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Blue And White Beat: Carlyle era in Toronto begins

(Makes debut tonight in Montreal vs. Habs)

The result wasn’t as surprising as perhaps the timing.

On Friday night, Toronto president and general manager Brian Burke fired his long-time friend Ron Wilson as head coach of the Maple Leafs.

“It became obvious to me in the last week that we needed to make a coaching change if we wanted to salvage the season,” said Burke addressing the media on Saturday morning at Bell Centre prior to the team’s game against the Montreal Canadiens. At the same news conference, Randy Carlyle was introduced as the 28th coach in the Leafs’ history.

Burke and Wilson have known each other since 1973 when they were roommates at Providence College in Rhode Island and teammates on the school’s hockey team the Friars. Even as the Leafs current losing streak reached six games with a frustrating defeat in Chicago on Wednesday, there appeared to be little indication that a change behind the bench was imminent. As early as the morning of Wilson’s firing, the Leafs players were put through a high tempo practice under their now former coach’s watchful eye.
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Randy Carlyle named Leafs coach

(Coached Anaheim – with Burke as GM – to ’07 Cup)

Randy Carlyle has been named coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, replacing Ron Wilson who was fired Friday.

Carlyle takes over behind the Leafs bench after coaching Anaheim for six seasons. In 2007, Carlyle won the Stanley Cup on a Ducks team managed by current Leafs president and general manager Brian Burke.

In 6 years Carlyle compiled a coaching record of 273-182-61.

Ron Wilson FIRED

(Coach fired in fourth season)

The Maple Leafs have fired Ron Wilson as the team’s head coach, one day before the team takes to the ice against the Montreal Canadiens.

Wilson compiled a record of 130-135-45 in just under four years behind the Leafs bench, but did not ever lead the team into the playoffs. Toronto has been mired in a horrific slump, winning just once in their past 11 games.

UPDATE: Randy Carlyle has been named as Wilson’s replacement. Carlyle won a Stanley Cup in 2007 as coach of the Anaheim Ducks with Brian Burke as general manager.

Leafs Hawk one up, United they fall in Motown

Feb. 29: Leafs 4 vs. Blackhawks 5

(Good start including Bozak goal, late flurry, same result)
Leafs scorers: Bozak (14), Lupul (25), MacArthur (19), Brown (2)
Blackhawks scorers: Shaw (6), Kruger (8), Kane (15), Hossa 2 (26)
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards

Forward lines: Lupul-Bozak-Kessel, Armstrong-Connolly-Frattin, MacArthur-Grabovski-Kulemin, Crabb-Steckel-Brown
Defence pairings: Phaneuf-Gunnarsson, Liles-Franson, Gardiner-Schenn
Goaltenders: Gustavsson (Loss 58:39 minutes played, 30 saves, 4 GA) Reimer (0:00)

Recap:
It appears the Leafs season is circling the drain as the Toronto Maple Leafs lost their sixth straight – and 10th of their last eleven games – to the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center. Whatever the stretch drive was supposed to be, it may have just snapped – some might say – back into reality.

The Leafs rediscovered the secret to their success through most of the season, using their speed to push the opposition back on their heels and get that all-important first goal. Hitting the road appeared to be a relief in the first period as the Leafs seemed to relax the death grip on their sticks and play their game. But in the end, defensive miscues and lack of finish when it counted cost them the game.
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Dreadful start haunts Leafs – again

Feb. 28: Leafs 3 vs. Panthers 5

(Phaneuf: “We’ve got to do a better job starting games”)
Leafs scorers: Kessel (32), Kulemin (7), Lupul (24)
Panthers scorers: Goc (6), Santorelli 2 (8), Garrison (14), Weiss (16)
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards

Forward lines:Lupul-Bozak-Kessel, MacArthur-Grabovski-Frattin, Lombardi-Connolly-Kulemin, Crabb-Steckel-Brown
Defence pairings: Phaneuf-Gunnarsson, Liles-Komisarek, Gardiner-Schenn
Goaltenders: Reimer (Loss 57:45 minutes played, 18 saves, 5 GA), Gustavsson (0:00)

Recap:
There’s a familiar refrain that we’ve all heard at some point from either parents or teachers.

“If you keep doing what you’ve always done, you’re going to keep getting what you’ve always got.”

For the Maple Leafs, whose roster went essentially unchanged following the trade deadline, their game Tuesday against the Florida Panthers eerily mirrored their match-up from three nights ago against Washington. A home game against a SouthEast Division opponent, who is expected to be a competitor in the playoff race.

A horrific start in giving up two early goals. An abnormal lack of urgency from the Leafs in what is deemed to be a crucial game.

And, another loss.

NHL Trade Deadline: Burke adamant in keeping Gardiner

February 27, 2012 in Blogs 0

(“He wasn’t going anywhere” – Brian Burke)

When the clock struck 3pm on Monday, the Toronto Maple Leafs roster that will scramble for a playoff berth in the competitive Eastern Conference remained intact.

Leafs President and General Manager Brian Burke made only two trades, both of them at the minor league level. Keith Aulie was dealt to Tampa Bay in exchange for Carter Ashton, while Dale Mitchell was moved to Anaheim for Mark Fraser.

While there is some slight grumbling among Toronto fans that Burke was unable to land a goaltender in wake of the club’s recent slump, at least one opinion is almost unanimously shared.

The best move that Burke made was one of restraint in not trading defenceman Jake Gardiner, who has the making of becoming a star on the team’s blueline.