By HOWARD BERGER
LOS ANGELES (Jan. 11) — I could sit here and hammer on the Maple Leafs for the umpteeth time, but what’s the use? It would be like kicking a sick person in the hospital. There comes a time when the words you’ve been saying and writing for the past six months need not be repeated. So, let’s move forward for now and see what — if anything — can be done about this mess. One thing I can assure you… there are no quick fixes. As good as it feels for you to go on-line and commiserate with fellow Leaf fans about firing John Ferguson, or getting rid of Paul Maurice, that’s all it is — a temporary release of emotion. In practical terms, a professional hockey club must first have an alternate plan before it begins whacking employees in mid-stream. Otherwise, moves of desperation quickly become transparent. Or, even worse, cosmetic.
The realities of the current NHL mitigate against detonation of the Leafs roster. Jason Blake is signed for four more years; Darcy Tucker for two more. Mats Sundin swears he’ll go down with the ship. Pavel Kubina has another $5 million coming to him next season. Bryan McCabe and Tomas Kaberle are here for the long haul. Alex Steen and Matt Stajan probably aren’t going anywhere. At least, not under the current regime, which refused to acquire Chris Pronger for fear of giving up Steen. Unless the Leafs embark on a wild spree of contract buyouts and/or minor-league demotions, the core of the team is not likely to change in the forseeable future.
I wrote a column in this space last week saying the Leafs should waive Andrew Raycroft, for the benefit of both parties. If it doesn’t happen after that slaughter in the first period here in Los Angeles last night, it probably never will. The Leafs will hang onto Raycroft and pay him $2.2 million next season in the final year of his contract. As it stands, there is no longer any reasonable circumstance in which Raycroft can be utilized by Maurice. Expect Ferguson to part company with his No. 1 goalie from last year at any minute. It’s the most obvious move he could possibly make.
The GM huddled long and hard with his chief lieutenants — Mike Penny and Jeff Jackson — after the 5-1 loss to the Kings, ducking into the corridor that leads to the visitors’ bench at the Staples Center. Several of us in the Toronto media waited around outside the Leafs’ dressing room to have a word with Ferguson, but he refused to talk. We were first informed of his decision by Leafs’ public relations director Pat Park, who is on the trip, but we waited to hear it from Ferguson, himself. Though he’s often been under seige, John hasn’t been one to run from media responsibilities, even at the worst of times. Last night, was an exception.
“I don’t want to get involved tonight,” Fergie said when he finally emerged to walk past us.
Perhaps he had the right idea. After all, the Leafs’ utter capitulation in the first period spoke volumes by itself — moreso than the GM could have achieved if he’d spent an hour-and-a-half with reporters. Every so often, an exhibition of hockey is so sad; so devoid of character and purpose, that words do it no justice.
Last night was one of those times.
different year, same tired old story, toronto sucks the big one.
- peteYou were right the first time Howard… It was an abortion in the first period
- Cory MclaughlinSo where does this leave us. Its such a mess who knows where to begin. A new GM will have to wait until there are good expeienced and proven winners on the market and that won’t be until the off season. If Mats was such a Leaf team guy he’d take it for the team waive the no trade and come back next year, his current move is nothing but selfish.
Anyone coming into the GM position is going to demand and GET the Brian Colangelo deal, no Richard Peddie and no board approval. I run the team and I make the decisions, period. Let’s be honest Leaf fans this is not a glamour job at the moment and I think there will be few takers for it if the structure doesn’t change.
The goal has to be to get out from under contracts, Trucker, Kubina, Sundin, Blake and all the others. Use buy backs if you have to, split the remainng years on the contracts with other teams, just get rid of players and stockpile picks and GOOD young players. This of course leads us to the fact the MLSE cannot evaluate, draft and develop talent so do you want to leave this to the current management mess. I guess you have to start somewhere.
The train that takes Raycroft out of town will be imediately followed by the one that takes JFJ out of town. How much longer can he last if he ships out the guy he gave up a ton to get(who was playing in the frickin minors for God sakes) all the while it looks more and more like Justin Pogge is never going to be an NHL goalie.
Fergie deals: Jason Blake=bust Darcy Tucker=way over paid bust Pavel Kubina=bust, again way over paid Brian McCabe=hugely overpaid bust for what he brings as a skill set Andrew Raycroft=bust and we gave up a better goalie and a 1st round pick! Vesa Toskala=mediorce and we again gave up way too much Mark Bell=below a bust
How many passes does this guy get?
- Steve SmithI predicted before the Anaheim game that the leafs would lose all 3 games on this trip and return to ACC without Paul Maurice as their coach. So far I am 2 for 2.
What a joke this organization is.
- TommyIt was bad in the Harold Ballard years but never this bad. We have one bonified hockey player on this team, Mats. The rest are unproven filler that may have had 1 good year with this team or another. For that Fergie gave them long term contracts traded away the future. This franchise is ruined for years to come. Furthermore Maurice never supports his players. “No comments” for illegal hits or punches to the eye means he doesn’t care. Lindy Ruff is the exact opposite. This team has stopped playing for it’s coach. I disagree with your assesment Howard. Changes have to be made now with the firing of Fergie and Maurice. The heart has stopped and the patient is dead. A monkey could throw darts at a board to pick the lines before the game and would fair no worse.
- GarthEinstein said that you can’t solve a problem by using the same level of thinking you used to create the problem. Hello Richard Peddie.
- DaveOK this is the real story. Ted Rodgers wants to buy the Teachers Pension fund share of the team. Richard Pettie is in charge of making the team so pitiful that the Teachers Pension will want to bail out of this mess. Ted Rodgers comes riding in as the white knight to save the day.
- Dave AbrahamThink of it most successful business men like to buy when the price is low. Get an insider to make the company ( the Leafs ) fail and then you buy in at a lower price.
Sorry folks but we’re being played like a bunch of saps. Don’t worry I include myself in on that list.
Will someone please do something.
- Doug BriscoeBeyond Be-leaf!
Raycroft doesn’t belong in the NHL along with Blake, McCabe and Tucker, Kubina and Bell. $22M worth of dog poop.
- HeatonWhat a sad pathetic situation. Recent losses have been best scenerio for leaf fans. Let’s realize there’s no long term plan. Let’s start with a mission statement to building on youth and let’s start rebuilding now. Ferguson is not the man for the job. (Anybody who thought Raycroft was the savior back then wasn’t doing their homework. Anybody in a hockey pool knew that Raycroft was pathetic in Boston. Somebody who trades away a 2nd round draft pick and Bell for Perrault is not capable.) Please blow up the team now!
- Andrew Christakos