Double OT: Toronto, L.A. must face facts
It's in the best interest of the team if the Leafs put winning games on the back burner, but try telling that to coach Paul Maurice, who could be shown the door if his team doesn't produce.
Mike Brophy
2008-01-30 12:52:57
So here’s the thing, if you are the Los Angeles Kings or the Toronto Maple Leafs, it is probably in your best interest – speaking big picture, that is – to lose the remainder of your games.
It would be better for both teams – and probably Florida, Tampa Bay and Buffalo, too – if they just gave up on this year and did everything in their power to get the top pick in the 2008 Entry Draft; in all likelihood Steven Stamkos.
The problem is: How do you tell 20 players, who are essentially auditioning for next year, as well as a coaching staff whose career might possibly hang in the balance with every victory or defeat, that you want to tank the year? Much easier said than done.
In the case of the Kings, who haven’t been in the playoffs the past four seasons, you could make a strong case they already have a solid base of quality youth that could benefit greatly from the experience of playing in this year’s NHL post-season.
The Kings have done a very nice job cultivating young players who will serve the organization well moving forward; the likes of Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, Patrick O’Sullivan and Jack Johnson among them.
Still, you’d have to think the notion of adding a Stamkos to the mix would be very delectable, especially when you look at organizations like Chicago and Edmonton that are moving forward with young guns like Patrick Kane/Jonathan Toews and Andrew Cogliano /Sam Gagner, respectively.
Toronto’s case is similar, in terms of needing quality young talent. But making the playoffs this season will do the team’s current younger members little to no good whatsoever; at least not at the expense of adding young frontline talent.
And even though Cliff Fletcher has been brought back to town with a mandate to rid the team of older players with big contracts as a committee searches for John Ferguson’s full-time replacement as GM, it would be pretty hard to go to current Leafs coach Paul Maurice and convince him it would be in his best interest if the team loses every game from here on in.
There have already been rumblings that a new GM, presumably one with a lot of clout and a Stanley Cup pedigree, will want his own man behind the bench.
For Maurice and his staff to survive the change in management, it would help their cause to win as many games in the 2007-08 season as they can.
In recent years we have seen teams sneak into the playoffs and then go on a long spring run, but in the end, it is always the favorite that wins in the final.
So though it may be tempting for a team in a rebuilding mode to take a run at it, it probably makes sense for those teams to keep angling toward to the future.
Regardless, it is hard to imagine players and coaches whose future is on the line giving anything less than their utmost for the remainder of this year.
Mike Brophy's Double OT appears regularly on The Hockey News.com.
One of THN’s senior writers, Mike Brophy gives you insight and opinion on the world of hockey like no one else. Subscribe to The Hockey News to get Mike's expertise delivered to you every issue.
Brian Kemp (Posted 2008-02-15 10:48:18)
Everything I said about the Kings goes for Toronto as well (except the part about being on the way up). I don't think they should try to lose games, but reather avoid trying to just sqeak intot he playoffs so they can squeeze a few more dollars from their fan base. They should avoid bringing in anything but prosects and/or picks. The losing will come naturally, and maybe the Leafs can finally get out of this fighting for a playoff spot/miss the playoffs/lose early vicious circle they are in and become a true contender, and not just a place where Ontario born kids can live out their dream of wearing the Leafs jersey, while not really accomplishing much of anything.
Brian Kemp (Posted 2008-02-15 10:41:49)
Sorry, Mr. Smith. The Kings might be on the way up, but their problem isn't the schedule. Even with the extra 8 to 16 games against non-division foes, they are going to play teams that aren't pushovers with more than half of those games. Also, I hate to say this, but the east teams they beat, as well as the ones they lost to, aren't exactly the easts finest. For the record, I do think the Kings are on the way up, but they have a ways to go before they are contenders. They (the organization) should try to steer clear of false hopes and expactations, and avoid making any trades that would hurt their long term future by winning a few meaningless games.
Gordie Graham (Posted 2008-02-05 18:45:07)
Tanking ain't hockey...This guy being so close to the game should realize this. But maybe that's just it...He's a writer, a hack who doesn't truely understand the soul of the game. As a suffering Toronto fan I would rather have my club go down swinging and lose out on the top draft pick than have my team tank...Toronto might suck, but as long as it's not on purpose I can live with that...Go Leafs!
Magnificent (Posted 2008-02-02 22:01:45)
Why compare the two teams, what hurts the Kings is a lack of an experienced goalie and maybe TOO MANY young players playing a similar style. What really has tohappen there is a trade to acquire some veteran laedership. This will help during the tough times.
Darryl Styres (Posted 2008-02-02 14:53:07)
Re: Los Angeles Kings. They are in the last spot in all of the NHL. Their stats suck. They're going nowhere this year. Gord, the scouts may be a part of the problem for the leafs, but the real problem are the decision makers. Experienced hockey professional need to make key hockey decisions. This is crucial, especially with the new salary cap. A market like Toronto deserves experienced high calibre hockey people!
gord procknow (Posted 2008-02-02 14:35:24)
the real blame for the leafs demise lays with the scouts,obviously it was the pro scouts that recommened the Raycroft trade.they should have waited for free agency to get their goalie.also i dont know how the gate equalization works,but am i to understand the leafs help ottawa, buffalo, etc . heres a thought, lower ticket prices to the point at witch there would be no gate eq money to spread around ,where would you rather see money go to , teams that will always need to be propped up ,or the loyal fans of the leaf nation,leaf management must realize this is a war .we need to do as much damage to these other franchises as we can. we need to stand up to the nhl just like the rangers did over marketing , i watch centre ice all the time im sick of listening to how wonderful the small market teams are and how evil the leafs are. every chance the nhl and the other teams can stick it to the leafs and thier fans they do . its time to fight back.
G Smith (Posted 2008-02-01 21:45:11)
The Kings are a very dangerous hockey club that are going to surprise a lot of so called experts out East. Though the playoffs may not be on the horizon this year, it's not because the team isn't playoff calibre, it's because the Pacific Division is very, very deep. If the NHL schedules were fair and balanced, the Kings would be loading up for the playoffs and our fans wouldn't have to hear reports from idiotic blowhards about how they should throw in the towel.
The Kings kicked the crap out of the East last year and they're 3-1-1 this year. Beat the Sabres 8-2!, Leafs 5-2, Isles 3-1 and lost to the Bruins and Flyers in OT.
Darryl Styres (Posted 2008-02-01 10:38:24)
After watching yet another close scoring defeat last night with the Hurricanes, it is clear that the Leafs will be hard pressed to make a playoff spot at all. Recent injuries to key players, a 3 game suspension to Andropov, lacklustre production from overpaid snipers, the list goes on. However, I doubt very much if Toronto will cease playing to win. They have a seeming impossible goal of attempting to win the next 20 or so games out of twenty nine. They have not played well enough all year, and certainly not lately, to be able to win more than 3 games in a row, let alone 22 games out of the next 29.
Stephen Franchetto (Posted 2008-01-31 10:15:12)
I feel bad for Paul Maurice, if he is fired when the new GM comes in, he will have never had a chance to prove himself in Toronto. What he has right now is, to be kind, a less than stellar group of players, which has constricted the mobility that he has had with his lines. It would be in the best interest of the Leafs to lose out the rest of their games- hey I don't see the fans leaving- however, this will not be a reality. In the tight Eastern conference, MLSE still believes that they can contend for a playoff spot, even this late in the season.
Raymond Conway (Posted 2008-01-31 06:06:36)
Why would Maurice have to tell the Leafs to lose all their remaining games, they'll do that anyway!
Go Oilers!
James Harris (Posted 2008-01-31 00:35:26)
You're preaching to the choir as far as Kings fans go, Ken. Check letsgokings.com and you'll see a common refrain: Staammmkkooooosss!!!
Andy (Posted 2008-01-30 23:00:57)
You are correct, in the best interests of both teams to fall in the standings. But it is not necessary to tank, just trade the team's best players for solid young players and lots of draft picks. Therefore the team will "tank" because of youth and inexperience not because the team is not trying.
Dave (Posted 2008-01-30 22:44:40)
First....the Leafs problems stem from only 1 place...the fan base...in any other city in any other sport...when you field a bad team for so long the fans stop going...not so in Toronto...the team continues to make money...you want a better team....STOP GOING TO GAMES....also when the owner is a pension fund...their only interest is in making money...and guess what...if the fans go they keep making money...idiots...the Leafs make more money losing than most teams do winning...so where is the incentive to mess with success...so as a long time Stamkos fan...watching him play since he was 5...I would hate to see him ruined by becoming a Leaf....this kid deserves better...he will lead the league in scoring one day and hopefully it won't be with the Leafs...
Oscar (Posted 2008-01-30 21:23:04)
@Ken
I don't think the players or the coaches are the problem with the Maple Leafs. The problem relies in the Top Office (GMs, VP, and MLSE). First of all the board does not let the GM take full control of hockey operations. I honestly think Ferguson was just a puppet for MLSE. I think MLSE needs to let the GM and the rest of the top office to do their business, to let them decide what's best for the hockey team on the ice. In my opinion Paul Maurice is a very good coach and the ML have a strong team (to an extent, they just need some additions probably at the goalie position and some decent defensemen). Ferguson should have step down about two months ago at least. It's just a shame that this franchise has gone down the drain and still they are the top money maker for the league.
Afrikkka (Posted 2008-01-30 18:44:15)
Yo White boys we have you sport, yourCnadian pink asses are next.
Ken (Posted 2008-01-30 16:33:06)
Something I forgot to add in my little rant. A good General Manager needs to do what's in the best interest of the team. I liked it when I heard Cliff Fletcher say that it was not acceptable to compete for the final playoff spot. I hope he really means it. The players are paid to perform, which they will try to do night in and night out AND they will try to win every game. Whether this has an impact on whether a coaching staff is retained or not is very limited thinking in my view. They're not stupid people. They know what's at stake.
Ken (Posted 2008-01-30 16:19:03)
You know, it is certainly time for the Leafs to bow out of the race to make the final playoff spot in the East. Mediocrity is medocrity and this years version of the Leafs is no better than last years and will continue into the future if they believe that competing for a couple of additional home playoffs games is good enough. It's not. Ottawa sucked for years and now look at them. Mind you, they had the 'excuse' that they were an expansion team that needed several years to build up into a contender. Making the playoffs was a bonus for them. The Leafs, unfortunately, do not have that luxury. Only when they gain the same mindset that rebuilding over a few years will make them a true contender, will we see any change. Keep this in mind, both Tampa Bay and Ottawa entered the league in the same year. TB has won the cup and Ottawa has been to the finals and could very well be on their way back to the finals again this year. High draft picks and playing less than mediocre hockey allows you the opportunity to rebuild with very high draft picks, something which the Leafs are in desperate need of right now.
Leiv (Posted 2008-01-30 13:02:40)
Broph, I've always liked your column, but it's about time you got off the fence and took one side of this issue. The Leafs need to lose every game left, as do the Kings.
It would NOT be in either team's best interests to make the playoffs this year.
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