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Maple Leafs coach cuts the bull

DAVID SHOALTS

From Saturday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 11:10 AM EST 07/04/08

Blunt Maurice says sliding Toronto club wasn't very good, David Shoalts reports ...Read the full article

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  1. The artist formerly known as Robert Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Glad that someone in TO is actually cutting the bull...

    I actually feel sorry for Maurice. He wasn't given a lot to work with by his GM. Hopefully, Fletcher can partially clean up this mess somewhat before the start of next season...
  2. George E. Porgie from Canada writes: Robert...I agree

    When Maurice was coaching the Marlies he was praised very highly by his players. Seems that I recall the same feedback from Leaf players the past 2 years. But somewhere, somehow, several underperforming Leafs either weren't listening to Maurice's instructions or simply weren't able to carry out the team plan.

    New blood needed asap.
  3. JM Work from Canada writes: Great observation!

    The Leafs werent very good?!

    What was the first hint? A dozen point out of a playoff spot? Third year in a row missing the playoffs?
  4. The One and Only Robert Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Maurice got a lot of flack for saying at the beginning of the season that the Leafs would be a contender. I suspect the guy is smarter than that. But what kind of coach would have come right out and said the team is weak and our chances are poor?
  5. Pat Billings from CDN, Canada writes: Shoalts, why don't you tell us where McCabe and Tucker will be golfing next Tuesday or who Tlusty will be taking pictures with over the summer.
  6. The artist formerly known as Robert Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: The One and Only Robert Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: "But what kind of coach would have come right out and said the team is weak and our chances our [are] poor?
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    I dunno

    What kind of poster would steal another guy's name?

    Some Leafs fans are ridiculous.

    If one even hints at honesty that the MLS&E product is not up to snuff, they are automatically "a troll, " "a Leafs hater" or such....

    Media members that are critical of the organization get their advertising banned from ACC... and bloggers get their identities stolen...

    How do the TO fans expect this team to improve if it's constantly sunshine, lollipops and rainbows everywhere?

    This is really quite cool that I am arguing with myself online...

    I think that I will franchise my name and go global...
  7. Popeye Dillon from North Vancouver, Canada writes: Maurice was picked to usurp Quinn by JFJ. Highway to time for him as well. The team reflects the coach.
  8. The artist formerly known as Robert Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Just a couple of reminders....

    1) Paul Maurice did actually get a team to the Stanley Cup Finals previously.

    2) It's not like too many NHL calibre coaches are going to be beating down the door to join this MLS&E mess.
  9. g h from Canada writes: deet, deet, deet, deet, deet, deet, deet...
    Just over the wire...
    Leafs have signed Hayley Wickenheiser to replace Sundin and captain the Leafs next year.
    deet, deet, deet, deet, deet, deet,deet.....hey they could do much worse.
  10. George S from Toronto, Canada writes: Wish Sundin would have allowed himself to be traded at the trade deadline before this injury cropped up. The Leafs could really start building up a solid team by investing heavily in some good prospects- this rebuilding philosophy is paying dividends for my Habs. If the Habs managed such a major rebuilding and turnaround in such a short time I am sure that the Leafs could do the same. It has to start at the top though to really rebuild a team though.
  11. R.T. Elder from Canada writes: if matt stajan is in the running for team canada at the worlds, we, as a hockey nation, are in deep, deep trouble.
  12. R. Carriere from Maritimes, Canada writes:

    Maurice lost the team in November.....when on a nationally televised game, he called a time out and yelled and berated his team with a camera close-up. It was lights out after that! The days of treating the million dollar athlete-children like that in public is over!

    I'll never know why he was hailed as the "second coming" as he has a below .500 NHL coaching mark. Not the stuff to make champions. It was obvious that MLSE was aways more concerned about 'style" than "substance."

    Maybe the Leafs should find their own Caps "Bruce Boudreau"- the funny almost caricature of a guy who took the Caps over and changed their style and posted a 39-19-7 record coming from last place in the Conference in November....to maybe the playoffs and divsion championship if they can get 1 point tonight at home against Florida.

    Leaf fans would get used to an old gruffy fat bald guy..WHO CAN WIN!

    Goodbye Paul.
  13. R. Carriere from Maritimes, Canada writes:

    So the Leafs need to rebuild through the draft and selected younger hidden gems through signing UFA's.-Waste of time, money and minutes if they sign a big name for now-Sundin included.

    If so, then they need to look at their pro and amateur scouts-here and in Europe. You can decide if they did a good job the last 5 years by which UFA's they signed, and how they drafted. ( U-G-L-Y)

    I would approach the New Jersey-Detroit (best in the league)-San Jose and Aneheim guys. Whatever $$ they are making-at least DOUBLE their salaries and get them on board ASAP!

    Leafs get paid $700,000 for each game on TV. One or 2 games revenue would cover that in a heartbeat!

    .
  14. SY GIL from TO, Canada writes: The fact that the Leafs power play ranks among the lowest and penalty kill is equally incompetent is sufficient reason to release this coaching staff. The power play was way too predictable: Sundin back to Kaberle, Kaberle passes over to McCabe, everyone skates on the perimeter, nobody's prepare to take the punishment, Blake shoots the puck right into goalie's equipment - He wins the award for hitting the goalie the most. Hope he'll be playing for the Marlies.

    NOte to Fletcher: there s/b no buyouts. these guys don't deserve to sit at home or the French Riviera and collecting $millions. BTW, they surely should contribute a roaylty to jfj for agreeing to such ludicrous contracts. with the exception of sundin, I can't imagine another gm in the game today that would agree to no trade with those guys let alone giving mccabe a no movement to boot.

    Time to clean house. The loss to the Senators shows these guys have no hearts. Far too many times this season, they had simply mailed it in. Great examples would be Pony and Steen who is way overrated. If there is a deal for him for some decent draft picks, go for it. Talks of him becoming the next Leaf captain are utterly nonsense.
  15. Doktor David from London, Canada writes: I just spent some time, about 15 minutes worth, to do a quick numerical analysis of one Leaf's player, the much maligned Jason Blake.

    It is brutally apparent that the management, at the time, made a decision based on one breakout season. From 2001 to 2008, Blake averaged 49.5 points per season. Yes last year was a great year for him, but it was only 69 points. This season's 51 points (barring any dramatic multi-point game tonight) really is just following along with the established trend. He is a 50 point a year guy, pure and simple. Personally I hope they keep him - he has the skills, he is just not going to contribute 80 points a year.

    By the way - number three on the team in assists and number four in overall points. Say what you want about him being a "sniper", I'm just as happy he set up a few other people.

    My point? If 15 minutes reveals this to me, why can't the bean counters do the same for this and next year's planning? No mystery to it - just be smart.
  16. Dave M from Canada writes: I don't know how anyone can say the team was bad or failed. They did what professional sports teams are supposed to do. They put a$$es in the seats and sold lots of advertising and $9 beers.

    This is the most succesful team in he NHL and by far they are the richest, what could be more of a success than that.

    Here's to 41 more years of unabashed sucess!!!
  17. Dave M from Canada writes: Oh and one more thing. I love how every bum on the team has a no trade clause so we immediately start to talk about needing a new coach since he's the only sucker we can fire for free.

    A coach? I'm pretty sure the players know how to play hockey when they get into the NHL. What? Did they forget?

    The coach is the least of your worries. God himself couldn't have coached these losers into the playoffs this year.

    It ain't the coach's fault. These guys just aren't very good. I don't blame them, they're trying real hard, but it's like watching a pathetic friend who tries out for the rep team every year. You know he's gonna get cut but for some reason you watch and cheer them on!

    That's the Leafs players, only made slightly less pathetic because they make so much darn money. What once looked like a fired up Tucker now looks like my whiney niece complaining we won't let her watch TV while she eats dinner. You reap what you sow and the Leafs sow nothing. Voila!
  18. Henry Allen from East Bank, Don River, Canada writes:
    All is forgotten and forgiven as Bryan McCabe makes the key defensive play for Team Canada at this year's World Championship. Bryan throws a clean, vicious hip check on the speeding attacker, while neatly stripping him of the puck. Then, with blazing speed, Bryan flies the length of the ice and blasts the game winning goal through a stunned goalie with just seconds to go. The crowd erupts and chants his name, over and over. Bryan is mobbed by his Team Canada mates. He is later selected as Team Canada's player of the game, and all-star defenceman for the entire tournament.

    "Bryan. Bryan. You fell out of bed again. Wake up. Better get going. You'll be late for your tee off time."
  19. wayne powers from saskatoon, writes: I don't see team Canada asking anyone from the Leafs to play for them. Now Blake will be interesting to watch, if he plays an effective role for the US team, then what does it say about how he performed with the Leafs. He and McCabe both seem to want to go to the Islanders and others just seem to want to be up in Muskoga working on their cottage upgrades. Lets hope they don't try to screwup the Canadians playoffs by crashing Price.
  20. M K from Canada writes: "I think a team as physically strong as Ottawa's would have exacted some physical revenge on [Bell]," Maurice said. "After the hit there were a couple of purse-swingings that didn't amount to much." Actually, Paula, the Sens did exactly what they should have, that is rather than sink to the slimy, cowardly level of Bell, they delivered the azz whooping heard round the league, in front of a sell-out Toronto home crowd, after much boasting and flapping of gums by same fans and Toronto-media that they were going to take Ottawa down and halt their playoff hopes. Ha! In the end, what actually happened was that Ottawa added the final nail in the coffin to an absolute embrassment of a season for the leafs. So what the Toronto media and fans were licking their chops at being one of the worst melt downs by a team in history on the part of the Ottawa Senators became one of the most embarassing conclusions to a season by an NHL club at the hands of its provincial rivals ever. Hahaha! So enough with the references to the playoffs series between Ottawa and Toronto. The fact that this is all TO fans and media can cling to is almost as sad as the constant references to their last Stanley Cup win 41 years ago!
  21. belsize park from United States writes: "...let's face it...we're just (expletive)"....
    the understatement of the millennium

    mccabe for H.O.F!!!!
  22. Proud Canadian from Canada writes: The A-340-600 from Geneva will be landing in Toronto at 1355 on Monday afternoon, with the fresh nitrogen in the tires, the stainless steel wing flaps with Captain Dmitri Kristich at the controls with first officer Alexi Yashin in the right seat. Viktor Tikonof is the purser, Vladimir Putin is the leader of the servers. Flight leaves Pearson 1505, runway 10-28, giver boys, the passengers on board are in a hurry to get back to the country of origin to start the 2nd season for them, the World cup, playing with people they can talk to in their own language. All aboard, fasten your seatbelts, bar service will begin shortly with a hot gramma prepared dinner to follow.
  23. Mark P from Saint John, NB, Canada writes: "Alfredsson was flattened by Bell late in the first period on a blind-side hit."

    Yeah right Shoalts--having your head down is now called being blind-sided. I guess 'blind-side' hits cost glass-head Lindros his career then? The new NHL is for curlers.
  24. J R from Halifax, Canada writes: Is it just me or should we have heard talk like this from Maurice a loooong time ago. Not enough calling a spade a spade with this guy. It was always the same cliches and telling us all to relax. I am not saying this season is his fault. He is part of the problem though. Being a nice guy is only ok if you are winning.

    Looking forward to the last leafs game tonight. I do hope they can put in a good effort and give us something fun to watch.

    Does look like an exciting playoffs though...hope all of the leaf fans stick around to watch. We all need the reminded of what quality playoff hockey looks like!
  25. gabriel oak from Canada writes: Paul Maurice - ya gotta admire the man for his insight & perceptive analysis of his lads' talents. Only 81 games into the season that was, and he gets it right: "We were #@!!&". See, the inside man who finds the truth amidst this chicanery is a rare bird indeed.
  26. Mac - GLG from Canada writes: PC - You going senile?
  27. King 99 from Canada writes: As far as the hit went by Bell it looked clean to me. Maybe Alfie could man up a bit. Maybe he'd be able to take it if he didn't carry his head so low. It's not like he ever blindsided anyone before. Maybe if they left their purses at home they'd be able to handle the heavy going better.
  28. Sandy T. from Canada writes:

    Doktor David from London, Canada writes:

    "From 2001 to 2008, [Jason]Blake averaged 49.5 points per season. Yes last year was a great year for him, but it was only 69 points. This season's 51 points (barring any dramatic multi-point game tonight) really is just following along with the established trend. He is a 50 point a year guy, pure and simple. Personally I hope they keep him - he has the skills, he is just not going to contribute 80 points a year."

    Doktor, the problem is 4 mil per year is too much money for a 49 point man in the new, salary-capped NHL. Why do you think he was still available last summer for JFJ to throw wads of cash at? In hindsight his signing became even less cost effective when he managed a mere 15 goals for all those free-agent bucks.

    Add to that the fact he'll be 39 by the time the contract has run its course, and it makes him a Leaf forever, because nobody is going to take on that contract over that length of time for a 35 year old winger with one big goal scoring season on his resume. So yeah, I imagine that now Jason Blake, for better or for worse, will always be a Leaf - by default.

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