Posts Tagged Ron Wilson
Coaches on the Hotseat … Regier may need to shakeup Sabres … Semin looking for lucrative long-term deal … Audio and Video of Thornton hit
Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Injuries, NHL News, NHL Rumors, NHL Videos on November 5th, 2010
- Bucky Gleason of the Buffalo News: The Buffalo Sabres are off to a 3-8-2 start, GM Darcy Regier has said he doesn’t want to fire coach Lindy Ruff, so it might be roster moves are needed to shake the team up. He’s been working the phones, but not liking the offers. He doesn’t want to give players away, such as Tim Connolly. Connolly is taking heat from fans, and writer Gleason for his turnovers/bad decision making.
- Adrian Dater on Versus: Dater runs through 5 coaches who could be on the Hotseat. Ron Wilson: if the Leafs are out of it at some point this year, it could be Wilson’s last year. Lindy Ruff and Randy Carlyle: both of their GM’s have said their jobs are safe for now. Scott Gordon: after a good start, the Islanders have lost 5 in a row. Todd Richards: he’s under some pressure in Minnesota to win now.
- Cory Masisak of CSN Washington: Alexander Semin signed a 1 year, $6 million deal in the off-season, and will be looking to cash in on a lucrative long-term deal. He’s a UFA at seasons end, the Capitals can’t negotiate with him until after January 1st. Can Washington afford him? They have $36 million committed to 13 players next year.
“I really don’t think [Semin] is focused too much on that,” Gandler said. “From the conversations I’ve had with him, he would rather just play hockey. Obviously it is important and it was important last year. This year the reason Alexander signed a one-year deal was not to become an unrestricted free agent necessarily. It was part of the strategy but only because we didn’t think he could get a long-term deal at the money we thought he should get.”
- Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: The Atlanta Thrashers lost 3-0 last night in front of only 8,461 fans, their lowest total ever, 2nd record low in the last 15 days.
- Chris Vivlamore via twitter: Scouts from Avs, Sens, Leafs, Coyotes, Canucks, Blackhawks, Lightning, Stars were at the Thrashers-Blue Jackets game. I wonder if they were included in last night’s record low attendance in Atlanta.
- Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press: Johan Franzen was on the ice yesterday for the Red Wings practice, but figures to be ready for tonight.
- Michael Russo via twitter: Minnesota Wild forward Guillaume Latendresse is now week-to-week with a groin injury.
- Rich Chere via twitter: Zach Parise will be put on IR in the next couple days. Brian Rolston will practice on either Sunday or Monday.
- Globe and Mail Audio: Eric Duhatschek, James Mirtle, and Darren Yourk discuss the New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames, and if Jarome Iginla could get traded.
- Puck Daddy Radio: Question of the Day….“Who is the best hitter in the NHL”? (05:00) Sidney Crosby drops the gloves (07:45) Cal Clutterbuck, Minnesota Wild RW (10:30) Bobby Holik (24:00) Puck Headlines (37:30)
- Fan 590 Audio: OHL Commissioner David Branch on Prime Time Sports discuss concussions and the overall safety in the game of hockey.
- Fan 590 Audio: Glen Healy on Prime Time Sports discussing the good and the bad in the hockey world.
- Joe Thornton blindsided David Perron last night, NHL will likely review. If the league is serious about blindsided hits, it will give Thornton a suspension, maybe 2 games. I don’t necessarily think it was a ’2 game’ hit, maybe a 1 game suspension, but it could send a message that all players can get suspended, even the stars.
Audio of Players Reactions in the Aftermath of Huge Trade
Posted by Derek in NHL News, NHL Opinion, NHL Rumors, NHL Trades on January 31st, 2010
Feb. 3rd: Flames Coach, Brent Sutter, and GM, Darryl Sutter on FAN960 with Rob Kerr
Feb. 1: Damien Cox of the Toronto Star talks with Gord Stellick and Don Landry Monday morning about the acquisitions of Dion Phaneuf and JS Giguere.
Peter Maher, the Voice of the Calgary Flames talks about the trade.
Not Audio, but numerous comments made via media conference calls from the JS Giguere/Vesa Toskala/Jason Blake trade. Worth a read. Also, a nice touch by the Ducks thanking Jiggy.
Jan. 31st: Here’s a link to The Fan590 Toronto Sports Radio website where you can listen to audio of the player reactions to the huge deal today between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Calgary Flames. (For those unaware of the trade, the details are listed below.)
You can also listen to Leafs GM Brian Burke discuss both deals made today (another trade took place between the Leafs and the Anaheim Ducks, details of which are also available below), and audio of Maple Leaf coach Ron Wilson discussing the the development from the coaching point of view.
Audio of Sutter’s Press conference at Flames.NHL.com.
Is Ron Wilson Serious?
Posted by Derek in NHL News, NHL Opinion, NHL Trades on January 28th, 2010
Ok, Garnet Exelby has joined Jamal Mayers in expressing his desire to be moved out of Toronto. This really doesn’t come as a big surprise considering neither player has really had much playing time this season.
The Maple Leafs are deep in defencemen making more money then Exelby, with $21.925 million tied up in Mike Komisarek ($4.5 mil), Tomas Kaberle ($4.25 mil), Francois Beauchemin ($3.8 mil), Jeff Finger ($3.5 mil), Luke Schenn ($2.975 mil), and Mike Van Ryn ($2.9 mil) all against the salary cap. This pretty much put Exelby in the press box. The consistently good play of Ian White at $850 000 didn’t help Exelby’s chances either.
All that said, the really amazing part was how Ron Wilson was doing his thing with the media again. He more or less blames all of the problems in Leaf-land on the media, in one way or another, and chalked all the hype to “negative reporting” on our part… What? Should we not cover this situation? Do Leaf fans not want to hear about potential movement of players on a team that desperately needs change? Like it or not Ron, you coach in Toronto and people care about what’s going on with the Leafs. It’s not the media’s fault that there really isn’t anything “positive” to talk about. Instead of worrying about what the media is saying you should be worried about how long until it’s all been said, and no one is saying anything anymore.
The opposite of love isn’t hate, Mr. Wilson, it’s apathy.
Exelby was speaking candidly about his time in Toronto, and was really pretty politically correct in stating his wishes, as was Mayers…
“”It’s funny how things change and never quite work out the way you hope they might,” said Exelby on Wednesday. “I understand we have a team that’s deep in defencemen and it’s tough for me to get in the lineup and stay in the lineup. It’s been that way all year.”
A seldom-used defenceman who was acquired in an off-season deal that saw Pavel Kubina sent to the Atlanta Thrashers, Exelby added that he just wants a chance to play somewhere and doesn’t feel that will happen in Toronto.
“If there’s not much use for me here then I’ll be happy to go somewhere if it helps the team and do something that’s right for the organization,” he said.
Much like Exelby, Mayers says he is not pleased with his lack of playing time and thinks his rambunctious style could be put to better use on another team. But he vows his unhappiness will not manifest itself in a lack of effort on the ice with the blue and white.
“The reality is that I am a Leaf and I’m going to continue to work hard. That won’t change and hopefully people notice that,” said Mayers, who was acquired from the St. Louis Blues in 2008 for a third round pick.”" (Source: TSN)
As far as Exelby and Mayers are concerned, Wilson said that their numbers speak for themselves. It’s true, their numbers were weak. I was of the impression they were acquired to add toughness but I’ll entertain Wilson’s spin of the situation.
If it is fair to measure the players performance’s based on their numbers then the same rule should apply to evaluate Mr. Wilson himself. His numbers in Toronto are less then impressive to say the least. In 136 games coached in the last season and a half in Toronto, Wilsons record is 51 wins against 85 losses (including OT losses). This season their penelty kill is ranked 30th at 69.4% under Wison’s direction, a team system widely viewed as a coachable skill. The powerplay is clicking along at 16.5%, good for 25th overall.
How can that be spun to blame the media? Then again, maybe I’m just being negative.
Burke says Wilson and Kaberle will stay
Posted by Derek in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Opinion, NHL Trades on January 15th, 2010
“Leafs GM Brian Burke insisted today that both defenceman Tomas Kaberle and coach Ron Wilson are safe in Toronto.
Burke, who fielded numerous email requests the past two days with his team on a four-game losing streak, addressed the media this morning prior to the Leafs-Flyers game tonight at the Air Canada Centre.” (source:Toronto Star Sports)
I really respect Brian Burke’s stance that if a player was signed to a no-trade clause, then the team should honour it. As much as fans and media are frustrated with what looks to be another loosing season, Tomas Kaberle certainly isn’t the problem.
Brian Burke Explains;
“I’m glad the question (on Kaberle) was asked because this is the last time I will say it, I will not ask Tomas Kaberle to waive his no-trade clause,” Burke said this morning.
“I think the key part of the success of any team is having players know they are treated fairly. To get a no-trade clause in this league, you have to be an elite player. The Toronto Maple Leafs gave it (no-trade clause) to Tomas and I won’t go out and say I won’t honour it because I wasn’t the GM at the time.”
“It’s for bigger reasons than a trade,” Burke continued. “The notion that players are treated fairly rises above trades.”
The fact of the matter is Tomas earned a bit of respect from the previous General Manager, John Ferguson JR (who was way to eager to give out no-trade clauses to be honest), and in a business like pro sports, where you could have to re-locate your whole life at any minute, some measure of job security is extremely valuable.
You can add to this that Kaberle is currently ranked 3rd in the league in scoring and is a steal at $4.25 mil against the cap, that ranks him 28th in salary among league leaders for a d-man. (source: nhlnumbers.com)
I realize that Toronto needs to get draft picks, and Tomas Kaberle is the most valuable trade chip that Burke has but what kind of message does it send to the players if he’s traded? The guy has more then lived up to his contract, never caused any kind of public issue within the city, and has always remained professional in the microscope of Toronto hockey media. I understood some of the previous decisions to move players out against their will, as I outline briefly below, but to force a career Leaf to accept a trade against his will is crazy. Kaberle is a classy, well respected player and should be wearing the “C” in Toronto.
Given Toronto’s record with buying out players like Darcy Tucker, Andrew Raycroft, and the forced trading of Brian McCabe, the Leafs don’t look like an honourable destination for whichever UFA’s Burke will be coveting in the off-season.
Make no mistake about it, Burke is trying to send a message intended to be heard by all the players considering Toronto for next season. What good is it to offer a no-trade clause (usually instead of top money) to a veteran player who might want some stability for his family, if that veteran player knows you’ve broke your word in the past? Where’s the loyalty to a guy who has actually earned his money?
Burke also went on to say that Ron Wilson’s job isn’t in jeopardy.
To quote Brian;
“I don’t fault our coaches at all for where we are,” Burke said of his club, which is second-last in the Eastern Conference, and third-worst record wise in the NHL.
“I’ll tell you now, there isn’t going to be a coaching change. (Wilson) is as safe as gold in Fort Knox.”
When asked if some people might think his friendship with Wilson — which dates back to their days as college teammates — has anything to do with his loyalty to the coach, Burke said those “people would be idiots if they said that.”
Weather or not their previous friendship is a factor is a topic for another blog, but I’m not sure what people really expect out of Ron Wilson, given the talent he has to work with.
This isn’t an attempt at an excuse for the Maple Leafs (or Ron Wilson) but it should be mentioned that with the Olympic-condensed schedule, where teams are playing at a playoff rate (almost every other night), that a blue-collar team that has to out-work the opposition every night to get a win with little to no offensive talent, it makes little difference who’s behind the bench.
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