Better Late Than Never
Posted 2:08 AM ET | Comments 0
My apologies for the lack of writing the last 2 days as I ran into some computing problems which caused me terrible headaches. The fact that I could not write was probably for the best as I really did'nt have much positive to add from the weekend. Just leave a couple observations and what I think should happen going forward.
First and foremost, I have quite a bit of respect for the writers on this site. They do a very good job providing team information and opinion on a regular basis. I have to respectfully disagree with Garth's version of events from Friday night and his complaint on lack of supplemental discipline. Dion Phaneuf did not try to kill Zach Kassian, nor did he even make much of an effort to make a hit. He made a wedge play which Kassian and He were both making a play on the puck. Was the play a penalty, absolutely. Was it a 5 and a game, debatable. Was the play worth a suspension, absolutely not.
Let's review, Kassian eats glass, Phaneuf out of game. Kassian is on the Ice two shifts later no worse for the wear. He did not sustain injury which is a contributing factor in supplemental discipline. I've heard twice that the play drew blood, which is correct. So do high sticks, how many of them have ever been given a 3 game suspension. This is the last I am going to touch on this subject because it is still fresh and upsetting. If you saw the games, you know what happened and it was'nt pretty. The fans deserve better.
On to my feeling on what should happen going forward. I have been racking my mind trying to come up with a solid opinion on what the genesis of the defensive zone issues are. Toronto is lights out in the opposition end of the ice. They are virtually the opposite in their own end. I have no answers.
Part of me says it is not Ron Wilsons' fault, that he is becoming a victim of a team that plays lacksidasical in the defensive zone. During the first penalty kill Friday night, they had at least three opportunities to clear the puck, and opted for a soft centering breakout style pass that was intercepted. Luke Schenn was the biggest offender with Jake Gardiner not far behind. It seems every time they have the puck in their own end of the ice, all that is supposed to happen is forgotten. Simple plays lead to good results.
The other part of me says this is Ron Wilsons' fault and he needs to be held accountable. To have penalty killing and defensive zone converage as lacking in fundamental as this is, maybe the system in place does'nt suit the players. The guy has had close to sixty different players since taking the job three seasons ago, and the results have not changed in the least. All indications now show things actually getting worse, not better.
I keep coming back to the same thought in my head. Dallas Eakins in sitting in your minor league team just waiting for an opportunity to get promoted, most likely to another team. His teams have displayed the attributes that the bigger brother Leafs club have been lacking. Why not give the guy a shot? What could be the harm if all indications are that this will continue to get worse? The excuse that he could not handle this market does'nt hold water any longer. I don't care that he is a rookie, the last 2 coaches came in with pedigree and still not one postseason game has been played.
I am starting to think that my gut feeling is right, that Ron Wilson needs to be shown the door. I think he is a good guy, and I also think the players deeply respect him. But I also feel that he has gotton everything out of this group that he can. This is really starting to feel like a marriage that just is not working, and staying together is not going to benefit the kids. If anything it is holding them back further. With every loss, with every powerplay goal given up, with every coverage lapse, the very accountability that was to be restored under Brian Burke seems to take another hit. It's like blue and white disease is spreading again, and the only way to truly get rid of it is to change the one element that has not changed since he arrived, and that is relieving the head coach of his duties. The time has come, don't wait until the team has to go through another late season surge in vain to come up short. It is not fair to the players and it is certainly not fair to the fans.
Twitter: @mullen93robbery
First and foremost, I have quite a bit of respect for the writers on this site. They do a very good job providing team information and opinion on a regular basis. I have to respectfully disagree with Garth's version of events from Friday night and his complaint on lack of supplemental discipline. Dion Phaneuf did not try to kill Zach Kassian, nor did he even make much of an effort to make a hit. He made a wedge play which Kassian and He were both making a play on the puck. Was the play a penalty, absolutely. Was it a 5 and a game, debatable. Was the play worth a suspension, absolutely not.
Let's review, Kassian eats glass, Phaneuf out of game. Kassian is on the Ice two shifts later no worse for the wear. He did not sustain injury which is a contributing factor in supplemental discipline. I've heard twice that the play drew blood, which is correct. So do high sticks, how many of them have ever been given a 3 game suspension. This is the last I am going to touch on this subject because it is still fresh and upsetting. If you saw the games, you know what happened and it was'nt pretty. The fans deserve better.
On to my feeling on what should happen going forward. I have been racking my mind trying to come up with a solid opinion on what the genesis of the defensive zone issues are. Toronto is lights out in the opposition end of the ice. They are virtually the opposite in their own end. I have no answers.
Part of me says it is not Ron Wilsons' fault, that he is becoming a victim of a team that plays lacksidasical in the defensive zone. During the first penalty kill Friday night, they had at least three opportunities to clear the puck, and opted for a soft centering breakout style pass that was intercepted. Luke Schenn was the biggest offender with Jake Gardiner not far behind. It seems every time they have the puck in their own end of the ice, all that is supposed to happen is forgotten. Simple plays lead to good results.
The other part of me says this is Ron Wilsons' fault and he needs to be held accountable. To have penalty killing and defensive zone converage as lacking in fundamental as this is, maybe the system in place does'nt suit the players. The guy has had close to sixty different players since taking the job three seasons ago, and the results have not changed in the least. All indications now show things actually getting worse, not better.
I keep coming back to the same thought in my head. Dallas Eakins in sitting in your minor league team just waiting for an opportunity to get promoted, most likely to another team. His teams have displayed the attributes that the bigger brother Leafs club have been lacking. Why not give the guy a shot? What could be the harm if all indications are that this will continue to get worse? The excuse that he could not handle this market does'nt hold water any longer. I don't care that he is a rookie, the last 2 coaches came in with pedigree and still not one postseason game has been played.
I am starting to think that my gut feeling is right, that Ron Wilson needs to be shown the door. I think he is a good guy, and I also think the players deeply respect him. But I also feel that he has gotton everything out of this group that he can. This is really starting to feel like a marriage that just is not working, and staying together is not going to benefit the kids. If anything it is holding them back further. With every loss, with every powerplay goal given up, with every coverage lapse, the very accountability that was to be restored under Brian Burke seems to take another hit. It's like blue and white disease is spreading again, and the only way to truly get rid of it is to change the one element that has not changed since he arrived, and that is relieving the head coach of his duties. The time has come, don't wait until the team has to go through another late season surge in vain to come up short. It is not fair to the players and it is certainly not fair to the fans.
Twitter: @mullen93robbery