TORONTO (Oct. 13) – Oh, the delirium!
Listening to the radio and viewing my e-mails after the 7-2 thrashing the Maple Leafs absorbed in New York reminds me of the stories I’ve read about Orson Welles’ mock broadcast of "The War of the Worlds" in 1938. Though it was strictly a drama, it sent Americans scurrying out of their homes in sheer panic over a purported invasion of little green men from Mars. But, it’s doubtful any of these people reacted more hysterically than current fans of the Blue & White.
Yes, the Leafs are closing in on their worst-ever start to a season (if five games can be considered a “start”; I’m more inclined to use that term after 15 to 20 games). No, there is hardly an indication, at this point, that the club will reverse its losing trend. But, what happened to the torrent of optimism that pervaded the Leafs’ fan base just two weeks ago? Or, throughout the entire summer, for that matter? Was it imperative that the club burst from the starting gate to certify your faith in Brian Burke’s re-structuring plan? I don’t recall reading anywhere of such a pre-condition.
Truth be told, there is still time for the Leafs to get their act in gear. But, every point they lose early in the season has to be made up somewhere down the road, when the games become increasingly more of a challenge. To illustrate the predicament the Leafs might already be in, consider that Montreal held the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference last season with 93 points – a pace equal to 11 games over .500. If that’s the measure for the current season, the Leafs must perform at a clip of at least 15 games above the break-even mark the rest of the way. There is not a shred of evidence, right now, to consider such an upswing even remotely possible.
But, unless this club is simply terrible – much worse than any of us figured heading into the season – then something is holding it back. It’s too easy to condemn goaltending as the lone factor in such a dismal first couple of weeks, though it is obviously a leading cause. If you’re watching the games with even passing interest, it’s clear that a team-wide malady has set in.
My early-season theory is two-fold: I think there was far too much “talk” in the summer, particularly from the general manager. Burke spoke flippantly, at times, about making the playoffs, given the astronomical improvement required to crawl out of a 12-point deficit in the span of one season. That has led directly to the second part. Though I felt it appropriate for Burke to establish higher goals for the franchise, it seems that the weight of internal expectation is crushing the hockey club in the early going.
Compare what is happening now to the start of last season.
Cliff Fletcher cautioned Leaf fans to expect a continuum of long, brutal nights for the 2008-09 team. Without false pretense, the Leafs bolted to a 5-3-3 record in their first 11 games… obviously a mirage, but a feel-good accomplishment nonetheless. With Burke establishing the playoffs as a minimum requirement for the current season, collars are tightening by the minute – both on the ice and behind the bench. You can tell that Ron Wilson is feeling the heat, and with good reason.
After the proverbial honeymoon last year, the veteran Leafs’ coach is now expected to garner improved results from his players. Five games into the 2009-10 campaign, they have either tuned him out, or are simply not capable of following instruction. If you’re a fan of the Leafs, neither option is particularly appealing. After the five-goal thumping at Madison Square Garden, Wilson abruptly ended his post-game media session – halting a query by stating “I’m done!” before stomping away. Though it’s understandable why he might be upset, such an escape doesn’t reflect well on a man that routinely baits those who cover his team. If you’re going to dish it out on a regular basis, you’ve got to swallow a dose of your own medicine now and then.
These emotional displays will increase, in severity and frequency, if the Leafs continue to stagger. Wilson and Burke may come across as inseparable old college pals, but their egos are likely too expansive to co-exist for very long in an atmosphere of underachievement. Ultimately, they’ll get on each other’s nerves, and their friendship will suffer. If there’s to be a survivor, don’t bet your wad on the coach.
The most ominous result of this poor opening to the season, however, pertains to Burke’s acquisition of Phil Kessel from Boston. Whatever hope the Leafs have of moving upward in the foreseeable future will crumble beyond repair if the GM panics at the notion of having granted the Bruins a high lottery pick. Fallout could include rushing young players into the NHL, and trading prospects for quick-fix veterans. We’ve seen it before here in Toronto, so we’ll instantly be able to recognize such alarm.
In the meantime, the Leafs have to win a game… ANY game. It’s almost sad for the club to resort to its third-string goalie so early in the season, but Joey MacDonald will probably start against Colorado at the Air Canada Centre.
Somehow, it’s not difficult to imagine ol’ pal Darcy Tucker ending the game in overtime, or a shootout. In fact, it seems like a logical script.
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