You know, I spent a long time trying to find something to write about this evening. The sky is falling only works so often you know. The good news is that the good folks over at the Globe and Mail were able to speak to some Maple Leaf players today and well, that’s all it took.

“As players, we’ve got to believe in ourselves and prove all the doubters wrong.” Matt “Stayon” Stajan

WOW

WOW

WOW

Matt Stajan can’t really be this stupid can he?

Oh, I get it, he’s joking right- he’s a regular John Candy

Doubters?????????

Doubters?????????

Matt- your team stinks.

Look in the standings, look in the papers, look in your dressing room. It doesn’t take a Harvard education to figure out what you got…

“I’m frustrated that I can’t do more,” said Leafs coach Ron Wilson, adding that losing his job is “the last thing” he’s concerned about. “I’m just going to do the best job I can – if I’m not good enough, someone will come down and tell me that.”

Now, on the other side of the island, reality has set in for Mr. Wilson. He can’t do more because his lineup is so devoid of talent there isn’t any coach alive or dead could do with this squad of losers.

“What’s hard to believe about this Leafs team, however, is just how unchanged its lineup has been all year. All of the 21 skaters who played or were scratched in Toronto’s season-opening loss to the Montreal Canadiens are still part of the team, with the only newcomers consisting of minor-league call-ups Tyler Bozak and Carl Gunnarsson.”

Damn straight. I was thinking the other day how our GM- and maybe the others around the league should only work from say March to October. They don’t appear to do ANYTHING the rest of the year. ( I know the f’n cap the owners wanted- killed everything)

“And despite the fact the Leafs sit dead last in team save percentage for the second season in a row, their situation in goal also remains the same – aside from the fact rookie Jonas Gustavsson has wrested the No. 1 role away from Vesa Toskala.”

Hey, even, the oldest, fattest, slowest cat still wants to eat a mouse from time to time. Stealing the number one spot from Toskala is no feat.

“Burke, in other words, cast his lot in the summer, spending up to the cap to add sniper Phil Kessel, a pair of defencemen and Gustavsson in goal, additions that have led Toronto to a worse record (15-23-9) than they had at this point last season (17-22-8) when they finished 24th overall.”

Now that gives us something to really look forward to on draft day- I mean UFA day.

“The Leaf GM’s only cards left to play will involve tearing down this roster after the Olympic break, selling off whichever of his eight unrestricted free agents who prove to have some marginal value and perhaps dealing defenceman Tomas Kaberle to bring in a late first-round pick from a contending team.”

Ah yes the dog days of spring.. I am really waiting for the first interviewer to ask Burke is he ever dreamed/imagined that his team – the one he built this year could finish below his team from last year. Hell, he was PISSED they made the playoffs then….What’s he going to be like this year when they are worse off????????

Awesome piece Mirtle….

TSM

@yyzsportsmedia

Here’s your bikini of the day from bikinibeat.org:

On Fan 590 Tonight-

- open phones with McCown from 4:05 to 4:40
- Grapeline with Don Cherry & Brian Williams at 4:45
- co-host from 5:00 to 7:00 is Stephen Brunt
5:20 Mark Cohon, CFL Comish
5:40 Jack Armstrong
6:05 Rob Becker,Legal analyst
6:30-7:00 Andre Agassi IN STUDIO

On 640 with Brady and Watters:

4:30 – Happy Capitalism with Lou Schizas

4:40 – Hamilton Tiger-Cats Owner Bob Young

5:30 – Happy Capitalism with Lou Schizas

5:30 – NFL Prognosticator Bob “The Bear” Cowan

5:40 – Leafs Head Coach Ron Wilson

6:10 – Inside the NHL with Darren Dreger & Scott Morrison

6:40 – Rinkside with AM 640 Leafs Reporter Jonas Siegel

College of Sports Media Game of the Night:

Some people may be scratching their heads over this one, but tonight you don’t want to miss the game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Colorado Avalanche. This has absolutely nothing to do with the Maple Leafs (or Laughs depending on what side of the Leaf Nation fence you sit on). Many NHL analysts wrote the Avalanche off from the get-go, but early on in the season this team has been proving the nay-sayers wrong. Thanks, in part, to the play of rookie Matt Duchene. Granted this 18 year old hasn’t lit it up point wise (2 assists), but the amount of energy and enthusiasm he’s brought to Colorado is invaluable. Plus with the amount of chances he’s created for himself you can be sure that first goal will come sooner then later. The Avs have also been getting spectacular goaltending from Craig Anderson. He’s started every game so far and has already backstopped the team to big wins over San Jose, Vancouver (shutout in that one) and Boston. The same cannot be said for Toronto. Vesa Toskala has the league’s worst save percentage (.812) for starting goaltenders and has let in the most goals (19). The man expected to push Toskala, Jonas Gustavsson was placed on the injured reserve last Thursday with a groin injury and was expected to miss at least a week. So Joey MacDonald is now the back up. Toskala and the Leafs got pummeled last night 7-2 by the New York Rangers and it wouldn’t be surprising to see head coach Ron Wilson give MacDonald the start tonight. If the Leafs are going to pick up their first win of the season they’ll have to stop giving up first period leads. In their five games so far, Toronto has been outscored 8-2 to the first period. With the lack of scoring for Toronto, one has to wonder if GM Brain Burke is counting down the days before Phil Kessel will be healthy and ready to play. Unfortunately by that time the Leafs may be in so low in the standings that Kessel’s return would be too little to late.

So Chris Chelios asked US Olympic/Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Ron Wilson if the Leafs had any interest in his services. I know how old he is, I know how little he played last year and I know that every time he steps on the ice he is taking time away from a kid. However, there are a couple of intangibles that need to be considered and one MAJOR one too. Consider if you will:

1. Chelios is the type of leader that a guy like Luke Schenn could learn from. I don’t care if he only dresses in games that fall during those months that don’t contain the letter R in them, having a guy like Chelios in the room will be a huge help to all the young kids. Last year, for a stretch Schenn, I believe roomed with Brad May. Chelios would be a great mentor for Schenn and all the other younger guys.

2. He would be the Reggie Dunlop of Big Blue and could morph into a Joe Nieuendyk. He is a smart enough guy with lots of passion for the game.

3. Having him here will keep Paul Kelley under wraps. Seriously, ask enough people who got the email snooper fired and they will tell you it was Chris Chelios. If we want Glen Healey silenced, having a guy like Chelios in town will be a big help. When Chelios speaks people listen.

4. He gives a ton of his time to charity and special programs. Burke wants to instill this as a must with Big Blue, no one is better at leading the way then Chris Chelios.

Now, the most important reason, and the one pre-requisite to him joining Big Blue, He must open a Cheli’s Chili Bar somewhere near the ACC. There simply aren’t that many good places to eat before or after a game and Cheli’s Chili Bar happens to be a good spot. Toronto can always use good little places to eat and we are simply missing a spot like this.

So, if he will come cheap, and why wouldn’t he and he understands his role AND we get a Cheli’s Chili Bar I am fully in favour.

TSM

@yyzsportsmedia