Why things failed in Toronto?

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It's easy to come out and blame the coaches. It's easier to say the players are lazy. Heck you wouldn't be wrong to pin the blame on the Toronto media either. What's clearer now more than ever is that it takes a special breed of player to not only come to Toronto in the first place but also to thrive in this market and that's something few players have been able to do in recent times.

Leafs fans have watched for years as desired free agents refuse to go the mecca of hockey that is Toronto. Some cite the extreme pressures of performing for the fans where a rough stretch has seen jerseys tossed and even waffles.

Often times the players that do sign in Toronto go on to have career worst years and the contracts they sign... Well it's like an anvil in a Looney Tunes skit when things start to go wrong and when it goes wrong early it gets brutally uncomfortable. David Clarkson is the flavor of the next 5 years. The hype machine blew up early with Clarkson when he was compared to Wendel Clark and he made a bold move to reverse Clark's famed #17 and chose #71 much to the excitement of some Leafs faithful. Then came the preseason suspension and the injuries and the lack of production for a $5+ million a year player. Suddenly the top prize of NHL free agency is one of the biggest busts in recent history. The contract is currently un-tradeable and this is just year two of seven!

Mike Komisarek and Francois Beachemin came to the Leafs in 2009. Komisarek would go on to be a flat out bust after leaving the Montreal Canadiens and would later succumb to a buyout from the Leafs. He's struggled to catch on with Carolina a season later and subsequently retired from the NHL returning to the University of Michigan to continue his studies and work as an assistant coach for the legendary Red Berenson.

Beauchemin was middle of the road with the Leafs. He didn't thrive but he also didn't disappoint and and in 2011 he was shipped back to the Anaheim Ducks for Joffrey Lupul and Jake Gardiner. One of the better trades Toronto has made of late which some will argue. He's been a continued to play a dependable game for the Ducks and is in line for a new deal coming up.


Over the years it's been clear Toronto is a last resort. Mason Raymond came here for a season and bolted to Calgary. Dave Bolland cost the Leafs a couple picks. He had a promising start before an early injury that basically ended his season. Given the option to return he went south to the Panthers with a big payday in hand.

 Then there are the guys who didn't think about it. Some can argue it's a good thing when I throw out a few names... Brad Richards Leafs nation wanted Richards so badly to play with Kessel... a top line center for free! Fortunately Richards signed with the Rangers and was a bust in NY.  Vincent Lecavalier after being bought out by the Lightning. He's struggling in Philadelphia and has been a healthy scratch at times this season. Zack Parise and Ryan Suter. Huge cap hits on super long term contracts(13 years!!!) The two biggest fish in Free Agency both headed to the Minnesota Wild.


So part of the problem is Toronto's inability to attract star players. So what's your next option? Much like the New York Islanders the Leafs built through trades. They made some pretty damn good trades to and I credit Brian Burke outside of the Bernier deal. The aforementioned Beauchemin for Lupul and Gardiner. Luke Schenn for James Van Riemsdyk. Frattin, Scrivens and a 2nd for Jonathon Bernier. Make no mistake the Bernier trade will be a positive in a few years if he's not traded. He's struggled as of late but the entire team is void of all confidence so pinpointing one guy proves nothing.

The Phil Kessel trade is completely in the air. There was no way to know Toronto would bottom out and the Bruins would snag Tyler Seguin. If Toronto played a little better that pick would become 3rd, 4th, 5th or 6th which ended up being Erik Gudbranson, Ryan Johansen, Nino Niederreiter or Brett Connolly. Of those only Ryan Johansen has become a can't miss playing for Columbus. Even Seguin faltered in Boston and didn't become a breakout performer until he was traded to the Dallas Stars. Meanwhile Kessel has led the Leafs every season since the trade without a premier center.

The Dion Phaneuf trade was a step in the right direction whether you hate Dion or not.The piece the Leafs moved were spares. None of them went on to do anything significant. In that trade the Leafs acquired their best defender and although I dislike the contract that he got he is still the best defender in Toronto which will soon be challenged by the young Morgan Reilly but until the Leafs decide if Dion is to be traded or not you can't argue anyone could play the minutes and against the competition that he has.

The one thing that can never be argued is the level of talent in Toronto. It's abundant and it's going to be interesting conversations over the next few months as we try to learn what's ailing the Leafs.

Listening to Leafs Lunch on TSN 1050 there was talk about how the best players on the Leafs are not originally Maple Leafs products. For a team that has long traded picks for instant help this is no surprise but can it really be the reason the Leafs seem to fall on their faces after the new year comes around? Or is it that the constant pressure seems to peak each season during the Christmas break and regardless of who drives the 18-wheeler it's almost destiny for this team to collapse and limp into the summer dazed and confused?


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NHL Discipline = Joke

As a Maple Leaf fan I will admit to some bias in being inspired to write this. Recently we have seen the league trying to handcuff the physical side of the game in an effort to clean up the league. The addition of a 2 minute minor for removing your helmet before a fight and the age old leaving the bench to fight 10 game suspension. The latter has happened twice already in the preseason.

First with Paul "Biznasty" Bissonette leaving the bench to fight Los Angeles Kings forward Jordan Nolan after a hit in which Nolan left his feet and caught Rostislav Klesla high. A hit that sent Klesla to the hospital on a stretcher. Bisonette did what he is payed to do and that is to defend his teammates and this is a role that has been filled for decades by well known guys like Probert,  Domi, Parros,  Orr the list goes on and on. For good reason teams employ these guys like they do an insurance policy. Tough players who will stand up for teammates on a moments notice and go from hockey player to pro boxer quicker then a rowdy drunk at a nightclub.

While David Clarkson is certainly being paid for more than his fists the other night against Buffalo following a fight between Jamie Devane and Corey Tropp that saw Tropp knocked unconscious and helped off the ice by teammates and officials.  The following faceoff Sabres tough guy John Scott who stands 6 feet 8 inches tall and 255lbs lined up next to Leafs leading scorer Phil Kessel who is all of 6 feet and 202 lbs. Scott began his usual song and dance chirping and challenging Kessel like he would a fellow heavyweight tough guy and on the puck drop threw his gloves off and tried to grab Kessel who backed away and slashed Scott in the shin guard. Immediately teammates tried coming to his defence while some ended up grabbing a dance partner it was David Clarkson who hopped the boards from the bench and engaged Scott. Well Kessel ended up fighting anyway which is the last thing you want from your top scorer but a far cry from seeing him pummelled by someone who dwarfs him in every way.

The end result is a 10 game suspension for both Bisonnette and Clarkson. In both cases they came to the defence of a player who could not defend themselves against their opponent which is a role that their teams and fans would respect while the league sees it otherwise.

The part I find absolutely ridiculous is that the NHL has all these rules and one of the weakest disciplinary departments in all of professional sports. Colin Campbell could not find a balance between reason and reality when suspending players and to top it off with a bonus was intimidating referees who penalised his son. Then came Brendan Shannahan. A respected legend of the league and he quickly set a new precedent earning a new twitter tag the Shannaban. By midseason Shannahan lost his might and began to fall into the same frame of mind as Campbell allowing dirty hits to go unpunished but atleast he made some videos to explain his one game suspension for nearly decapitating a guy right?

So using only very recent examples we look at first the aforementioned John Scott. Engaging a skill player smaller than him who is not a fighter and who he knows isn't going to fight him in Kessel which incites a line brawl. John Scott is going unpunished!

How about Jordan Nolan who sent a player to the hospital when he left his feet to complete a hit? No supplemental discipline for Mr Nolan either.

Zack Kassian breaks Jordan Eberle's jaw! with a reckless high stick/stick swing after a missed hit! He's given 5 regular season games for this.

Bisonnette and Clarkson get 10 for standing up for their team mates

So to recap. You can attack star players and start brawls, You can destroy your fellow player and shorten careers and you can also break a guys jaw but by the power of Bettman if you leave the bench to defend your teammates you will be subject to the wrath of all the power of the NHL discipline office.  If that doesn't say open season I'm not sure what does.

Vancouver @ Toronto 7pm ET

                                    To think people had doubt in their minds

Toronto dropped a 5-4 decision to the Sabres last night as the penalty kill did not show up once again. It's becoming an ugly story and one that could cost people their jobs. Carolina centerman Tim Brent was a fearless player who did everything he could to crack the leafs lineup. He played the penalty kill he won face offs he blocked shots and put up the odd point when needed. His pay off? Being replaced by Phillipe Dupuis who has turned out to be a dud. With no points and centering a line on the (As of last night) 30th ranked penalty kill I think it's time to make a change. With a lot of youth and grit playing for the first place Marlies in the AHL why not demote him?

Vancouver is on a eastern swing and dropped a 4-3 decision to the Hurricanes last night. Expect Vancouver to come out aggressive trying to shake off a game they should have won last night. Luongo is expected to start so a lot rides on which version shows up tonight.

Prediction

Vancouvers skill proves to much for Toronto. 3-2 Canucks.

Leafs vs Sabres @ 7:30pm (ET)

                                                              Miller is the Sabres.

Buffalo (15-12-3) vs Toronto (16-11-3)
It's a rivalry Leaf fans love until they realise Buffalo isn't playing their back up tonight . Ryan Miller is a thorn in the side of so many franchise he sports the number of teams on his jersey. He brings a battle level which allows him to make third and fourth saves on chances where other goalies are beaten on the initial rebound. All the cash Buffalo has thrown out to Leino to Ehrhoff to Regehr all goes out the window if Miller is off his game but that doesn't happen often enough.


The problem for Miller is at the moment while those players thrive off of his abilities, Miller is without the key support he is used to going into this game and the team is riding a two game losing streak(Rangers and Senators). Lindy Ruff has to make do with what he has and going against an inconsistent team like Toronto he might have enough tricks up his sleeve to get it done as he has in the past.

For Toronto the key is special teams. Toronto is 29th on the PK but fifth on the PP! While the functional PP certainly has helped the team to it's 16-11-3 record as a Leaf fan you have to wonder where the team would be if the PK was on par or atleast in the top ten. Toronto is going to take off if they get special teams figured out sooner rather than later but history teaches us it's not likely so hang in there Leafs Nation.

James Reimer looked good against Carolina but then again who doesn't? He is 1-3 since returning from his head/neck injury which seen him miss 18 games. I'm not completely sold on the kid yet. He had a nice start to the season but we didn't get a big enough sample. Does he return to form or is the rust to much to shake off? He certainly has the defense to get the job done but the penalty kill is no ones friend in Toronto right now.


Projection: Miller keeps Sabres in the game but a fairly healthy Toronto squad proves to be too much against the reeling Sabres. Toronto wins 4-2

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