If I were a Toronto Maple Leafs fan I
would be embarrassed. Not by the pitiful results the team has posted 8 years in
a row (45 years since the last championship), or the way they constantly
collapse down the stretch year after year or by their inconsistent goaltending, defense or lack of depth up front, but by the way the Leafs management and
ownership thinks an apology makes up for their ineptitude.
It’s baffling to me how a once proud and
powerful National Hockey League franchise can fall into such disrepair and
disarray. 
It’s even more perplexing how Larry Tannenbaum and his rich and
powerful senior staff can arrive at the idea that an apology in the local media
will smooth things over.
It’s even more perplexing how Larry Tannenbaum and his rich and
powerful senior staff can arrive at the idea that an apology in the local media
will smooth things over.
Of course, I’m not even remotely a
Toronto fan. I’m as far from it as is humanly possible. I’m a die-hard, red,
white and blue, poutine eating, “ole ole” and “nah nah hey hey” singing
Montreal Canadiens fan. But that doesn’t mean I can’t sympathize with Leafs
fans, several of which I consider good friends.
I just sat through one of the worst
seasons in Montreal history with management issues, coaching issues, player
issues and poor results on the ice. As bad as it was, I’d still take the Habs
over the Leafs any day. Montreal is trying to make moves to solve the problems
of missing only one year of the playoffs. The GM is gone, the coach was fired
mid-season and the interim coach will likely be let go as well. Add to that an assurance
from the ownership that they’re committed to restoring the storied franchise to
its rightful place among the league’s elite teams and I’m satisfied that
they’re making an effort at least. I just hope it leads to results.
But what are they doing in Toronto? Yes
they fired the coach and as much as I dislike Ron Wilson, the mess they’re in
was hardly his fault. The Leafs this season were great guys but aside from
maybe a handful of players, the rest were not skilled enough to succeed on a
consistent basis. Sure they had good nights but those games were few and far
between.
So who’s to blame? Is it bad scouting
and drafting? Is GM Brian Burke, the architect of the team to blame? I don’t
claim to be an expert but I think these are the two main issues with the Leafs.
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| Brian Burke |
I am amazed that Brian Burke still has a
key to the Air Canada Centre. The ultimate blame has to fall on him. This is
his team and while they haven’t drafted well, with the amount of money behind
this team, it amazes me that they can’t draw more skilled free agents or make
trades to improve their situation. Let’s be honest, the deal for Phil Kessel
looked bad when Burke made it and it looks even worse today. The picks they
lost in that one deal were huge. I’m not saying Kessel isn’t a skilled player
but he’s not worth the price they paid for him. But that’s old news and what’s
done is done.
Toronto has to move on and right the
ship before their fans finally come to their senses and revolt. Its one thing to go to the games and “boo”
the players but it’s another thing entirely to stop buying tickets, merchandise
and lining the pockets of the owners Bell and Rogers who were smart for buying
this franchise. They knew that no matter how much they sucked or how little
they had to spend on the team, the cash was going to keep flowing in just as
much as it would if they had a Stanley Cup contender.
At what point will the fans finally stop
saying, “I support my team in good times and bad”? I appreciate the value of
loyalty and not wanting to abandon your team but at some point you have to ask
yourself, what are they doing to warrant my support and money? The relationship
between the fan and the team is “give and take” and with Toronto the fans are
giving everything and the Leafs ownership is gladly taking every dollar they
can.
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| 1967 Stanley Cup Champions |
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