With the new NHL season underway, Leafs nation is left to answer the same old question, “Is it enough?” Which means, have the Leafs coaches and management done enough in the off-season to get the Leafs into the playoffs?
My answer is, it could be. I know you’re thinking that with that answer I just skirted the question, and that it’s not a real answer, but let me explain.
I think the moves Brian Burke did in the off-season were mediocre. And quite frankly have been for a while. Are the Leafs going to try to contend for the cup at some point? Or are they happy with their goal to try to make the playoffs? It seems like they have the same team every year, and I think someone needs to give Brian Burke a GPS cause he’s driving in circles! “Hey look kids, Big Ben…Parliament!” (European Vacation). But I digress, and despite his short comings, and his constant band-aid solutions in the off-season, I think he has put together a squad that is “playoff worthy”. Which turns my head to his human firing shield, Ron Wilson.
In my opinion Wilson should have gotten the axe last year. Not just because he has failed to make the playoffs season after season. But because his coaching style doesn’t seem to compliment the Leafs. I don’t think he’s necessarily a bad coach, I just don’t think he’s the right coach for this situation. And here’s why…
He has to work with the tools he’s been given, and they haven’t always been the greatest (especially up front), but on the backend he’s been given some pretty good pieces. Year after year the Leafs have had one of the better defense corps in the East, and in that time they have had one of the worst penalty killing percentages. I keep hearing that they are going to be more proactive on the PK; great. It happens for two games then they drop back to the old soggy box. That’s just plain bad coaching. In net it’s been a revolving door. Toronto hasn’t been blessed with superstar talent, but none of the goalies end up playing to a level that’s even close to their potential. That is partly Allaires fault, but Wilson is the head coach. My main beef with Wilson though is he hasn’t been effective in cultivating the Leafs young talent. Which is imperative due to the lack thereof. he has also been known to point the finger, and throw players under the bus in post-loss interviews. As well as his inability to right the ship during lengthy losing streaks. One thing to his credit though, is he was able to gel together three spare parts in Grabbo, Mac, and Kuley and get them to produce “first line” numbers. But back to reality, and to this year where he has already managed to disgruntle one of his newly acquired young stars in Cody Franson. Franson was third on the depth chart in Nashville, which is a pretty defensive team that went deep into the playoffs. And now on Toronto he is watching the games from the press box!
Anyway, theres nothing that can be done about it now, Wilson is the Maple Leafs coach for the start of the 2011-12 season. But my question to you is… How much rope do you give him? If this is a must win season (and by win I mean just make the playoffs), and you’re the GM, do you give him the season? All-Star break? Send him home early for Christmas? Do you give him 20 games? 10 games? Less? When would you bring the proverbial axe down on Ron Wilson’s head?
