As The NHL Leaf Turns In Toronto: No Qualms With Ron Wilson—Yet

Even though general manager Brian Burke and head coach Ron Wilson have effectively ducked out of any responsibility for the Toronto Maple Leafs' recent shortcomings, the line has officially jarred tight—at least for one of them.

Wilson’s stint as the Leafs' coach will come to some sort of conclusion after next season. He knows it, Burke knows it.

Wilson will either be solidified as a good option to take the Leafs into the playoffs, or he’ll be looking for work in the summer of 2011.

If Toronto fails to qualify for spring hockey next season, he will be shelved immediately.

Where some people make the argument that his time should be done already, I say wait a minute. Wilson hasn’t pulled a Dave Tippett, who turned around the fortunes of the Dallas Stars, and more recently, the Phoenix Coyotes, but he hasn’t exactly ran the Leafs into the ground either. I like the work he’s done with Nikolai Kulemin and Tyler Bozak, especially.

Wilson deserves one more year.

Some will argue that Burke has a lot more patience with coaches than his mentor, New Jersey Devils general manager Lou Lamiorello. But let’s keep in mind, Wilson is a part of that little clique as well. The Godfather in Jersey is a mentor to both.

However, Wilson isn’t without his faults, especially when it comes to dealing with internal rumblings and the media. With regard to the media, I don’t pay attention as much to Wilson’s call-outs, or untimely decisions to create a buzz.

Quite simply, what would you do? Toronto is a complete bombardment of hockey media, so I doubt Wilson knows what day it is most of the time.

When it comes to dealing with problems surrounding the team, Wilson could be better. But it’s nothing to judge him by as an NHL coach.

The only thing to pay attention to are Wilson’s results. He hasn’t found them yet, but a good season and trip to the playoffs next year will most likely keep him on the payroll.

Hopefully, he and the Leafs will come through.

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