tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Bring Back Stellick and Floyd Smith

http://www.torontosun.com/sports/2011/04/06/17903271.html

If you read the above column by Steve Simmons in the Toronto Sun, it appears that we need to go "back to the future".  You know the good old days of Gord Stellick, Floyd Smith, Gerry McNamara and the second term of Punch Imlach.  You know those great days when the Leaf farm system was barren, first round picks were blown with regularity, shipped out players who performed well elsewhere and a scouting staff that was a total joke.  And how about the end of the Pat Quinn era.  Yes, the team made the playoffs.  But it's interesting how I don't remember anyone screaming about trading draft picks and a weak farm system.  You know, moving Brad Boyes, forfeiting mulitple picks for Brian Leetch and getting the broken down power forward Owen Nolan.  Oh and by the way, Mats Sundin's linemates consisted of the likes of Jonas Hoglund and an over-the-hill Mikael Renberg.

Steve Simmons suggests that Brian Wilson and Ron Wilson need to be on a short leash.  Not making the playoffs again under the Burke regime means its time to consider pulling the plug with no contract extensions.  There is no one more disappointed that the Leafs are not in the playoffs (again) than me.  However, I think you have to be cynical and negative to not see that things are starting to turn around.

I think we need to look at Burke and Wilson separately.  As far as the coach goes, I think that Ron Wilson needs to be held accountable for special teams.  3 consecutive years of being terrible on the penalty kill and the power play cannot be tolerated.  In fact, if the Leaf power play was just middle of the pack, they would be in the playoffs.

In January, Ron Wilson won a poll done of NHL players as being the coach who players would not want to play for.  But it appears that this Leaf team did not quit on their coach.  They played hard for two months after the poll and pulled the Leafs close to getting into the playoffs even though many of the critics took issue with Wilson holding his players accountable in the media.

Simmons contention that no extension should be given unless the team makes the playoffs is one opinion.  But giving Wilson a one-year extension eliminates all the talk of Wilson being a lame duck coach next year and certainly does not prevent Brian Burke from firing Wilson if the team starts out poorly or does not improve.  Certainly, MLSE can afford to eat a year of Wilson's contract.  My opinion, Wilson gets a one year extension but is expected to get this team in the playoffs.

As far as Brian Burke goes, his biggest problem was his proclamation last year that the team was going to make the playoffs and they didn't.  In fact, they failed miserably.  But when you look at the dramatic change in the roster of the Leafs and the infusion of young prospects throughout the organization, you have to have another agenda not to admit that Burke has set up this team well for next year and the future.

Burke has made four major trades since being GM.  Trade #1: Phaneuf-Sjostrom and Aulie for Stajan-Hagman- Mayers-White.  Advantage: Leafs.  Trade #2: Giguere for Blake-Toskala.  Advantage: Leafs.  Trade #3: Lupul-Gardiner for Beauchimen. Advantage: Jury is still out, but if Lupul starts the next season like he's ending this year, Leafs win this one going away without even seeing what Gardiner will bring who by the way is a former number 1 draft pick.  I also remember when this trade was made the comments of resident sour puss Bill Watters stating that Lupul was soft yet Lupul has been excellent going to the net and in the corners.

Trade # 4: Philly's 1st round and 3rd round pick for Versteeg.  Advantage: Leafs.  All we heard about after the Kessel trade was how can this team rebuild without first rounders.  While granted it is a lower round 1st round, its in the first round.  And by the way, Versteeg is not doing anything special with the Flyers.  Trade #5: Joe Colborne - Boston's 1st round pick for Kaberle.  Advantage: Leafs.  Colborne has played well in the AHL and once again another 1st round pick which could allow Burke some flexibility in making a trade for a top forward or moving up in the draft.  By the way, the Bruin power play has been less than stellar since acquiring Kaberle.

The Leaf farm system is in much better shape than I can ever remember.  Besides the aforementioned Colborne and Gardiner, there is Jesse Blacker, Greg McKegg, Jerry D'amigo, Ben Scrivens, Jussi Rynnas, Marcel Mueller and Matt Frattin.  In addition, the acquisition of college free agents has also helped to strengthen the farm system.

The Leafs upper management is incredibly strong.  Burke, Nonis and Fletcher.  Not sure if you can find better hockey minds.  Speaking of Fletcher, many of the cynics point to Cliff's signing of Jeff Finger.  But let's not forget the selection of Luke Schenn and the trade that brought Mikhail Grabovski to Toronto.  Oh in case you forgot:  giving Montreal the right to talk to Mats Sundin for Mikhail Grabovski.  How did the Canadiens make out.

Should Burke be criticized for free agent signings Versteeg, Beauchimen and Komsarek.  Yes.  However, he recognized his mistake and moved Versteeg and Beauchimen.  Must the pressure be put on him to get this team in the playoffs?? Yes.  But to start clamoring for the removal of Burke is ridiculous.  The Leafs finally have a respected GM and an outstanding management team.  To move them out makes no sense and would be a major step backwards.

Gritty Leafs Won’t Go Away, Win 5-3

For those of you in the "same old, same old group" you received another example of why you are wrong last night as the Maple Leafs blew a one goal lead, came back from being down in the third period and won 4-3 in a shootout against the Boston Bruins, marking the fourth time this year the Leafs have defeated the Big, Bad Bruins.  In a place where the Leafs have historically had trouble, they stunned the TD Bank Garden crowd when Joffrey Lupul tied the game in the third for his second goal of the game.

After an exciting overtime period which saw Tim Thomas stop Mikhail Grabovski on a penalty shot and the Leafs kill off a penalty to close out the extra period, Nazem Kadri scored the only goal in the shootout on a beautiful move that made Tim Thomas look like an old bar league goalie.  The Bruins must have read the Lightning scouting reports becuase they tried to beat James Reimer three times high on his glove side.  The first two shots went over the net.  The third shot by Rick Peverly went high again but the Reiminister of Defense got his glove on it and secured the Leafs win.

What has been most impressive since the Red Wing loss has been the fact that the team has been playing with desperation right from the opening faceoff.  It was clear that the Leafs were the much quicker team last night and even the Bruins NESN broadcasters grudgingly had to give credit to the Leafs as being faster and grittier than the playoff bound Bruins.

The penalty kill at the end of the overtime period really illustrates the difference in this team as Tim Brent and Luke Schenn had two blocked shots, Brent off the stick of Zdeno Chara - he of the hardest shot in the NHL.  It was a gutty performance and one that can only bring future dividends for this Leaf team going into next season.

Once again, the Leaf power play was putrid however they did score once with the man advantage.  That being said, it is imperative that the power play be improved next season if the Leafs are to make the playoffs and be a factor.  The season long maligned penalty kill was 4 for 4 in stopping the Bruins, none bigger than the PK in the overtime.

The Leafs now are 12-8-4 against their Northeast rivals.  What's extremely important about that is that they have taken it to the Sabres and Bruins in the last seven games they have played against those teams posting a 7-0 record.  Saturday they face the Senators in Ottawa and have a chance to fatten their Division record.  The Senators would like nothing better than to put the Leafs out of their misery.  That's why they must take control early and continue playing with the desperation they have showed in the last two games.

Puck drop Saturday on HNIC is 7pm.

It’s Not The Same Old, Same Old

After reading an article online have your ever read the comments that readers submit?  After Toronto's 4-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday it was really interesting to see what people were thinking.  While certainly there were many who acknowledged the team's improvement and hope for the future, there is still a large contingent who claim this is another "same old, same old" meaningless Leaf late season run and Brian Burke and Ron Wilson are bums.  In fact, in an online poll on the Toronto Star website, 49% say this year's Leafs' season is promising for the future while 43% say its the same old, same old.

Quite frankly, saying that this surge by the Leafs is similar to others in seasons past is a bunch of garbage.  In an earlier post, I identified the player turnover and the fact that this year's team is much younger than past Leaf teams who made the late season surge.  But there is more to consider which I believe further points to the position that the building blocks have been put in place for a playoff run next year.

If this year was the "same old, same old", the Leafs would have folded Tuesday night after the Sabres tied the game 3-3.  In fact, the way the Leafs started the game was really encouraging as they definitely came to play with a sense of urgency.  During this run, the Leafs have also defeated the Sabres the last three times they played.  As the well-known blogger, Mike-In-Buffalo stated: "this marks the end of the domination and the beginning of a rivalry".  I think he's right.

Not quitting has been a hallmark of this Leaf team because during this run, how many times did the Leafs allow the first goal?  Wasn't it 10 games in a row?  Somehow the Leafs were able to win the majority of those games.  One thing to say about this group, they don't quit.

Think about that brutal 2 game road trip they had playing at Buffalo and at Boston in February, two houses of horror for the Leafs.  These two games were after losing in overtime to New Jersey and a listless Saturday night performance at Montreal where they were shutout.

The Leafs came back to defeat Boston 4-3 on February 15th and went to Buffalo the next day and beat the Sabres 2-1.  The Leafs of Toskala, Raycroft, Allison, Blake and Hagman would never have pulled that off.  There was also the brutal 6-2 loss to Tampa at home in March which was then followed by a big 3-1 win over Carolina on the road.  After being embarassed by Florida the next night, the Leafs came back home and on a Saturday night dominated the Boston Bruins 5-2.  If you think this is "same old, same old" you are crazy.  The old Leafs would have folded their tents and went home.

As I've said after the Red Wing loss, the Leafs are not going to make the playoffs this year.  But you have to admire the way they have played.  You have to see that this is a different Leaf team.  You have to see that this organization finally has some good young players and prospects to build with for the future.  Isn't it funny how we are not hearing about losing a lottery pick this year???

This run will help the Leafs young players in the future.  They have been given a taste of a playoff run.  They have acknowledged they don't want to be in this position again.  They want to be battling for a higher seeding.  The future is promising.  The summer will be huge.

Leafs are at Boston tonight with the puck drop at 7pm.