baseball team an obvious addition to the new combined network.

Of course, any purchase of the Leafs and the Raptors would have to be approved by the NHL and NBA, respectively. Bell also owns 18% of the Montreal Canadiens with naming rights to its arena. But an NHL executive indicated Thursday night that the league is aware there is an imminent change in the Toronto ownership situation. One of the matters to be settled is Bell's 18% interest in the Montreal Canadiens, which must be divested at some point under NHL rules.

It was just two weeks ago that the Teachers announced they were taking the shares off the market after an eight-month search did not produce the desired price. At the time, industry analysts concluded that only a joint venture of some kind between broadcasting kingpins would fetch the big dollars that Teachers was seeking and the November announcement can now likely be put down to a game of high-stakes poker.

Others say that the early-season success of the Leafs and the possibility of big playoff gates in coming years has made MLSE more attractive than ever.

There was speculation that inability to agree on the sharing of broadcast rights and on-line streaming of hockey games was a potential deal-breaker, For the local sports fan who has grown frustrated with the MLSE's teams doing poorly in competition -- the Leafs have not made the playoff in six years -- there is a lot to like about a change. Presumably, a pair of communications firms with lots to gain from high ratings and ancillary revenues would put a lot more interest in supervising the finished product than a faceless pension fund.

A sale to Rogers and Bell would also mean that construction magnate Larry Tanenbaum, who holds the remaining 20.5% interest in MLSE, will not exercise his right of first refusal on the shares, or that he tried and failed with a plan of his own.

MLSE officials were silent all day Thursday, first when the Toronto Sun requested an update on the search to replace president and CEO Richard Peddie, who is set to retire in three weeks, and then in response to the QMI report. There is speculation that John Tory, a former president and CEO of Rogers, will play a role in the new operation.

Laval University business profressor André Richelieu noted it made sense for Bell and Rogers to get together in this case.

"We can already see small battles between the two giants on the broadcast rights," he told QMI. "The big risk is that the Leafs fans find themselves taken hostage."

- With files from Steve Simmons and Joe Warmington

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Toronto/2011/12/08/19099591.html

 

[Doc Holliday]

MLSE sale a done deal

Bell, Rogers buy Leafs, Raps, TFC

By Rob Longley, QMI Agency

TORONTO - The Ontario Teachers Pension Plan has cashed out its controlling stake of the Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment empire — selling to a pair of media giants.

A story first reported by the QMI Agency on Thursday night was confirmed Friday morning at the Air Canada Centre.

After years of speculation, the majority stake in the parent company of the Maple Leafs, Raptors, ACC and more has been sold to an unlikely partnership of two of Canada’s communication giants — Rogers Communication and BCE, the parent company of Bell.


The deal sees Bell and Rogers buy and split 75% of MLSE shares for $1.32 billion. Construction magnate Larry Tanenbaum, who holds the remaining 20.5% interest in MLSE, increases his ownership to 25%.

Bell and Rogers represent TSN and Sportsnet, the No. 1 and 2 sports broadcasting powers in Canada, but they will call a truce and split the shares with so many lucrative deals to be spun off their union. It is believed that neither company felt it could afford losing out to its competitor, especially given the value of TV rights to the Leafs in this country.

MLSE runs the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC and the Air Canada Centre and has high profile real-estate holdings. They also own LeafsTV, as well as basketball and soccer television holdings. Rogers, meanwhile, owns the Toronto Blue Jays, making the baseball team an obvious addition to the new combined network.

News of the sale comes as a surprise given that just two weeks ago, the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan had announced MLSE was no longer on the market after eight months of trying to sell.

Of course, any purchase of the Leafs and the Raptors would have to be approved by the NHL and NBA, respectively. Bell also owns 18% of the Montreal Canadiens with naming rights to its arena.

But an NHL executive indicated Thursday night that the league is aware there is an imminent change in the Toronto ownership situation. One of the matters to be settled is Bell’s 18% interest in the Montreal Canadiens, which must be divested at some point under NHL rules.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Toronto/2011/12/09/19101391.html

 

[Doc Holliday]

Leafs unfazed by new ownership

by James Mirtle, The Globe and Mail

New ownership won’t change what happens on the ice.

That was Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke’s main message on Friday – first to his team, and then the media – after the news broke the NHL club’s parent company, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd., was on the verge of being purchased by media giants BCE Inc. and Rogers Communications Inc.

“Our job is to win hockey games,” Burke said in a press conference in Washington, where the Leafs were preparing to face the Capitals. “Ownership issues are something that’s beyond our control. I just told the players: you’re not going to see a difference.”

Leafs head coach Ron Wilson, however, made it be known he was interested in what perks could come with the majority owners being two telecommunications companies.

“I’m secretly hoping for some free cable [TV] or something like that,” Wilson joked, “because the cable bill is pretty steep and the Internet bill to go with it.”

Burke said he expects the Leafs to use their financial might as much as ever, with the team’s large executive and scouting staff to remain the same as it was under outgoing majority owner, the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan.

He also took time to defend Teachers, saying the oft-criticized group has provided the NHL team with everything he asked for since he was hired three years ago.

“They’ve been a joy to work for,” Burke said. “All they’ve tried to do is win. … Every single time I’ve turned to them and asked for something, the answer has been yes.”

The players echoed those sentiments Friday, adding they were pleased to see MLSE chairman Larry Tanenbaum would stay on with a sizable stake in the team.

(Under the deal – which still must get regulatory approval, plus the NHL’s consent – BCE/Rogers will split 75 per cent of MLSE, while Tanenbaum increases his share to 25 per cent from 20.5 per cent. MLSE owns the Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors of the NBA, Toronto Marlies of the AHL, and MLS franchise Toronto FC.)

In many ways, Tanenbaum has become the face of ownership to the players during Teachers ownership, as he has a seat near the players’ bench during home games and is frequently in the dressing room after games shaking hands.

“I’m glad Larry Tanenbaum is still involved,” goaltender James Reimer said. “He’s the guy that really cares about this team and what’s best for the team. He’s treated us really well.”

“He’s an unbelievable human being,” defenceman Luke Schenn added. “He’s a class act all the way. He’s one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet and one of the greatest owners you can ask for.

“Larry is always around. He comes to all the charity and team events, and he’s a guy that you could just talk to about anything. Having been here for four years, he’s been awesome to me. I think the whole city of Toronto and the community thinks very highly of him.”

To end his press conference, Burke acknowledged Friday that Bell and Rogers may have a few suggestions in terms of how to improve what the Maple Leafs are doing as an organization.

While he’ll retain full control over hockey decisions, Burke said outside input could be valuable, calling the incoming execs “very creative and very bright people.”

“That’ll be the first meeting I have,” he said. “Can we do better? Can we do more? But the risk when you talk like that is the implication is somehow Teachers didn’t hold up their end of the bargain, and that’s simply not fair.”

THE LEAFS GET NEW OWNERS

Brian Burke: “I’m perfectly willing to listen to what they have to say. If they’ve got some ideas, maybe there are some things we can do better. … I’m open. These are very creative and very bright people.

“We are Big Blue. We have been provided with great asset support by ownership, and I expect that will continue. We do have a large scouting staff, we do have a large front-office staff. Where they have been able to commit non-[salary] cap dollars, we’ve done it.”

Ron Wilson: “It’s too early for me to digest all the details of it, but with Larry Tanenbaum still being involved I think that’s really important for the continuity of our organization because we’re making huge strides as a team and we’re headed in the right direction.”

Luke Schenn: “[Larry Tanenbaum] does great things, anything we need as players, he’ll come in sometimes after a loss and shake everyone’s hand and say, ‘good game’ and he’ll be there after a win too. He cares a lot about his guys and his players and I’m sure the whole management and organization.

“You meet a few people here and there from the Teachers pension fund, but you don’t get to know them too much. There might be a familiar face, but it’s not as personable as with Larry.”

Dion Phaneuf: “To be completely honest I don’t think it affects us as players. The Teachers did a great job when they owned the team. We’re excited about the new ownership, but as players, it’s the business side of the game that is out of our control. But we’re excited about the new ownership and what they’re going to bring.”

James Reimer: “The past owners, they’ve done a great job. Things have been great around here; I have no complaints. I expect moving forward that it’ll be more of the same. I don’t think it’ll affect us too, too much. I’ve got nothing but good things to say about the past and the future.”

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/spor...eafs-unfazed-by-new-ownership/article2266403/

 

[lgna69xxx]

Neon Dion to play his 500th NHL game tonight

Three years removed from being runner-up in the Norris Trophy chase as the NHL’s best defenceman, Dion Phaneuf is playing the best hockey of his Leafs career.

Tuesday night, the 26-year-old captain will play in the 500th game of his career — and 122nd in a Leafs uniform since the blockbuster trade of Jan. 31, 2010, with Calgary.

“It flies by, I tell you that,” Phaneuf said Tuesday after the morning skate for Toronto’s game against the visiting Carolina Hurricanes. “I remember when I first started (in Calgary), Jarome Iginla, who was I think seven or eight years into the league, said to enjoy it because you’ll be there before you know it. It’s been quick but it’s been a lot of fun.

“I’m in my seventh year now. The years just seemed to fly by and you don’t know where the time goes. But I’m really excited being apart of the group we have here and being a part of this organization. We’re going in the right direction. We’re building something here and it’s a lot of fun to be a part of it.”

With Phaneuf in the lineup, the Leafs are 60-47-14. He leads Toronto in ice time, averaging 25:35 per game, ninth in the NHL. With three goals and 15 assists in 29 games, Phaneuf is on pace for a 50-point season, his best since he scored 17 goals and 43 assists for 60 points in 2007-2008, his third season with the Flames and the season he finished second in Norris Trophy balloting to Detroit’s Nik Lidstrom.

“I’m not a different player. I’m the same player that I’ve always been but with experience, you gain knowledge and you become a better player,” Phaneuf said. “I’ve worked on little things to become a more complete defenceman.

“If you stop learning in this game, you’re not going to last very long. I said when I first started that I wanted to improve every day and keep getting better. And that hasn’t changed. I still come to the rink wanting to get better and wanting to improve my game and I’m still working on it.”

According to coach Ron Wilson, one of big reasons for his improved and usually steady play is that he isn’t running around looking to make that massive centre ice hit — a play that certainly makes the crowd cheer — but one that often resulted in putting him out of position.

“He’s not running around looking for big hits,” Wilson said recently. “Hits don’t add up to anything in the standings. There’s not a column for hits although some in the media talk about how many hits somebody had as having a big impact on the game.

“There are certain nights it does but most nights it’s who scores the most goals wins the game, not who has the most hits. Trying to get Dion to understand that has been a bit of a process.”

When Wilson coached the San Jose Sharks, he never feared playing against Phaneuf despite his big shot and ability to land a punishing open ice body check.

“He got a lot of hits but we also scored a lot of goals,” Wilson said candidly.

Phaneuf has also been forced to change his game a bit because of some of the new rules such as Rule 48, which prohibits targeted hits to the head, Wilson said.

“In a way, the rules kind of discourage the kind of hits that Dion used to be looking for,” Wilson said. “Those open ice hits in the neutral zone where he might have come up a little bit higher. I think he’s dialed it down a bit. He nails guys closer to the boards. He’s not leaping into hits anymore.”

Since his arrival in Toronto, Phaneuf and the Leafs coaching staff have worked with the defenceman on improving his game to where he’s become a more well-rounded defender, one who is not only used on the power play but also on penalty kills.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Wilson shuffling lines for tonight's game against LA Kings

Maybe, just maybe, the underperforming Los Angeles Kings are what the doctor ordered for the struggling Maple Leafs.

The Western Conference Kings are coming off an 8-2 road loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night, have dropped seven of their past 10 games, are tied for the fewest goals in the league with 69, and are between coaches.

If the faltering Maple Leafs can’t beat these guys, who can they beat?

Toronto, now sitting in eighth spot in the East, will be looking to avoid its second three-game losing streak of the season when it hosts the Kings at the Air Canada Centre on Monday night.

“We’ve lost a couple of games here so we definitely need a win tonight and the boys will be fired up,” rookie defenceman Jake Gardiner said after the team’s morning skate.

In an effort to get back on track, the Leafs have moved Tim Connolly up to centre Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul on the first line and bumped Tyler Bozak back to the third line.

“We need just a little more balance between offence and defence, so I think and hope that Timmy is able to provide that for the first line,” coach Ron Wilson said. “They’re scoring a lot but they’re also giving up a lot of goals and we’ve got to shore that up.”

Faceoff specialist David Steckel will miss his second consecutive game with the flu, but rather than going with seven defencemen like they did against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night, the Leafs will most likely dress bruising forward Jay Rosehill on the fourth line.

That leaves Bozak centring Matt Frattin and either Joey Crabb or Colby Armstrong, who will play after taking Sunday’s practice off with a sore ankle.

Clarke MacArthur, Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin will be reunited on the second line.

Wilson said after the morning skate that he will utilize Bozak on the penalty kill but also reunite him with Kessel and Lupul for power play time.

“I think Bozie may still go out with those guys on the power play, cause they’ve been pretty effective for a long time now.”

Expect to see James Reimer back in net for the Leafs.

It’s the only meeting between the two teams this season.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Toronto/2011/12/19/19143501.html

 

[Doc Holliday]

Armstrong's status

(ESPN) Forward Colby Armstrong is expected to miss more than just a handful of games for the Toronto Maple Leafs after being diagnosed with a concussion. Considered out indefinitely after an incident on Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks, the winger may have tried to hide the injury from his team. In any case, Armstrong wasn't up front with how he was feeling. (Toronto Sun)

"In the game the other night, he hit Ryan Kesler and actually cracked his toe," Ron Wilson said.

"But that was not the issue. He did not tell the trainers or the doctors (on Sunday) that he had his bell rung," the Maple Leafs coach added. "So, somewhere (on Monday afternoon), he was nauseated and had blurry vision, so he has a concussion ... It took us all by shock. We had no idea he had his bell rung. He kind of kept that from us. It has been going so badly for him with injuries."

Armstrong has dealt with a wide variety of injury issues since joining the Leafs ahead of the 2010-11 season. Moving forward, the Leafs are expected to call up either Joe Colborne or Nazem Kadri from the AHL Marlies. Having played more games for the Leafs this season, Colborne has a slight edge.

 

[lgna69xxx]

Colby cannot catch a break, well then again, his middle name should be "break" as much as he is hurt. Oh well, nice to have that "Depth" within the orginization to call up a Joe Colborne or a Nazem Kadri. Thanks BB.

Armstrong's status

(ESPN) Forward Colby Armstrong is expected to miss more than just a handful of games for the Toronto Maple Leafs after being diagnosed with a concussion. Considered out indefinitely after an incident on Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks, the winger may have tried to hide the injury from his team. In any case, Armstrong wasn't up front with how he was feeling. (Toronto Sun)

"In the game the other night, he hit Ryan Kesler and actually cracked his toe," Ron Wilson said.

"But that was not the issue. He did not tell the trainers or the doctors (on Sunday) that he had his bell rung," the Maple Leafs coach added. "So, somewhere (on Monday afternoon), he was nauseated and had blurry vision, so he has a concussion ... It took us all by shock. We had no idea he had his bell rung. He kind of kept that from us. It has been going so badly for him with injuries."

Armstrong has dealt with a wide variety of injury issues since joining the Leafs ahead of the 2010-11 season. Moving forward, the Leafs are expected to call up either Joe Colborne or Nazem Kadri from the AHL Marlies. Having played more games for the Leafs this season, Colborne has a slight edge.

 

[lgna69xxx]

I would really LOVE to see Ziggy given another shot. Kadri needs to spend the whole year with the Marlies and continue to learn from a very good coach in Dallas Eakins and then he will be ready next season and never ever go back down to the farm.

Problem is, Darryl Boyce got the call-up. I ask you this: "Did either of Mike Zigomanis or Nazem Kadri fuck one of Ron Wilson's daughters?" What does he have against them?

 

[lgna69xxx]

And with that, it appears the kid is back up to the "show"



http://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/article/1105208--nazem-kadri-practises-with-leafs?bn=1

I would really LOVE to see Ziggy given another shot. Kadri needs to spend the whole year with the Marlies and continue to learn from a very good coach in Dallas Eakins and then he will be ready next season and never ever go back down to the farm.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Kadri's chance

(ESPN) According to the Toronto Star, Nazem Kadri is back up with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Given the team's current woes, this could be a great opportunity for the talented youngster.

Kadri has torched the AHL this season, to the tune of 22 points in 22 games. He was named the league's player of the month for November and the Leafs hope he can carry some of that momentum into their lineup now. Ron Wilson's squad sits right in the middle of a logjam near the bottom of the playoff bracket in the East with 36 points. Six teams are currently separated by just two points, so every game counts that much more at the moment.

Meanwhile, Toronto has been dealt a few injuries and seen its offense trail off a bit of late, scoring more than two goals in a game just three times in their last nine outings. Not coincidentally, they've dropped seven of of those nine contests. If Kadri can help ignite the offense at a time like this, the former first round draft pick could make an even bigger name for himself.

 

[lgna69xxx]

Leafs 3 Sabres 2......... What a game! I am thinking along the same lines of a bruins/Leafs playoff series that a Sabres/Leafs series would be as good or better! The Leafs were clearly the better team and only Ryan Miller kept this from being a 5-2 or 6-2 Leafs rout tonight.Nazem Kadri made a great first impression with a goal in his first game since being called up from the Marlies today and Kessel/Lupul did it again. Reimer was a MONSTER in goal and appears to be back to his old self since being run over by a ripped up smurfs elbow/shoulder to the head back in Oct at the Bell Centre. Great win by a young hungry good team, heading towards bigger and better things soon. Go Leafs Go!

 

[Doc Holliday]

I agree, Iggy. But to be fair, the Sabres also could have won this game if not for the superb effort by James Reimer, who leads all goalies in all-star voting. The Sabres shot 42 times at him. As for Ryan Miller, he was absolutely great (and lucky) for the first 2 periods. If not for the two goalies' strong performances, this game would have been a shootout.

Kessel was very good, and so was Nazem Kadri. Wow! I also liked the fact that the coaching staff gave rookie defenceman Jake Gardiner a much needed rest. Having spent last season at the NCAA level, he's not used to the daily grind of an NHL schedule & the rest should help him.

Matt Frattin continues to impress with his speed & hockey sense. He makes good decisions & always has several good scoring chances when he plays. The future looks very bright, indeed.

If you missed it, the Habs lost again. They were outworked & outclassed by the Winnipeg Jets. This is a team in major trouble, if you ask me. They do not play as a team & there is no chemistry. They sat their best defenceman tonight....P.K. Subban. Hard to explain this one. He's 22 years old, he plays 24-32 minutes a game, he's on the powerplay & kills penalties......yet they sit him out while they let bums like Cammallery play!

 

[Doc Holliday]

Nabokov has high praise for Ron Wilson

UNIONDALE, N.Y.—Ask New York Islanders goalie Evgeni Nabokov about Leafs coach Ron Wilson and all you hear back is praise.

“I like him,” said Nabokov. “I think he’s a really smart coach.”

Nabokov should know. Nabokov was Wilson’s top goalie when Wilson coached the San Jose Sharks.

Now Nabokov is with the Islanders and will start Friday night against Wilson’s Maple Leafs in the final game for either team before Christmas.

Wilson is a polarizing figure in Toronto for his often acerbic comments — there are Leaf fans who believe he should be fired, while others want him to get an extension. Nabokov said Wilson has the respect of his players.

“He knows the game really well he knows exactly what he wants from his players and players know what’s expected,” said Nabokov.

That said, Nabokov says he doesn’t feel anything special facing his old coach. For the Islanders, it’s more about overcoming injuries and trying to get on a roll to get into the playoff hunt.

“For us, every little detail is important because obviously we’re fighting for that last playoff spot,” said Nabokov.

While the Leafs were beating the Sabres 3-2 on Thursday night, the Isles were losing to the crosstown Rangers by the same score.

“We can’t afford to lose too many games we have to find a way to win,” said Nabokov. “When you dig yourself a hole you have to get out of it. We have to come out (against Toronto) with a better effort.”

If there’s one thing about the Leafs the Islanders respect, it’s Toronto’s speed.

“They protect the puck real well,” said Islanders coach Jack Capuano. “They cut back and get some extended zone time and the have a couple of defencemen that like to get involved.”

Capuano says the key to shutting down the Leafs is to contain Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul, admitting it’s easier said than done.

“Kessel is having a tremendous year,” said Capuano. “What you try to do is limit their time and space. They’re going to get their chances over the course of a game but to defend them, we have to understand when they’re on the ice.”

For the Leafs, the key to stopping the Islanders is to stop their top line — John Tavares between Matt Moulson and P.A. Parenteau. They were easily the only line that had any consistent time in the Rangers zone on Thursday, and yet Tavares ended up minus-3.

Tavares has scored only two goals in his last 21 games.

“John is getting his points,” Capuano said of the team’s top star. “He’s getting assists. He’s not putting puck in the net right now. But when you see the fact that his chances are there, you don’t get too worried.”

Tavares says he’s feeling pressure to score, and hopes the end to his drought is near.

“Sure hope so, it’s up to me to finish opportunities,” said Tavares. “It (scoring) is what I do best and what I’m known for. I’ve got to capitalize on my opportunities. I wish I knew (what the problem is) then I wouldn’t be going through this. I have to be better than the goaltender.”

http://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs...-goalie-nabokov-likes-wilson-s-coaching-style

 

[Doc Holliday]

Merry Christmas, Ron Wilson!

Ron Wilson isn't going anywhere.

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager, Brian Burke, confirmed in an email on Christmas morning that Wilson has signed a contract extension with the club.

The terms of the deal were not immediately known. Burke said he would not make any further comment on Sunday.

Wilson will keep his job for the foreseeable future despite the fact the Leafs have not been to the playoffs in any of his previous three seasons behind the bench.

The Leafs have been improved so far in the 2011-12 season, forging a record of 18-13-4 and 40 points despite numerous injuries to integral players. Only captain Dion Phaneuf and forwards Phil Kessel, Joffrey Lupul and Nikolai Kulemin have played in all 35 games.

The Leafs are in sixth place in the Eastern Conference and return to action on Tuesday night when they visit the Florida Panthers. That game begins a three-game trip which also has stops in Carolina and Winnipeg.

Wilson tweeted (@coachrw63) the news on Christmas morning, saying: "He came! He came!" Remember saying that as a little kid? Well he did: I got a new Red Ryder BB gun and a contract extension!

 

[Doc Holliday]

Wilson & Burke now inextricably bound

by Howard Berger

That seems to be the general reaction in emails this morning to the news Ron Wilson has finally received a contract extension as coach of the Maple Leafs. First, understand that this was in the works in the final-third of last season; only a disastrous start to the current campaign would have altered the outcome. So, nothing about this decision should catch any Leaf observer off guard. Second, Wilson doesn’t deserve to be fired if Brian Burke is sticking around. The coach has been saddled with mediocre personnel for much of his tenure, and that falls on the GM. To his credit, Burke has acknowledged this on several occasions when responding to criticism of Wilson. Double-B has completely gutted the roster he inherited in November 2008 and appears to have finally assembled a team with playoff possibilities. His message to Wilson? “You and I are in this together.”

For now, anyway.

Do not mourn today’s decision. Given his career numbers behind the bench, Wilson is among the most accomplished in his profession. Yes, you can make a solid argument that a coach missing the playoffs for three consecutive years should be fired and it’s true that no Toronto coach – prior to Wilson – has survived such a drought. But, there are two parts to making a change: a) dismissing the current man, and b) locating an improved alternative. The former is easy; the latter infinitely more challenging. At the moment – and whether or not you agree with Burke’s decision – there doesn’t appear to be an obvious replacement for Wilson. Though Marlies’ coach Dallas Eakins in clearly the flavour-of-the-month – and would seem to be on the rise as a candidate to coach in the NHL – he trails Wilson by 637 career wins. It wouldn’t be a fair or equitable switch at this point.

Keep in mind, also, that extending one’s contract in professional sport is hardly a guarantee of employment. Though Wilson won’t be holding any tag-days, I’d vehemently recommend that he guide the Leafs into the Stanley Cup tournament this spring. A second-half collapse that results in another playoff absence – Toronto’s seventh in a row – would likely reduce today’s announcement to that of a golden handshake (friends do look after one another).

Wilson’s prickly demeanor always seems to be a point of contention, but it is largely irrelevant. The NHL’s all-time coaching leader – Scotty Bowman – wasn’t the warm-and-fuzzy type; all he did was win. Wilson and Bowman are substantially different away from cameras, microphones and note-pads. Both are friendly, engaging, and fascinating to chat with on any number of topics. Moreover, Wilson didn’t adopt his temperament upon arriving in Toronto. If you don’t believe me, check with colleagues in Anaheim, Washington or San Jose. In fact, Ronny was pretty much the same in his playing days. Darryl Sittler once chuckled when telling me that Wilson – while seated next to him on the bench at Maple Leaf Gardens during his first NHL game (in 1977-78) - offered advice to the revered Toronto captain. Confidence has never been an issue for ol’ Ron.

The overriding puzzlement – and trend – during Wilson’s tenure behind the Leafs bench is lousy penalty killing. That alone shouldn’t prompt a coaching change, but neither has anyone come up with a reasonable theory as to why it’s been so uniformly bad. If it doesn’t improve in the latter half of the schedule, the Leafs will be life-and-death for a playoff spot – hardly a comfortable circumstance for the coach, extension or no extension.

In the meantime, let’s get into the holiday spirit. Wilson and I have one thing in common: we both know what it feels like to lose a job. Ron has generally earned his keep behind the bench in the NHL and no one should begrudge another person for bettering himself. Perhaps Brian Burke has prolonged the tenure of a coach that ultimately solves the Leafs interminable championship drought.

Only time will tell.

http://www.bergerbytes.ca/2011/12/wilson-burke-now-inextricably-bound/

 

[joelcairo]

My sincere condolences to Leaf players and fans. However, I suggest they remain positive: this season alone has shown that coaches' contracts are not a guarantee of permanence (Maurice, Boudreau, Carlyle, Martin...).

 

[simonpaul]

TODAY WILSON IS MOST CLOSER to be fire if he don t do the playoffs.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Throughout the Mtl media over the past week or so, all i've been hearing is that the players won't respect Cunneyworth or play for him since he's a lame-duck coach. That they won't work hard for him or give top performance since they know he'll be gone after the season is done.......

Well, maybe Burke heard this & figured the same goes for the Leafs. So far, Wilson has been getting a maximum effort from every single player on the roster. This has been his biggest coaching quality so far: the players have always played very hard for him. As soon as he felt a player wasn't putting him the effort, he'd ship him up to the press box & then to the Marlies (or traded) if the player's attitude didn't improve.

But as JC mentionned, coaches' contracts are not a guarantee of permanence. Heck, Jacques Martin was handed a bonus of $3 million on the day he got fired by Pierre "The Ghost" Gauthier. So basically what i'm saying is that if the Leafs don't make the playoffs, it's quite possible that Wilson won't be there next season.

However, as many in the media pointed out yesterday, if the Leafs falter once again, Burke is as much to blame as Wilson since he's the one who gave him the players he has had to manage & most are in agreement that Wilson has indeed got the best out of the bunch he's been given to coach.

 

[joelcairo]

However, as many in the media pointed out yesterday, if the Leafs falter once again, Burke is as much to blame as Wilson since he's the one who gave him the players he has had to manage & most are in agreement that Wilson has indeed got the best out of the bunch he's been given to coach.

Yes, very often, VERY often - in fact we might even say USUALLY - it is the GM's fault but the coach becomes the sacrificial lamb. For proof: look at Gauthier-Martin, Gainey-Carbonneau, Bryan Murray-ALL Ottawa coaches! Murray has been a complete stumblebum as Ottawa's GM but has outlasted SEVERAL coaches. Amomg other things Murray kept Wade Redden and got rid of Chara and turned Dany Heatley into an underachieving bum desperate to leave the nation's capital. We won't even mention the Ray Emery fiasco. If Murray hadn't been blessed with a great leader like Daniel Alfredsson he definitely would have used up the last of his 9 lives - in fact he should have been canned long ago. Murray did some good stuff in Anaheim, turning the team into an eventual Cup winner but after leaving Anaheim everything he's done has turned to crap.

 

[Doc Holliday]

"Congrats to Brian Burke for extending the contract of good man, Ron Wilson. Leafs will make playoffs this year."-------Stan Fischler