Does Ron Wilson Have the Olympics to Thank for Keeping His Job in Toronto?

So, a couple of things before I get started here.

First, I'm a Red Wings fan, so my opinions come not from a burning passion for the Maple Leafs, but as an objective observer.

Second, I do have a soft spot in my heart for all Original Six teams.  Call me nostalgic, but I do think there is something special about each and every one of those teams and something worth revering.

While "management" in Toronto has been more a prescriptive than descriptive term over the past several years, even inept managers are capable of making the most obviously good decisions once in a while.

That being said, how in the hell does Ron Wilson keep his job?

In most cities, coaching your team to the worst start in franchise history is something few coaches would survive.

However, doing this in what many still believe (despite a 43-year Cup drought) to be the "center of the hockey universe," would seem, at least to this observer, a surefire death sentence for one's career.

Despite leading the Leafs to the league's third worst record, accidentally on purpose calling out his players in front of the media and now, having two of his players (Garnet Exelby and Jamal Mayers) publicly stating they'd prefer to play somewhere else,  Wilson's job looks to be in no more jeopardy than that of a bartender at an open bar at a fraternity party.

Before I go on, I must say that I never thought Wilson was the right man for this particular job.

Wilson has never won anything, as a coach or a player.

The closest he ever came to a Cup was a finals sweep in 1998 while with the Capitals.

He oversaw what was largely a reliable disappointment in San Jose for five seasons, the last of which he claimed should have the organization "rejoicing" because—despite another second round playoff collapse—they'd won a whole bunch of regular season games during his tenure.

From his obsession to using technology as a way to coach his team to using a toilet seat as some kind of locker room talisman, Wilson marches to the beat of his own drummer, one that none of his teams can seem to dance to.

To be fair, the two coaches with worse records than Wilson—Pat Quinn (Edmonton), and Paul Maurice (Carolina)—don't appear to have a hatchet hanging over their heads either.

However, Quinn is in his first season with the Oilers who have had over 300 man-games lost to injury.

Hurricanes coach Maurice is his first full-season of his return engagement with Carolina and such conditions tend to buy a coach a bit more time behind the bench, even amidst a disastrous season.

Now, setting aside the bizarre coincidence that these men both directly preceded Wilson's tenure in Toronto, it seems obvious that being head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs puts one under greater scrutiny than one's peers on the Oilers or Hurricanes.

Nevertheless, though Wilson's sophomore season in Leafs Nation is all but sure to usher in year five of Toronto's playoff drought, Wilson's job is seemingly secure.

Could it be that the only reason for this is that Wilson's boss in Toronto, GM Brian Burke, is also the man responsible for hiring Wilson as the US Men's Olympic team head coach?

It could be that, despite Burke's pugnacious and truculent persona, he has a certain affection for his beleaguered coach and, though firing him would likely pave the way for change in Toronto, it would make those team dinners in Vancouver next month a little weird and icky.

It could be that, but I doubt it.

No, I think the most likely reason for Wilson's Teflon tenure behind the Leafs bench is that Burke really isn't interested in putting any more egg on his face than is already there.

After bringing in defensive "upgrades" turned busts, Francois Beauchemin and Mike Komisarek, the yet to be seen "monster" in goal, Jonas Gustavsson, mortgaging the team's future on Phil Kessel and actually referring to 2009-10 as a "playoff year" before the season began, the egg on Burkie's face is sufficient to make breakfast for a family of four.

How much more embarrassing would it be to (rightfully) fire his head coach and then keep him in the same position with the national team of which you are also GM?

It wouldn't be surprising in the least to find out that the eternally pissed off-looking and grossly underrated self-promoter Burke is keeping Wilson behind the Leafs' bench simply for appearances sake.

Firing Wilson would prove that Burke made yet another questionable, if not out-right poor decision as a GM—in this case of Team USA—by choosing a man to represent his country, who's not good enough to coach his NHL team.

It would be very interesting to see if Wilson would still be standing in TO if he was not the US Olympic coach.  My guess is he wouldn't be.

Lastly, I wanted to say a bit about the fans in Toronto.

The reason I'm even commenting on your team's coach is because I truly feel you all deserve better.

The amount of enthusiasm, hope, and support you show for this team is awe-inspiring given your organization's consistent failure to deliver to you a consistently successful team.

Some would call your dedication misdirected, even foolish.  However, the same was once said of Detroit fans, and eventually, we were rewarded—again, again, and again—for our faith in our team.

Someday, Toronto will win another Stanley Cup.  However, I'm quite certain Ron Wilson will not be the coach that delivers it to you.

Hang in there.