We tried avoiding this topic while the balmy summer was in full swing, at least until the Canadian National Exhibition marks the countdown to autumn.
But it’s hard to hibernate on the Leaf beat and everyone who talks hockey and the radio shows that asked me on want to know the same question: How much rope does Ron Wilson have as coach when the 2011-12 season starts?
Brian Burke remains in his old pal’s corner, though he began to hem and haw about a contract extension after the Leafs missed the playoffs a third time under Wilson’s watch. Eventually Burke said he could not do so under present circumstances, partly because his own status in coming years is unclear until the next CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment is named. Burke did order Wilson to replace two of his assistants, a rare step on his head coach’s private turf.
“Last fall, when we had a tough start, we had a lot of clamour for a change and we didn’t make one,” Burke said in April. “I can look in the mirror and say I’ve stood by Ron (but) I don’t think loyalty requires me to extend his contract. I told him if we have a good start, that’s something we will address very early on.
“I believe every head coach has a shelf life. Ron hasn’t (passed his).”
Wilson wasn’t blessed with an an all-star roster when he came here from San Jose, but this year, he will have far fewer excuses. He should have the steady goaltending denied the team in the first half of previous seasons. The big, truculent defence that he and Burke yearn for will have Luke Schenn, Dion Phaneuf, Keith Aulie and Cody Franson, augmented by the mobile John-Michael Liles and Carl Gunnarsson. Not a bad starting six.
Projected first line centre Tim Connolly might not provide the same chemistry that Marc Savard did for top gun Phil Kessel in Boston, but he’s a veteran who is bound to be an improvement on Tyler Bozak. Going into camp, only centre Matthew Lombardi has a major health question and that might not be for long. Kids are emerging throughout the lineup and on the Marlies.
Coaches tend to whine about the NHL schedule and the Leafs do have an unusual matrix with five home games in October, followed by seven of their next eight on the road. The most dreaded date for NHL coaches in contract years is American Thanksgiving in late November. The 20-game quarter mark of the schedule is when antsy bosses usually make a call on whether a change is needed.
But the betting is that fortunes would have to take a very bad turn before Burke makes such a move. Forget his history with Wilson, Burke rarely fires coaches in mid-season (Mike Keenan being one exception in a highly publicized battle of wills in Vancouver). The Leafs could be south of .500 when the turkey is carved, but if they’re not out of the playoff race and if legit issues such as injuries have come up, expect Wilson to get a reprieve, with everyone looking to the Leafs’ penchant for second-half improvement.
That doesn’t mean a change won’t happen behind the bench at year’s end. If the Leafs miss again – or at least don’t come close – and Wilson becomes the first coach since Phoenix’s Wayne Gretzky to sit four straight springs, Burke will have no choice.
Tags: Ron Wilson Brian Burke
I think you could say, that if the Leafs had even half decent special teams, they could have made the playoffs in 2 of the last 3 years. But they continue to be bottom feeders in both PK and PP. If this changes so will the Leafs fortune as well as Wilson.
I think Wilson is a jerk, but i also think the Leafs need a coach and GM who take the heat off of the players. And both ron and Burkie seem to be doing a fine job of that.
You mention Luke Schenn on defence – did he finally sign? (i.e. I might have missed it, because last I heard his agent Meehan was yipping about “talks would begin soon” … but then I didn’t hear anything else …)
i hope after the first twenty games if the leafs dont have a winning record , ron wilson has to go
Wilson has to have a winning season this year and, in my mind, so does Burke. The team appears to be better on paper but the coach must get the players to buy in to a winning system and special teams must be improved. Burke has had enough time to put together his team and it’s time for results. If not perhaps more than the coach must go.
To be fair to the man, I think you have to look at Wilson’s record in relation to the talent he has had on his team, which up to this point has been woefully thin.
His team played better than they should have in the second half of the season…..was it because of good coaching, a hot goalie, or perhaps a bit of both?
Burke now has given Wilson a team that can be considered “decent”, but my intuiation is that the expectations by the fans will be high for this team, and they may struggle out of the gate. Burke will stick by Wilson until at least the mid-point of the season, and then cut him loose if they are out of playoff contention. Perhaps his fate rests with Reimar…..if Reimar hadn’t had such a good run last year, the Leafs would have been so far out of contention that Burke would have had little choice but to make a change.
It’s convenient for him to keep Wilson until he has built a contending team, as it keeps the pressure off of him. If he fires Wilson, all eyes are on him, as they should be. Burke has shown that he can talk a good game, and to his credit has made some good moves. Now the fans have been patient long enough, and want results.