What follows is a transcript from a recent conversation with a source:
Alec: “The goaltending situation is a poison that negatively infiltrates a club in so many ways and until that’s consolidated I’m not going to make too many judgments. Komisarek has the makings of a flop if he doesn’t learn how to take a clean hit without retaliating and putting us down men for key goals. Beauchemin’s overextending himself and it could very well be a result of the lack of trust in the man between the pipes. Offensively, Burke and Wilson’s approach has increasingly got me worried. A bottom six in the modern game needs the ability to cycle and grind down blueliners and some of the current crew is incapable of getting down there in time to forecheck let alone handle the puck and possess it for any length of time. There’s too much pressure on players that in the past have overperformed in a pressure-free environment (i.e. Stajan) because certain players in the bottom six are playing two minutes a game and in no way providing complementary scoring. I fear the by-committee offensive approach that has surprised for us since the lockout has been lost in trying to overdose pure pugilism in the bottom six… there’s no ‘08-’09 Dominic Moores in this mix, and you can’t get by with such a role-specific bottom six without having some offensive firepower up front that simply isn’t there. I await the Christian Hanson call-up eagerly myself. Add Kessel to this mix and not a whole lot changes for me unless he strikes serious chemistry with a few underperformers like Blake. My hope lies in The Monster….”
Insider: “There is a certain amount of dissension within the locker room against Wilson and even amongst the players themselves. The players who have and will be sat are being reprimanded not only for their play but for their attitudes. There is obviously very little faith in Toskala and the players are frustrated at RW’s support of him… they went through it with Raycroft and have no interest in being undermined by a weak netminder. Your assertion is correct that a large part of their lack of confidence and declining morale stem from Toskala’s weak play. That said, there is an overall feeling in the locker room and within the organization that if the Monster is as good as everyone thinks he is, and could be, all will be okay in Leafland.
Burke is offering every GM in the league anyone off of his roster save for the obvious exclusions (Schenn, Stalberg, Bozak, etc.) but no one wants anything he has, although there are questions from some GMs as to Kaberle’s availability.
Interestingly, Burke is not concerned in the least by the start in terms of how the Kessel deal is perceived. There are those in the organization, however, Nonis being one of them, who were not advocates of that deal to begin with.
Burke does not believe he will go into next year’s draft empty handed in the first round as he believes he can bury some salary and take on more salary via trade which will enable him to also recoup picks.
Lastly, there is growing concern that RW is not down with the win-now mentality nor Burke’s propensity for an inordinate amount of toughness and pugilism. If you examine his career, he has never really coached a team like that nor does he care to. The interesting aspect of this is that, although people are talking of player revolt, Wilson is having a little revolution of his own…I would not be surprised in the least, and sit down when I say this, that if this doesn’t improve, Wilson could approach Burke and tell him he’s not the man for the job. Obviously, I’m not saying that Burke would let Wilson walk, but RW is very frustrated that he is not getting through to the group and that he hasn’t been able to put his stamp, so to speak, on the team. His confidence is shaken as well.”
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October 22nd, 2009 at 7:35 am
Yah, I know. This is nuts. Which moron does the scheduling.
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:40 am
@leafs fan in ottawa
Lucic sucks this year though. 6 games he hasn’t done shit. They won without him for a reason
@neverlosehope
Hahahahaha I feel so much better. Plus I’m a big boy today! I turn 23!!!! I also grew an inch….AND got taller lol
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:44 am
@ Jordan
Congrats on the nch!! You’re at one and and a quarter inches now!
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:06 am
Happy birthday Jordan, hopefully it’s more exciting than watching our beloved Leafs play.
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:35 am
leafs should sign JSG today…it is Jordan’s birthday, after all….
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:36 am
Happy birthday Jordan. Hope it’s a good one. Birthday that is. Not the extra inch. LOL!
@ Neverlosehope
I saw the Ducks game. I also saw the slewfoot by Artyuhkin. Ref was standing right there looking at it and did nothing. Brutal!
My fantasy hockey season is falling apart. I’m trying to defend the championship I won last year. But I had both Franzen and Savard. Ouch!! LOL!!
I still say Zigomanis is going to be up here with the Leafs. He played very well for the Pens, winning faceoffs and killing penalties, before injuring his shoulder 1-2 seasons ago.
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:47 am
Anyone see Willie Mitchell’s hit on Toews last night? Toews had his head down at center ice. Mitchell just came out of the box and caught him. Good hit. Clean hit. Toews did the old trying to stand up to no avail routine. He never returned after that I don’t think. Hope he’s not too bad.
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:57 am
@ djstml and Neverlosehope
We have an Afinogenov, his name is Mikhail Grabovski.
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:07 am
Haha thanks guys! Good to see Ziggy playing good too! We all KNOW Wilson reads these blogs, so please pass it on to Burke we need JSG lol. Least you can do for me!
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:11 am
What is Zigomanis’ story anyway? Just never had enough to stick with a NHL club for very long?
On another note, when I go to the Attack and Spitfires game besides Blacker with the Attack, Ryan with the Spitfires and the possible No1 pick this year Hall ( god I hope he don’t go to Boston) is there anybody to watch?
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:48 am
Anyone here think this Saturday we could catch the Canucks napping and come out hard and maybe get the win?… I think the Leafs are going to have a good effort. It has to be expected after a week of practice, they must be itching to get into game action and get the 1st W….
& for all that are down about the start lets stay the course, the play of our team is only going to improve and if we can even get a glimmer of solid goaltending it will definitely affect the players in a positive way. Looking forward to the Monster getting the nod on Monday vs. Anahiem….
and Why is Tlusty not up with the team??… he has so much offensive upside and we need a guy who can cash in on chances. If the play of certain players don’t improve over this road trip Burkie needs to do something… I’m done with seeing the likes of Mayers, Blake, stajan & Rosehill/Orr – taking up spots…..
Vancouver plays Edmonton on Sunday, doe’s Luongo play both games??
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:49 am
going on what Alex said about Bozaks goal i checked out the Marlie stats (Tlusty is doing well again) and saw at the bottom of the list was the word ‘BENCH’. What struck me as odd was that the BENCH has scored a goal. this is obviously not what it sounds like so does anyone know what this stat refers to?
http://www.torontomarlies.com/team/IndividualStatistics.asp
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:03 am
Tlusty is scared stiff to make a mistake when he’s on the Leafs …. Obviously this guy has very good hands and needs to seek out more open space and he should be feed the puck …
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:28 am
We need to bring both Tlusty and Bozak up. Tlusty could play the 3rd line with Mitchell and Stempniak and not have as much pressure to score. See if that helps him. Anyone know what position he is playing this year? Also what was with Kessel playing Center in practice?
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:29 am
agreed, get Tlusty and Bozak up for players that continue to struggle and either need to be sent to the press box or down to the Marlies in their place……
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:41 am
@ Joe
I’m guessing it is a goal from a shootout win, and since the goal counts in the stats, they give it to the “bench” because no player can get credit for the “goal”.
@ Jordan
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I can picture the cake now, 23 candles and #81 and #35 on it…LOL.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:43 am
@ Lemonhead
Saw that hit on Toews by Mitchell… wow, he was TKO’d. And they showed him on the bench afterwards, the trainer talking to him, and he was saying “I’m OK, I’m OK.” Not sure he even knew where he was!
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:46 am
@ Jordan
It’s not Wilson who reads this… it’s Burke, so no need to pass it on…LOL.
And that’s why Kessel was playing centre… Burke saw your post a few weeks ago and passed it on to Wilson… LOL.
Seriously, who knows, with the “depth” we have at centre, maybe it’s not a bad idea.
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:06 pm
That Mitchell hit was as clean as they come. Wow did Toews get rocked.
.
Did you see that Boogaard fight? Man is a beast
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:06 pm
Jordan, Dreger is on Leafs Lunch saying chatter is picking up of JSG coming to the Leafs.
October 25th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
[...] Some Insight on a Nightmare Start : Maple Leafs Hot Stove [...]
October 30th, 2009 at 4:13 am
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