Ron Wilson: To Fire Or Not To Fire?

Throughout most of the 2010-11 season Toronto Maple Leafs fans have been calling for Maple Leafs head coach Ron Wilson to be fired.

Wilson joined the Maple Leafs after spending five seasons with the San Jose Sharks, a tenure that, while extremely successful during the regular season, were often blemished by numerous early playoff exits, which many felt led to Wilson’s dismissal.

Since his arrival in 2008-09, Wilson has led the Maple Leafs to a combined record of 76-90-31 with the team finishing in 24th overall (2008-09), 29th overall (2009-10) and currently sitting 28th overall through 33 games in 2010-11.

Clearly, the Maple Leafs horrific record speaks volume, but how much of the blame should be shouldered by Ron Wilson?

When Wilson took over the Maple Leafs in 2008-09 he took over a team that was going nowhere fast. In fact, given the lack of success the Maple Leafs had been experiencing—they finished 24th in 2007-08 and 18th in 2006-07—many were shocked to see Wilson take the job in Toronto.

For those of you that do not remember what the 2008-09 Maple Leafs looked like here is a refresher—the top six forwards were Jason Blake, Alexei Ponikarovsky, Matt Stajan, Mikhail Grabovski, Nik Hagman and Nik Antropov, while their top four defensemen were Tomas Kaberle, Pavel Kubina, Ian White and Luke Schenn with Vesa Toskala and Curtis Joseph (amongst others) tending net.

The Maple Leafs finished the 2008-09 season with a record of 34-35-13, good enough for 81 points, 24th overall.

During that 2008-09 season the Maple Leafs finished with the 16th ranked power play (18.8 percent) and the 30th ranked penalty kill. Clearly, while the power play was respectable, special teams were not a strong point for the Maple Leafs.

Looking back, when you consider the talent the Maple Leafs had (or lack thereof), the Maple Leafs finished about where they should of—out of the playoffs.

The 2009-10 season was not much different for the Maple Leafs. The top six forwards were Phil Kessel, Alexei Ponikarovsky, Matt Stajan, Nikolai Kulemin, Mikhail Grabovski and Nik Hagman, while their top four defensemen were Tomas Kaberle, Luke Schenn, Francois Beauchemin and Ian White while Jonas Gustavsson and Vesa Toskala (who was also traded) played between the pipes with J.S. Giguere (acquired at the deadline) mopping up the season.

A number of players were traded away at the deadline including Jason Blake, Nik Hagman, Matt Stajan, Lee Stempniak, Ian White, Jamal Mayers and Alexei Ponikarovsky, with new blood arriving via trade and free agency to start the 2010-11 season.

The Maple Leafs would finish the 2009-10 season with a record of 30-38-14, good enough for 28th overall in a thirty team league.

While there was plenty of blame to go around, much of the Leafs' struggles could be blamed on their power play and penalty kill. The power play was atrocious at just 14.0 percent, while the penalty kill also served as an embarrassment at a lowly 74.6 percent—both of which ranked 30th overall, dead last in the league.

Dion Phaneuf, Fredrik Sjostrom, Keith Auile, J.S. Giguere, Clarke MacArthur, Mike Brown, Luca Caputi, Brett Lebda, Kris Versteeg, Colby Armstrong and rookie Nazem Kadri were brought in in an effort to change the dynamic of the team and add some size and skill to a team that was in need of a new look.

On paper this was supposed to be a team that was supposed to be much improved form the 2009-10 edition. Thus far, the Maple Leafs are anything but an improved squad and their special teams are once again a major reason their have been so unsuccessful.

Through 33 games the Maple Leafs have a combined record of 12-17-4, good enough for 28 points, which puts them in familiar territory—28th overall.

The Maple Leafs' power play is humming along at 16.9 percent (18th overall) while the penalty kill sits at a 76.5 percent success rate, good enough for 29th overall.

While the power play has been more successful, I think we’d all agree that the Maple Leafs power play isn’t intimidating anyone right now, in fact, I’d go so far as to say they have been lucky to be as successful as they have, but I digress.

The three consistencies during Wilson’s tenure have been a horrible penalty kill, a dreadful power play and, more importantly, the losses continue to mount.

Is Wilson solely at fault for the Maple Leafs' struggles? No. Those that support Wilson are quick to point to his career success (he has a record of 594-516-101-77 in 1288 career games coached) and the fact that, when surrounded by talent in San Jose (a five-year tenure), his clubs won their division twice and finished second in the division twice.

Never lost in all the Sharks' regular season success was the team's penchant for early playoff exits. Fact is, Wilson was never able to take the Sharks to the next level, losing in the Conference Final in 2003-04 before three straight losses in the Conference Semi-Finals (2005-06 through 2007-08).

Wilson’s successful stint as head coach of Team USA at the 2010 Olympics serves to underline the fact that, when surrounded by talented players, Wilson can get it done.

In fact, many a coach have been made to look great when surrounded by tremendous talent, it only stands to reason, right?

Recently, Toronto Maple Leafs fans voiced their displeasure for Wilson by chanting for him to be fired, accompanied by the second “waffle toss” of the season.

Wilson’s haters point to his inability to improve the Maple Leafs special teams, penchant for mixing up his lines and the fact that the team is not developing it’s players as key reasons to fire him.

While on the surface it would appear that they are correct, one could easily point to the Maple Leafs' power play (which is ranked 18th this season compared to 30th in 2009-10) the improved play from Mikhail Grabovski (who is arguably having a career year) the comeback season of Luke Schenn (who fell off last season after a solid rookie campaign) and the development Nikolai Kulemin (who has turned into a decent two-way forward) as proof that Wilson can develop young talent.

That said, given the improvements to the roster that general manger Brain Burke has made over the past two seasons, there is reason to believe that this team should be better.

Are the Maple Leafs a playoff team? Probably not, but they should not be getting blown out night after night and their compete level (which has been in question on occasion this season) should be better, as should the special teams.

The frustration level looks to be at an all-time high since Wilson took over the coaching duties. Fans are increasingly growing impatient, players look tuned out and management, while saying all the right things, must be starting to doubt that Wilson is the right guy to turn this sinking ship around.

Blaming Wilson for all of the Maple Leafs troubles would be an act of stupidity, but as the saying goes, “it’s easier to fire the coach than firing all the players” might just apply here.

The fact is Wilson has had a negligible influence on this franchise. Each season the players struggle to get their special teams in order, each season this team fails to develop an identity and, while their are a couple of examples of improved play from some of the youngsters, the results (in the form of wins) simply hasn’t come to fruition.

Sooner or later Brain Burke will have to make a tough decision—make another round of wholesale changes, or do the once unthinkable, fire Wilson.

It says here Wilson’s tenure has run its course. He may not be responsible for all of the Maple Leafs' struggles and he just might be a good coach. That said, Wilson is taking the Maple Leafs nowhere fast and for that reason, this franchise would be better off without him.

Got an NHL question you need answered? Got a great story idea? Email me at [e-mail] and I will feature one story per week on www.theslapshot.com.

Until next time,

Peace!