Judging by the kinds of conversations that are taking place, and what’s being written and talked about by fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the media that cover them, you might get the sense that there is some quick fix solution to the team’s problems, and that the primary way to correct their shortcomings, might be the dismissal of one or both of coach Ron Wilson and general manager Brian Burke. Here’s an update folks. Neither one will be fired this season,and it’s not likely next season either. Maple Leaf Sports And Entertainment is not going to absorb the extensive costs that would be involved in paying off the lucrative contracts that both possess. Burke, as detailed by Wikipedia, is reported to be earning above $3 million annually, on a five year deal. As reported by CBCSports.ca, sports, Ron Wilson is believed to be on a 4 year deal for $5.6 million dollars. Secondly, who exactly is it that M.L.S. And E., are going to find, that can turn around a team, that is weak at centre, average on defense, and a bit better than average in goal ? A dramatic change in the quality of the team, can’t be done without draft picks, and Toronto has already given away their first pick for 2011 to the Boston Bruins in the Phil Kessel trade. Whoever is running the blue and white, including Brian Burke, is only going to be able to properly construct the team to a championship caliber, the only way that is proven, in terms of teams that are consistently competitive, and that is done through hanging on to draft choices. This is how Washington, Pittsburgh, and Chicago, were able to climb out of the basement, and acquire the talent needed to compete for and win a Stanley Cup. These teams maintained their draft selections, and didn’t give in to the temptation of acquiring an established player who another team wants to discard in exchange for a draft pick. These teams are reaping the rewards for their patience and very wise long term planning. Detroit has been to the post-season an incredible 19 years in succession, and that remarkable streak, was made possible primarily by hanging on to top draft selections, until the Wings were close enough to championship level,that they could afford to surrender a first round pick, because the selection would be made towards the end of the first round, and thus, they would not likely be sacrificing a franchise type player.
As for making trades, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there is nobody on the Leafs roster who other teams are going to give up a lottery pick for. Even Phil Kessel would only bring back a non-lottery selection first round pick and a second or third line player. Tomas Kaberle can veto any trade, and he’s made it clear that he likes playing in Toronto. He’s been a great team player,which must be difficult under his particular circumstances. If I had played in Toronto as long as he has, and was stripped of the alternative captaincy, as was the case with him, I would have been more than a little ticked off, to put it mildly. It was a brutal decision to take the “A” off his jersey. If I were in his shoes, I might not be inclined to accept a trade in any case, even if I liked the team involved in the proposed deal. I have never spoken to Kaberle, or his agent, so I can only try to guess how he might feel about the situation privately, even though he wisely sais all the right things publicly, as he should.
Whoever the genius was, that suggested the Bruins would trade Marc Savard to the Leafs, is really in rough shape. Why would Boston, in owning Toronto’s first round choice, want to help the Leafs climb the ladder ? Has anyone paid attention to the fact that the Bruins, both this season and last, seem to play their best games against the Leafs,and have done a wonderful job in shutting down Phil Kessel ? It’s not by accident. Boston wants to bury the Leafs, not help them. They are hoping the Leafs can give them another lottery pick. So why would they trade a goal scoring forward to them ? How stupid of an idea is that ?
By the way, no other team is going to be helping out the Leafs either. Why would they ? Don’t be expecting any blockbuster deals, quite simply because they aren’t likely to happen. The only place other NHL team’s management want to see the Leafs go, is rock bottom. The owners and management staff, are as competitive as the players, and of course, quite a few of them are former players.
It is still early enough in the season, and there is so much parity in the NHL, that the Maple Leafs could settle down, and earn enough points, so that they could claim a playoff spot. That would be a nice story, but the much nicer and much smarter one, would be the ownership of the team being focused on the long term development of the once storied original six club. If only the Maple Leafs and their owners would go along with the proper way of rebuilding them, they could have a team in the playoffs almost every year, much like Detroit, after a few years of drafting elite prospects. It is true, that once in a while, a low seeded team will go on a run in the post-season, and quite often, those Cinderella squads, are carried by goalkeepers who carry their team on their backs. Unless these teams, like last seasons Montreal Canadiens with Jaroslav Halak in net, or the Edmonton Oilers a few seasons ago with Dwayne Roloson, can develop a strong farm system through the draft primarily, it is unlikely that either team would consistently go on a long run during the playoffs, like the Red Wings have.
Toronto prospect Nazem Kadri looks like he may be able to help the Leafs win some more games, now that he has played against Vancouver, in Toronto’s 5-3 loss,this past Saturday. Even his skill isn’t likely enough on its own, to elevate the Leafs into a much loftier spot in the standings. If Toronto is fortunate enough to qualify for the playoffs, the Leafs fans had better hope that eventually, the team owners and management staff, will build the team properly, with the methodology that is proven to be the only one that builds long term success, and championships.
Quick fixes, are a formula for failure.
,