The Unofficial Fire Ron Wilson/Ron Wilson is the Greatest Thread

[hockeyfan1]

Cox is right, of course.

I agree with Cox's stance that the extension isn't deserved, but he seems personally upset about it, caling Ron a "fibber" in his blog.   

Relax Damian, it's just hockey!  It's only game, why you have to be mad?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ns14hRqwY8

...'cause Burke and Wilson made everyone believe that nothing had been done when in fact, they suddenly 'pulled the rabbit out of the hat' and said voila, fooled ya all -- it was done awhile ago!

The poor media folk don't like to be one-upped!

 

[L K]

Well, unless my math is wrong, the Leafs record since Jan 1 last year (82 games played) is:

42-29-11 = 95 points.

And this year they are at a pace for 91 points, so the pace has dropped a bit.  But really, the out-of-the-playoffs push for the Leafs being used as evidence for how good the Leafs played in 2011 seems really disingenuous.  Teams are going to play their way toward a mean over an 82 game schedule.  You can't talk about the strong second half, without discussing the vast underpreparedness of the team coming out of the gates in the 2010-2011 season. 

The Leafs are in the playoff chase right now, which is great. But the team is dangling precariously close to falling out of the playoffs, but hey, the coach needed guaranteed contract years to motivate his team.  I'll go tell that to the other 29 organizations that fire their coach...well 27 (The Islanders fire guys for no reason and Carolina's probably 2 weeks away from hiring Paul Maurice back)

 

[cw]

And this year they are at a pace for 91 points, so the pace has dropped a bit.  But really, the out-of-the-playoffs push for the Leafs being used as evidence for how good the Leafs played in 2011 seems really disingenuous.  Teams are going to play their way toward a mean over an 82 game schedule.  You can't talk about the strong second half, without discussing the vast underpreparedness of the team coming out of the gates in the 2010-2011 season.

Yep. There isn't a team in the league where you cannot "improve" their record by picking some date range within a couple of seasons where they played above their overall average. It's arguably bit of a slight of hand sales pitch - though the fact it's the most recent date range gives it something worthy of consideration.

We already know what the measurement that will matter most to Wilson continuing as coach here is and we'll know that result around the first week in April if not sooner.

 

[Zee]

And this year they are at a pace for 91 points, so the pace has dropped a bit.  But really, the out-of-the-playoffs push for the Leafs being used as evidence for how good the Leafs played in 2011 seems really disingenuous.  Teams are going to play their way toward a mean over an 82 game schedule.  You can't talk about the strong second half, without discussing the vast underpreparedness of the team coming out of the gates in the 2010-2011 season.

Yep. There isn't a team in the league where you cannot "improve" their record by picking some date range within a couple of seasons where they played above their overall average. It's arguably bit of a slight of hand sales pitch - though the fact it's the most recent date range gives it something worthy of consideration.

We already know what the measurement that will matter most to Wilson continuing as coach here is and we'll know that result around the first week in April if not sooner.

We're not just randomly picking a date range say middle of last year, beginning of this year though.  We're taking the overall record since Jan 1st, which is supposedly showing improved team play.  That's a full 82 game stretch of games.  Sure it means very little, but hopefully they can continue playing at that pace for the remainder of this season. If not, I finally get my wish and Wilson gets a foot in the ass.

 

[cw]

And this year they are at a pace for 91 points, so the pace has dropped a bit.  But really, the out-of-the-playoffs push for the Leafs being used as evidence for how good the Leafs played in 2011 seems really disingenuous.  Teams are going to play their way toward a mean over an 82 game schedule.  You can't talk about the strong second half, without discussing the vast underpreparedness of the team coming out of the gates in the 2010-2011 season.

Yep. There isn't a team in the league where you cannot "improve" their record by picking some date range within a couple of seasons where they played above their overall average. It's arguably bit of a slight of hand sales pitch - though the fact it's the most recent date range gives it something worthy of consideration.

We already know what the measurement that will matter most to Wilson continuing as coach here is and we'll know that result around the first week in April if not sooner.

We're not just randomly picking a date range say middle of last year, beginning of this year though.  We're taking the overall record since Jan 1st, which is supposedly showing improved team play.  That's a full 82 game stretch of games.  Sure it means very little, but hopefully they can continue playing at that pace for the remainder of this season. If not, I finally get my wish and Wilson gets a foot in the ass.

I gave some credit with: "though the fact it's the most recent date range gives it something worthy of consideration."

Last season, they had a .518 pts win%. This season, they currently sit at .556.

On the upside, it might be the first time since Wilson's been here that he's close to matching expectations of the roster he's had to work with. Generally, in prior Wilson seasons in Toronto, I've been left with a feeling of underachievement.

On the downside, over a four year period, the Leafs should be able to attract a top coach who delivers more than the sum of it's parts and Wilson has never done that in Toronto in my opinion.

I'm not super agitated but there is some odor to the extension.

 

[freer]

All you need to to do is chop "MF" legs out. I give a F who it is I am tired of crap. 7.00 mil or 3.5 mil you chop their legs out. RW needs to go. 

 

[Tigger]

LMFAO

Full of win!

 

[ZBBM]

All you need to to do is chop "MF" legs out. I give a F who it is I am tired of crap. 7.00 mil or 3.5 mil you chop their legs out. RW needs to go.

Come again?

 

[skrackle]

I'm not too bothered by Wilson getting the extension. Burke attempted to remove an element of uncertainty and create some stability with this young team. I don't know if he succeeded or not, but I can see his logic. I don't think the extension will prevent Wilson from being canned if the Leafs miss the playoffs, or at least I hope it wouldn't.

So far, the Leafs are still in the playoff picture. If they can have a solid 2nd half season like they usually seem to do, then I'd say things are on track.

The difference this year will be, there's actually something to play for, hence real pressure. I've put no stock in anything the Leafs have done in the second half for quite a while, because the good teams are coasting and the bad teams are already done and have nothing to lose.

The Leafs are definitely better offensively this year, despite a still too small forward group. Most of their problems are on the defensive side. Neither goalie has grabbed the bull by the horns. The defense corps is talented but inexperienced and error prone. The whole team, including management and coaching can share the blame for the woeful PK.

Despite all it's flaws and inexperience, this Leafs team has a shot at the playoffs, and I'd say it's fair to judge Wilson on whether he gets them there or not. It will be interesting to see if Wilson can do it, and if Burke can help with a roster tweak or two.

 

[Tigger]

Getting some healthy bodies back would be good too.

I don't blame Reimer for the loss tonight, he's got a lot on his mind with his name in the ballot box and might be feeling it a bit ( the team didn't play great in front of him either ) but it sure looked like the Leafs missed Liles on the PP, that was a killer.

It's tough for a coach to get by without solid goaltending and the Leafs have been up and down there. If anyone had told me tomorrows standings on opening day I would have taken it.

 

[lamajama]

Getting some healthy bodies back would be good too.

I don't blame Reimer for the loss tonight, he's got a lot on his mind with his name in the ballot box and might be feeling it a bit ( the team didn't play great in front of him either ) but it sure looked like the Leafs missed Liles on the PP, that was a killer.

It's tough for a coach to get by without solid goaltending and the Leafs have been up and down there. If anyone had told me tomorrows standings on opening day I would have taken it.

Tig - is my sarcasm meter broken or.....? It was almost unanimous from the so-called experts in the preseason predictions that the Leafs will live or die by the goaltending. Now we're dying as our recent record shows. Reimer is flailing and it will be tough to get him out of it while trying to keep/start winning.

 

[Mikhail Bloodnovsky]

I don't blame Reimer for the loss tonight, he's got a lot on his mind with his name in the ballot box and might be feeling it a bit

I really hope you are joking.

 

[Tigger]

For both of you I'm kidding/needling in the sense that Reimer doesn't deserve it and that can play tricks on you but I don't think that, if even true, had much to do with tonight... that was mostly the bracketed part of the comment.

I thought that was a decent rebound from his previous game.

 

[freer]

What I was trying to say "I am sorry I had a few beers during the Game" Dion please take the penalty, hook, trip, or somthing it was awful to watch. No I dont want anyone to hurt someone. but It was awful. And yes I will blame all of this on RW. If you cant get your team to calm down and beat the worst team in the league there is something wrong. IMO

 

[lamajama]

Well at least RW has the whip and the chair because Lord knows they wouldn't listen to his PK and D strategy otherwise.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Wilson shaking his head after Connolly was called for tripping.  He would be upset what with the Leafs poor PK, the end result for anyone to see was typical.

It would do well if some of these Leafs stop taking silly penalties at a crucial time in the game.  It's understandable to take a penalty here and there, but it seems that recently this team has come across as quite undicciplined in that department.

And I wouldn't necessarily lay blame at Wilson.  Players need to recognize their own sense of responsiblity too.

 

[Optimus Reimer]

For both of you I'm kidding/needling in the sense that Reimer doesn't deserve it and that can play tricks on you but I don't think that, if even true, had much to do with tonight... that was mostly the bracketed part of the comment.

I thought that was a decent rebound from his previous game.

He was responsible for two of the goals last night.  The other 2 were the result of stupidity - defencemen standing around watching Cane players whack at the puck until it went in, and the other the Connoly penalty.  But again, the Leafs have no defensive strategy and can't kill a penalty if their lives depended on it. 

What concerns me is the Leafs should have won this game, but didn't and the teams around them in the standings are playing better than the Leafs.  The Leafs are not playing like a playoff team and soon will not be in the playoff picture.

 

[Zee]

This extension is ridiculous for the sole fact that every loss the Leafs have from here on in people will ask "Why did Wilson get an extension?".  The closer the Leafs are to dropping out of 8th spot, the more stupid this extension will look.  I really believe this could come back to bite Burke in the ass. 

 

[maplesyrup]

I'm trying to look at the bigger picture... What is this now, year 3 of a 5/6 year rebuild? We have what - 96 points in the last 82 games? We've got a playoff spot entering the new year and nobody - I mean nobody here or in the media thought we'd be further ahead than we are now. Yeah, the PK sucks but we're going to fire the coach that to date has seemed to be part of the solution as opposed to part of the problem? Let's see how the rest of the season shakes down first... Either way, the 1 year extension changes nothing should a different voice be required at that point.

 

[L K]

For both of you I'm kidding/needling in the sense that Reimer doesn't deserve it and that can play tricks on you but I don't think that, if even true, had much to do with tonight... that was mostly the bracketed part of the comment.

I thought that was a decent rebound from his previous game.

He wasn't awful, made some saves late, but the first goal wasn't good.  The 2nd goal, well, it was a breakaway that got by him.  Struggling or not, Staal is an elite player, and you can't fault a guy for giving up goals in those situations.

The 3rd goal, hard to blame him for it, a brilliantly roofed backhand, but why is his flopping and making snow angels on the ice instead of trying to actually cover the puck.  Looking at the play, there was space between his leg and the post too so it wasn't like he took away the bottom of the net.  He was lost, was just trying to cover as much as he could, but it was desperation, and not a goaltender in control.  Most of the fault has to go at Phaneuf who seems incapable of doing his job in front of the net but Reimer needs to be more in control, he doesn't have the same level of athleticism as Gustavsson.

The 4th goal, hard to fault a PP goal on a 4 on 3, but the puck went through him.  I'm fine if that goes over his shoulder or off the far post and in, but it went right through him.

It was better than the Florida game, but how many times are we going to make excuses for his play when he isn't giving us anything better than Gustavsson but run him like he is playing better?  Something needs to happen to try and get the team on a winning streak.

As for the 96 points in the last 82 games, it's great, but the Leafs pace is 90.8 points in THIS season, and that is the only one that matters.