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

[Fanatic]

jonasTSN1050Jonas Siegel
Wilson on Scrivens: "They build a statue, they knock it down and piss on it and then now they?ll be out there building it again..."

I am not at all opposed to Wilson having some grit to him - the "us against the world" thing played well for Quinn so why not try it again now?

 

[Zee]

Can Burke just humor me and fire Wilson now?

Please?

 

[Spider]

Can Burke just humor me and fire Wilson now?

Please?

I think his time will come to an end.... can't keep blaming the players.  Wilson's system doen not work!

 

[nutman]

Ok i never thought i would jump on board but wilson has to go, his system just sucks. i have sat by and watched and waited as the whole team was fliped, and still our pp and pk suck, the team does not get up for the games ,nor do i see wilson get them fired up when there down. it is time for him to go. for the talent we have to play this bad, and for the last six games we have sucked so bad it looks like Wilsons system is just not cutting it.

 

[Zee]

Problem is Burke won't do it. Seems content with Wilson regardless of how bad the team looks night in, night out.

 

[Boston Leaf]

Ok i never thought i would jump on board but wilson has to go, his system just sucks. i have sat by and watched and waited as the whole team was fliped, and still our pp and pk suck, the team does not get up for the games ,nor do i see wilson get them fired up when there down. it is time for him to go. for the talent we have to play this bad, and for the last six games we have sucked so bad it looks like Wilsons system is just not cutting it.

I agree 100%

 

[Fanatic]

I don't support a coaching change just for the sake of change. It depends on who is out there to take over. But I am really starting to wonder what is going on. When a team displays moments (or games) of exceptional talent and effort and then other times displays a lathargic ineptitude on the ice who do you blame? Every individual player? Who do you blame for special teams problems? Every individual player?

Maybe its time? If the right/better option is available.

 

[leafplasma]

I don't support a coaching change just for the sake of change. It depends on who is out there to take over. But I am really starting to wonder what is going on. When a team displays moments (or games) of exceptional talent and effort and then other times displays a lathargic ineptitude on the ice who do you blame? Every individual player? Who do you blame for special teams problems? Every individual player?

Maybe its time? If the right/better option is available.

Here are a couple  articles exploring some coaching options.  The general consensus is that the options swell as the years go by and the 30 positions remain a constant, there are new names that enter the mix and old standbys  that stand the test of time.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/michael_farber/03/03/montreal.former.nhl.coaches/index.html

http://truehockey.com/articles/Several-Coaching-Candidates-Eyeing-NHL-Openings

 

[skrackle]

The Leafs right now, are in danger of falling into the pattern of recent seasons. Nice start-wheels fall off- rally when it's too late. They lack the galvanizing leader upfront. A Matts Sundin or Doug Gilmour does not appear to be on the horizon.

So, what do they do? They need to find a way to make the most of the roster they do have, like Nashville does.

I've given Ron Wilson a pass to this point, mainly because the roster he took over was awful. The talent level on the present team is not elite, but it should be enough to grab a playoff spot, if the most is made of it.

It's a long season. Should Ron Wilson be fired right now? No. Ken Hitchcock has been hired by St. Louis, so I don't know who the best coach not coaching right now is. If the slide continues, then all bets are off.

Somebody mentioned Pat Quinn recently. If the main problem with the Leafs is focus and desire, then Quinn should be in the mix.

So much about hockey seems to ride on confidence. Watching the Canucks/Ducks game on Friday reinforced this. The Ducks were world beaters in the 2nd period going up 4-0. It's hard to fathom as a fan, how a team seems to suddenly play scared and lets the opposition climb back within a goal.

The Leafs don't seem to have their heads on straight recently. It hasn't yet become a disaster, but it could well be very soon. I hope the present group can sort things out, but if not, Brian Burke shouldn't hesitate to make changes.

 

[applecheeks]

I like the sound of Quinn, He has the experience and would command respect in the dressing room. Just off the top of my head, with the youngest team in the league, how is he with younger players. He would certainly be able to handle the media etc. in Toronto. Who else is there, Mark Crawford, who was once pegged for the coaching job in T.O once upon a time, or Keenan or a newer younger type from the AHL, like our very own Eakins who is doing a OK job shaping these kids they keep sending the Leafs. I look forward to hearing other opinions on who might be a good fit. In the mean time Wilson needs to sharpen his crayon and get these kids to understand and just do it...

 

[Bender]

Problem is Burke won't do it. Seems content with Wilson regardless of how bad the team looks night in, night out.

It's insane that you would think Burke would allow Wilson to risk his job. He's not a knee jerk guy and I doubt he pulls the trigger right now as the Leafs really aren't doing that badly. But if they're on the outside looking in by Christmas then I think it'd be crazy for you to think that Burke would allow himself to go down with the Wilson ship.

 

[L K]

I like Quinn and everything, but I'm not sold that this would be the time to bring him in.  I think any contract has to be an interim one if we are simply hiring a guy to replace a "change of pace" coach.  I'm not convinced that Quinn has a full season of coaching left in him.  The Edmonton team when he last coached was a mess (admittedly it was a bad team decimated by injuries too).

I wouldn't mind if they brought someone in to finish the year and then conducted a wider search in the offseason, including the interim candidate if they perform well.  The Marlies haven't been all that successful and while Colborne is playing much better, I don't know how much of that deserves to be attributed to Eakins to give him a promotion.  To me, the Marlies have been deep enough to make the AHL playoffs the past couple of years, and they haven't.

 

[Mack674]

Bringing Quinn back on interim to finish the season, then exploring options - I would be okay with that.

Somebody asked would Quinn be okay with younger players, well he coached the world juniors to a gold medal so, yeah...

I never thought Quinn should have been fired in the first place, just because they missed the playoffs ONCE in like 7 years, despite a conference finals appearance and a franchise points record. Oh, how times have changed.

 

[Zee]

Problem is Burke won't do it. Seems content with Wilson regardless of how bad the team looks night in, night out.

It's insane that you would think Burke would allow Wilson to risk his job. He's not a knee jerk guy and I doubt he pulls the trigger right now as the Leafs really aren't doing that badly. But if they're on the outside looking in by Christmas then I think it'd be crazy for you to think that Burke would allow himself to go down with the Wilson ship.

We're not doing that badly?  Have you seen our play the last 5-6 games?  The team has been God awful on most nights, no energy, missing assignments, crappy PK.  It's like we have no system at all.

 

[Bender]

Problem is Burke won't do it. Seems content with Wilson regardless of how bad the team looks night in, night out.

It's insane that you would think Burke would allow Wilson to risk his job. He's not a knee jerk guy and I doubt he pulls the trigger right now as the Leafs really aren't doing that badly. But if they're on the outside looking in by Christmas then I think it'd be crazy for you to think that Burke would allow himself to go down with the Wilson ship.

We're not doing that badly?  Have you seen our play the last 5-6 games?  The team has been God awful on most nights, no energy, missing assignments, crappy PK.  It's like we have no system at all.

I've watched the games, and while maybe a coaching change should occur sooner rather than later, generally you don't can a coach with the kind of record we have right now, it's just the way it is. Burke would want Wilson to try to pull himself out before axing him.

But there are two things you haven't addressed.

1) Thinking that Burke would basically allow himself to get fired before he fires Wilson

2) Who do we replace Wilson with?

"Meet the new boss, same as the old boss." - Pete Townshend

 

[Zee]

Problem is Burke won't do it. Seems content with Wilson regardless of how bad the team looks night in, night out.

It's insane that you would think Burke would allow Wilson to risk his job. He's not a knee jerk guy and I doubt he pulls the trigger right now as the Leafs really aren't doing that badly. But if they're on the outside looking in by Christmas then I think it'd be crazy for you to think that Burke would allow himself to go down with the Wilson ship.

We're not doing that badly?  Have you seen our play the last 5-6 games?  The team has been God awful on most nights, no energy, missing assignments, crappy PK.  It's like we have no system at all.

I've watched the games, and while maybe a coaching change should occur sooner rather than later, generally you don't can a coach with the kind of record we have right now, it's just the way it is. Burke would want Wilson to try to pull himself out before axing him.

But there are two things you haven't addressed.

1) Thinking that Burke would basically allow himself to get fired before he fires Wilson

2) Who do we replace Wilson with?

"Meet the new boss, same as the old boss." - Pete Townshend

I say bring up Eakins.  Other teams give new coaches a shot, why not the Leafs?  Instead of looking for some recycled old coach who has been through multiple teams in the past, get someone in here with some new ideas, works with younger players etc.  I think the players who have already spent time on the Marlies will know and respect Eakins.  Our Marlies players seem to be progressing well, I would have to say a lot of credit would go to Eakins for that.  Give him a shot.

 

[Optimus Reimer]

It says something about Burke when he has assembled a team that by the end of the season should be in a playoff position or very close to it, then refuses to fire the coach when the team play is so bad that the team is playing as if it were one of the bottom feeders.  It makes Burke's decision making ability look poor when his choice for coach is not doing the job with the talent on the team.

Losing to Ottawa twice, being shot out by Columbus, barely defeating the Blues, losing by blowouts to Boston and Florida.  Except for the Blues game, I figure in the last 7 or 8 games, the Leafs have had little or no heart or effort.  Right now, the Leafs are playing like a bottom feeder team and looking at their schedule, I don't see how the Leafs will win any of their next 5 games. 

 

[maplesyrup]

Here's a name that very few (maybe none) have thought about on an interim basis... He's a guy already in the organization with a winning coaching record.... Rick Dudley; 

BUF 1989?90 80G 45W 27L 8T
BUF 1990?91 80G 31W 30L 19T
BUF 1991?92 28G 9W 15L 4T
FLA 2003?04 40G 13W 15L 9T
Total 228G  98W 87L 40T

He's currently Director, Player Personnel but like I said it would just be in the interim and he could keep that handle until the right guy come along. He'd certainly see a fair number of live games that way.  :-\

... just a thought... He probably wouldn't take it anyway.

 

[Zee]

It says something about Burke when he has assembled a team that by the end of the season should be in a playoff position or very close to it, then refuses to fire the coach when the team play is so bad that the team is playing as if it were one of the bottom feeders.  It makes Burke's decision making ability look poor when his choice for coach is not doing the job with the talent on the team.

Losing to Ottawa twice, being shot out by Columbus, barely defeating the Blues, losing by blowouts to Boston and Florida.  Except for the Blues game, I figure in the last 7 or 8 games, the Leafs have had little or no heart or effort.  Right now, the Leafs are playing like a bottom feeder team and looking at their schedule, I don't see how the Leafs will win any of their next 5 games.

The Senators game was particularly distressing in my opinion.  The points going into that game which had me believe this Leafs team would respond in a big way were:

1. Senators played the night before and it was their 3rd game in 4 nights -- Leafs more rested
2. Hall of Fame game -- extra motivation for the players?
3. First Saturday home game since the 7-0 disaster -- time for players to redeem themselves?

All those points should have equaled an easy Leafs win, yet it was the other way around.  Senators handled the Leafs quite easily all night.  It was a disgrace.  The last time the Leafs played a 3 in 4 nighter was the aforementioned game against Boston, they did what they had to. 

 

[Erndog]

It says something about Burke when he has assembled a team that by the end of the season should be in a playoff position or very close to it, then refuses to fire the coach when the team play is so bad that the team is playing as if it were one of the bottom feeders.  It makes Burke's decision making ability look poor when his choice for coach is not doing the job with the talent on the team.

Losing to Ottawa twice, being shot out by Columbus, barely defeating the Blues, losing by blowouts to Boston and Florida.  Except for the Blues game, I figure in the last 7 or 8 games, the Leafs have had little or no heart or effort.  Right now, the Leafs are playing like a bottom feeder team and looking at their schedule, I don't see how the Leafs will win any of their next 5 games.

I find it remarkable how poorly they have been playing lately.  Like you said, they barely squeeked out a win in St. Louis, and even in Columbus they were really handed a win based on some shoddy goaltending.  Columbus carried the play for much of that game.

I think this is the worst 6-7 game stretch I've seen the Leafs play in a while.  Zero offense beyond Kessel, Lupul, very little goaltending, virtually no shots and scoring chances, and getting bombarded on home ice a couple times. 

I think I'd really take out the blender and start fresh right now.

Kulemin-Bozak-Kessel (they've played well briefly together in the past.  I'm trying to ignite Kulemin).
Lupul-Grabovski-Kadri (need Kadri's playmaking ability on that line.  I'd like to give him a fair shot here.)
Lombardi-Colborne-MacArthur (give Colborne a couple vets and decent defensive players to ease him in)
Brown-Steckal-Zigomanis (worth rewarding Zigo with his fine play in the A, and our PK could use a jolt).

Send Frattin down.  Put Dupuis out of his misery. 

Meh... it's something a little different at least.  Clearly what we've been doing lately hasn't been working.  Might give everyone a shot in the arm.