Toronto Maple Leafs: Circle the Wagons

Hockey people should run hockey clubs. 

Case in point: 

The mid season performance of the Toronto Maple Leafs is an enigma at best. This team has played incredibly well at times and equally, if not more so, deplorably.

There are a couple of questions that need to be addressed in order to understand the wildly swinging pendulum that has been the Leaf’s constant companion. 

First – whose fault is it? True, the Leafs have been plagued with injuries.

From Carlo Colaiacovo to Bryan McCabe, the number of man hours lost to injury is among the highest in the league.

While management can hardly be the cause of this slew of injuries, the list of personnel that have come and gone reads like a Toronto phone book. 

Nik Antroprov is having a banner year, as is Mats Sundin, but despite this, the team inexorably slumps and gets beaten – some would say embarrassed.   

Not for one minute do I think that the blame lies with the players. I cannot imagine any of them deciding to tank the game.

Toronto is a difficult market to play in – not only because of the intense scrutiny by press, fans and the media, but also due to the fact that upper management just does not seem concerned with anything but the bottom line.

Unless the master plan is to deliberately tank in order to get the first pick at the draft this year and Tavares next year, then there’s got to be some accountability.  

Secondly - what’s the solution? 

Trade Mats!?! Is this any way to treat the Leafs Captain and best player?

He happens to love this town and this team and we all love him right back. It will be a sad day in Toronto if this comes to pass, however, no doubt the acquisition of a player of Mats Sundin’s caliber is likely the collective wet dream of 29 franchises. 

Is it fair to let the blame fall squarely on the shoulders of the GM and the coach? We have two goalies making #1 money and the backup from the MARLIES wins us a game..

These were the kinds of mistakes made by rookie GMs.

I have to believe that John Ferguson did not make these mistakes, on his own, nor did he do it to spite the organization. 

He had help… 

Until there is a change in the upper echelons, the Leafs will continue in exactly the same way. There is a tangible lack of respect for the players and the fans. They’ll continue raking in scads of money off of the backs of increasingly irate fans, who, incidentally, are the ones responsible for said scads.     

As I walked through the Air Canada Center Monday, I was horrified to see plaques for Coach of the Year, MVP and Player of the year on the north wall. The “award” winners were employees of MLSE - were I a player, I would not only consider this a slap in the face from management, but I’d also have a can of paint at the ready. 

It is also shameful how MLSE has treated John Ferguson.

If they’re going to fire him, then so be it - let the hammer fall – DON’T send out feelers for an “interim” replacement while he is still at the helm. That’s just rude. If anyone is to blame for the leafs schizophrenic play – it must rest with Senior management.

I’m talking to YOU – Richard Peddie...