Now with a POLL! Is the Ron Wilson death watch on? (Possible player revolt?)

shabbs wrote:

SensFan71 wrote:they have two very difficult games coming up though, the Rangers absolutely decimated them at MSG, don't see a lot of evidence showing that the Rangers won't do that again. Vancouver has things going good for them as well and a team that doesn't have a lot of scoring talent shouldn't bother Luongo much either, at first thought, that should be two more losses right there, but nothing is guaranteed so that's why they play the games.

I was pretty sure they'd get the win last night. Playing desperate usually gets you a win eventually, but I don't think they're even playing desperate. They just look totally lost and confused.

I wonder if not having a captain/leader is making things worse? Who is stepping up in the locker room and rallying the troops?

Toskala's out for two weeks, Gustavsson is out for who knows how long... it's going to be the Joe MacDonald show for a bit.

well looking around their locker room it's hard to speculate who would do that, Kaberle is the longest serving Leaf, but he doesn't appear to be the vocal type that will rip the guys into a frenzy. Komisarek and Beauchemin might be looked towards for leadership, but they are the new guys and won't be thrusted into that role easily. I bet this team is really missing Sundin now, they were still losing some, but at least the team had direction. It's like everything Wilson is saying just doesn't sink in or he has lost the room and they are blocking him out, I really don't know for sure.

I think they most certainly are missing a "Sundin" in the room. It's situations like this where you need someone to rally the troops and get the team in gear. Everything Wilson has tried has had no effect. If they get a win... it will probably be a fluke.

I wonder how Kessel is taking all this. Watching his team flounder and then realizing that the pressure will be on him to "save" the team when he finally laces up? Not a great situation to be coming in to. Especially with the supporting cast he'll have.

I think the saving grace to Toronto's season, if there even is one, lies on the shoulders (or in this case the groin) of 'The Monster'. It's evident that Toskala never bounced back from his off-season surgeries both this year and the year before, and while J-Mac played okay last night, the Leafs need their goalie to steal them a win every night.

Burke is going to look like a goat if his team does not make the playoffs this year especially given the number and quality of picks that were exchanged for Kessell. I'd like to think a major trade could be coming Toronto's way but I just don't see any tradeable assets in Toronto other that Schenn and Kaberle right now. Call me a pessimist but when I saw that Kessell trade, I saw the Leafs franchise set-back another 3-4 years. Burke's thinking must be to exploit the UFA market. Since a large majority of Canadian-born hockey players are raised within the GTA and given Toronto's rich hockey history, you think there would be a line-up of players wanting to play in Toronto. Instead Burke assembled a team of Americans and goons; a fourth line of Mayers-Orr-Rosehill....really?Can anyone on their blueline aside from Kaberle even line-up a slap shot? I think Burke has to get his head in with the times and realize that goons are a thing of the past in hockey. Look at the last two defending cup winners; neither team had a bonafide fighter let alone a line of fighters, and neither had a 'franchise' goalie really capable of stealing a game (Fleury is good but he is in a different tier than Lunogo, Brodeur, etc). What each team had was offensive depth, a capable blue line, set roles, and a reactive system emanating from good coaching and sound management. Toronto has none of the above and I'm afraid it's going to be a very long season for the Leafs. I think Burke should go before Wilson but the coach always goes before the GM. The Leafs will lose their next two, and Leafs fans will be calling for the heads of Wilson and Burke by Hallowe'en.

Kovalfie wrote:I think the saving grace to Toronto's season, if there even is one, lies on the shoulders (or in this case the groin) of 'The Monster'. It's evident that Toskala never bounced back from his off-season surgeries both this year and the year before, and while J-Mac played okay last night, the Leafs need their goalie to steal them a win every night.

Burke is going to look like a goat if his team does not make the playoffs this year especially given the number and quality of picks that were exchanged for Kessell. I'd like to think a major trade could be coming Toronto's way but I just don't see any tradeable assets in Toronto other that Schenn and Kaberle right now. Call me a pessimist but when I saw that Kessell trade, I saw the Leafs franchise set-back another 3-4 years. Burke's thinking must be to exploit the UFA market. Since a large majority of Canadian-born hockey players are raised within the GTA and given Toronto's rich hockey history, you think there would be a line-up of players wanting to play in Toronto. Instead Burke assembled a team of Americans and goons; a fourth line of Mayers-Orr-Rosehill....really?Can anyone on their blueline aside from Kaberle even line-up a slap shot? I think Burke has to get his head in with the times and realize that goons are a thing of the past in hockey. Look at the last two defending cup winners; neither team had a bonafide fighter let alone a line of fighters, and neither had a 'franchise' goalie really capable of stealing a game (Fleury is good but he is in a different tier than Lunogo, Brodeur, etc). What each team had was offensive depth, a capable blue line, set roles, and a reactive system emanating from good coaching and sound management. Toronto has none of the above and I'm afraid it's going to be a very long season for the Leafs. I think Burke should go before Wilson but the coach always goes before the GM. The Leafs will lose their next two, and Leafs fans will be calling for the heads of Wilson and Burke by Hallowe'en.

that is a very indepth and valid assessment kovalfie, very well done. Burke really made a bonehead move when it comes to getting Kessel in the mix for all those draft picks, a team builds through the draft, and you have to look no further than the Red Wings of years past and the current Chicago Blackhawks. I am not saying that UFA contributions are insignificant, but the core of your team is developed from within and the UFA's/deadline deals are usually just the rental pieces you need to put your team above the rest.

I think you can start the rumour mill a-churnin' for Kaberle. By mid-December it'll be in full out Eklund mode.

He's the one piece on their back end who's moveable - and no one in TO is happy with him right now. He's showing that he's soft as tissue and as someone said, he shys away from pressure situations.

If I was a betting man, I would say that Columbus might make Toronto an offer for Kaberle, as they appear to have all the 'shutdown' pieces in place.

PS Nice write up Kovalife. The guy who has the cannon from the point is Beachemin and he'll need to use it.

http://hfboards.com/showpost.php?p=21592258&postcount=120

The Giguere trade rumours are starting up again...

Kaberle is the only PMD they got though.

marakh wrote:http://hfboards.com/showpost.php?p=21592258&postcount=120

Boo hoo hoo Marakh...that almost made me toss my cookies.

I don't think they're going to be able to work any kind of trade or fire any coaches. They're going to have to figure this all out with what they got right now.

shabbs wrote:I don't think they're going to be able to work any kind of trade or fire any coaches. They're going to have to figure this all out with what they got right now.

Really? They have 108 D-men - a couple of which could be of use like Kaberle, VanRyn...Finger (hahahahahah), Exelby ( )

shabbs wrote:I wonder how Kessel is taking all this. Watching his team flounder and then realizing that the pressure will be on him to "save" the team when he finally laces up? Not a great situation to be coming in to. Especially with the supporting cast he'll have.

Not the best situation for him, no. But, he got what he (thought he) wanted.

I still don't see how anyone thought this was an OK team and that Burke's "plan" was moving along nicely.

I thought Komisarek was a bad signing from the get-go, worse than Exelby because of the money.

I guess people are still a little reluctant to admit the Emperor has no clothes and Ron Wilson will make a nice scapegoat until reality sets in (years from now).

Burke says players to blame for poor start...

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4558575&name=lebrun_pierre

I love how during pre-season he was all over the media, everywhere, Leafs were looking promising... and now they're 0-6 and he's nowhere to be found and does an interview with ESPN. Yes, it's Pierre LeBrun, but still.

shabbs wrote:Burke says players to blame for poor start...

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4558575&name=lebrun_pierre

I love how during pre-season he was all over the media, everywhere, Leafs were looking promising... and now they're 0-6 and he's nowhere to be found and does an interview with ESPN. Yes, it's Pierre LeBrun, but still.

Man... He was better off to shut the Diddle up.

Looking at the Leaf's UFAs next year, it looks like Toronto will have plenty of cap room and can add two-three top tier forwards to their developing young core. If I were Burke I think I'd put all my eggs in one basket and try to lure Kovalchuk out of Atlanta. It's obvious the Thrashers are trying to keep Ilya there surrounding him with Russian 'comrades' much like the Caps did in Washington with Ovechkin, but something tells me a person as skilled as Kovalchuk will flourish more in the spotlight. Savard would be a good plan B as would someone like Marleau, but if Burke wants to make a difference he better sign the marquee UFA to save face.

SpezDispenser wrote:

shabbs wrote:Burke says players to blame for poor start...

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4558575&name=lebrun_pierre

I love how during pre-season he was all over the media, everywhere, Leafs were looking promising... and now they're 0-6 and he's nowhere to be found and does an interview with ESPN. Yes, it's Pierre LeBrun, but still.

Man... He was better off to shut the Diddle up.

He just wants to remind everyone that he can do no wrong. He talks about patience and being in no hurry yet he traded for Kessel because there is no one in the upcoming draft that would have immediate impact.

Even The Name Dropper is now saying how he saw this coming a mile away even though he laughingly said on many occasions "I know Ottawa fans don't want to hear this" but Burke is doing a great job and they will challenge for a playoff spot this year.

Entertaining stuff. It amuses me to hear Burke and his Dung sycophants from the media flip flop and look for excuses.