“FI-RE WIL-SON”
You saw that coming. Even the coach could sympathize. But not 48 hours earlier, Brian Burke, loose tie and all, stood before the media and proclaimed that he was not only confident in the group, but that he didn’t foresee the need to make a coaching change now. He basically said that if the Leafs miss the playoffs again, they’d certainly have to examine things further. So does that mean that if the Leafs continue to shit the bed, we’re all just going to have to stand by and watch this cruise ship sink?
It just seems conflicting to me that Burke can say that he’s not interested in trading players on this team away for future gains and doesn’t feel he need to make any moves now. Yet, if there’s a feeling that the Leafs are in the hunt for a playoff spot now and falling fast, how can you not make a move for the big club?
And on a side note, how can he stand there and say that he’s impressed that the team has “stayed focused” during all the Trade Deadline stuff? I’m sorry, have I been watching another team by accident. I was pretty sure that the Leafs have 1 win in their last 10. I guess it is impressive focus if the goal has been to play like ass.
Many people have said that Dallas Eakins is the next in line to coach the Leafs. But would Burke fire Wilson now just as the Marlies head into playoffs? You have to wonder if giving Eakins a chance at winning down there would be more valuable for not only him but the Marlie players? Or do you gamble and bring Eakins up to be devoured by the pack of lions if he can’t magically turn the aforementioned cruise ship around? If Eakins failed to pull a rabbit out of the hat, how would that set things up for next season? Lots of questions I’m sure. BUT, if you bring in another coach, I think you’d see Eakins get hired by another NHL team and that would be a real shame. It would be like seeing Coach Taylor in Friday Night Lights leave to coach a college team instead of the Dillon Panthers. He’s just so good at getting the most out of those kids. Even Tim Riggins! That would be a real shame to see Eakins go, not only in the sense that he’s great at developing young talent on the Marlies, but you’d love to see how he could relate to this young Leafs team too.
This is Coach Taylor of the Dillon Panthers. He is awesome.
This is the Coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He is dressed like a cold pedophile.
But to be fair (sort of) to Wilson, he’s been given shit teams to coach in at least the first 2 of 4 seasons he’s been here. Remember when John Mitchell was being interviewed on what he thought about centering Phil Kessel?
The frustration comes from this team tanking now and the fact that they were a decent team for most of the year.
Is it the coaches fault that they suck right now? Not entirely.
Did Wilson coach Schenn in practice to whiff on a breakout pass 13 seconds into the game? No.
But was Wilson at fault for blaming the opening ceremony for the 1962 Leafs on his teams ability to fall flat once the puck drops? Yes. They’re one of the youngest teams in the league FFS!
He blames the loss (correction….complete curb stomp) in Vancouver on his team being tired after having 2 days off prior. Ummm…really? Did they have connections in Foam Lake, Nelson, Moosejaw, North Battleford and Red Deer on their flight from Toronto? Were they traveling by Greyhound?
Fans do seem to think that bringing in a new coach would save the season, or at least turn things around dramatically like Hitchcock and Boudreau did. But did anyone notice how that didn’t really happen in Washington? Maybe it’s not so automatic. The coach isn’t the answer to all the problems and I have to sympathize that its the players fault mostly. In this case though, regardless of the team making the playoffs now, you’ve got to bring in a new coach, pronto. Its just too much of a distraction for the players and fans.
Sometimes, the well liked coach has to take the fall and the players get a fresh start. In this case though, we’re not talking about firing Coach Taylor, we’re talking about canning public prick #1 in Toronto, Ron Wilson. Enjoy your last few staff discounts of Burkie’s Hot Dogs Ron.