Mark Spector goes toe-to-toe with Leafs Nation in this week's mailbag..
When you ask readers, in that little box below the column, to send in their questions, you know that questions are not all you're going to get.
Like our new friend Randy, who is sour that his Toronto Maple Leafs do not appear - as promised by its crack management team - to be playoff-bound. Not as of yet, anyhow.
"There is a good reason that (Brian) Burke is a General Manager and (Ron) Wilson is a Head Coach, and you're writing useless critiquing articles," Randy points out as his "question" to Spec.
But of course, not every reader is a Randy.
There are still some readers out there who don't eat cereal with a fork. Anam, for instance, may be the most astute, perceptive man on the internet:
"VERY well written column. Excellent points with substance and facts," points out our contributor, absolutely sopping in good judgment. "It's a real treat to read your columns - unlike your colleague Brophy."
Ouch!
Now, to the rest of this week's mail bag:
Let us start out West, where a rare but deserved positive column on the maturation of Edmonton's Dustin Penner had Oilers fans feeling mighty good about their team. In fact, the self-worth of Senators and Oilers fans this young season seems to run directly proportionate to the suicidal tendencies in Toronto.
"Nice Mr. Spector ... a positive column on the Oilers," writes Doug. "The thing that excites me as an Oiler fan is they are finding ways to win while still adjusting to a new coach. I think this team has a chance to be really good this year while continuing to fly under the radar."
We'll agree with the first part of Doug's statement, and reserve judgment on the second.
After three years of mostly losing, Edmonton has to learn how to win again. Ales Hemsky has no clue how to make the best of a chance at an empty-net goal, nor apparently, the importance of bearing down and scoring one. Extrapolate that over an entire team, and you get a nervous group that has folded like a tent in the waning seconds of a few potential wins this season.
The good news is, as the Oilers learn some resolve, they're picking up points. But remember - they went 4-0 out of the gate last season, and it didn't last. We think there is a better chance this fall, but like we said, we're reserving judgment for a while.
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The rest of the mail bag comes in with a return address of: Leafs Nation, Edge of Cliff, Ontario, TML-D0H(!)
"Burke is a bit of a hypocrite because he keeps saying (he will) rid this team of 'entitlement,' but (Tyler) Bozak and (Nazim) Kadri did well in pre-season but did not make the team, while others did make the team who should not be there," Ray points out. "The Leafs are not tougher, nor more difficult to play against. And the acquisition of (Mike) Komisarek and (Francois) Beauchemin was a waste of (money)."
First off, Ray, prospects like Bozak and Kadri should be kept as far as possible away from the pressure cooker in Toronto. I would even consider moving the Marlies to Flin Flon.
You want a text book, sure-fire example of how to back up the progress of a young prospect? Put him on a bad team, under intense media and fan pressure, in a desperate dressing room that will begin very shortly to erode if the Leafs continue to play as poorly as they have so far.
We still believe Jonas Gustavsson should get a chance to prove he can dominate in the AHL before playing in Toronto. But now, he's coming off of injuries to play in "must-wins" every night in Toronto. He hasn't won an NHL game yet, and he is being put in the position of 'saviour' to a team that likely can't be saved this season.
Not smart.
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"Where is Gary Roberts when you need him?" asks Beeker98.
Meanwhile, Scott K wants to see Brendan Shanahan in a Leafs uniform.
So, when we criticize Burk about abandoning the rebuilding project by sending high draft picks to Boston for Phil Kessel, or setting the bar unreachably high for his team this season, we know there is a certain percentage of Leafs fans who are also stuck in Toronto's rather forgettable past.
Old players who eat up cap room and take shifts away from younger, up-and-coming players, are part of the reason why the Leafs are in this mess. If Burke brings in Brendan Shanahan, or gives up youth for J.S. Giguere, well, they might as well fire him and bring back Floyd Smith as GM.
"This pathetic organization is the precise reason why Southern Ontario absolutely requires another NHL team," says one fan.
Then there is Rich: "I Will cry if Boston gets to pick at No. 1."
Send us your address. We'll mail out a box of tissues.
