Rigamarole - A Foot In The Crease - Episode 4.29

www.afootinthecrease.com

We’ve talked about it constantly on the program over the past year – how important it is for the Maple Leafs this season not to tank and bottom out in hopes of attaining the first overall draft choice in the 2009 Entry Draft, but rather alter the losing culture that has long been associated with the team.

The hiring of proven and respected Head Coach Ron Wilson last summer was the first step in that process and now toward the end of a season in which the Maple Leafs will again miss the playoffs, it is how a very talent thin roster competed hard almost night in and night out, keeping themselves in the playoff race until the seventy sixth game of the season and leaving some suggesting Wilson deserves “Coach of the Year” honours that is most impressive.

Secondly, the restructuring of the front office led by President and General Manager Brian Burke has gone a long way in providing direction and stability within the organization and has shed the notion that losing and mediocrity is permitted. After officially being eliminated from playoff contention on Tuesday night, Burke said that failure felt like a “kick in the groin” and that he took it “personally and professionally” – a strong words from a GM who had very little opportunity to improve the hand he was dealt when he arrived in Toronto in late November.

Already that stability has begun to pay off with the Leafs being able to lure two of the top college free agents, Christian Hanson and Tyler Bozak, into the fold. When it’s clear who the head coach will be, clear who the general manager will be and clear that losing is not tolerated; it’s amazing how easy it can be to attract players. Just ask yourself this: if you were a player looking for a team would you want to play under Wilson and Burke in Toronto or under maybe Cory Clouston but maybe not and oh, are we really sure Bryan Murray is going to keep his job in Ottawa. Not a difficult question eh? But hey, all that was just rigamarole.