DETROIT (June 2) -- Ron Wilson will be named the 27th head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs sometime later this week, but his connection to the team dates more than 30 years. Here is a passage I wrote in this space almost three months ago:
TRUE STORY: The Leafs and Vancouver Canucks faced off at Maple Leaf Gardens in a Saturday game 30 years ago tonight (Mar. 4, 1978). In the Toronto line-up was rookie defenceman Ron Wilson, making his NHL debut. The same Ron Wilson that recently became the winningest coach in San Jose Sharks' history. At 8:12 of the second period -- roughly 20 seconds after he stepped onto the ice for the first time -- Wilson set up Darryl Sittler for a goal that tied the game, 1-1. Exactly seven minutes later, on his second shift, Wilson took passes from Sittler and Ian Turnbull to beat netminder Curt Ridley and score his first goal in the NHL. Ridley would play a few games for the Leafs a couple of seasons later.
Wilson went on to play 177 NHL games with the Leafs and Minnesota North Stars, scoring 26 goals and adding 67 assists.
As occasionally happens in pro sports, life will come full circle for Wilson when GM Cliff Fletcher makes the coaching announcement official. But, Wilson might have to grow a layer or two of skin in order to properly stomach his new position. I was in Atlanta at the NHL All-Star Game this past January, and Wilson was coaching the Western Conference team. We were chatting for a story I wrote in the National Post, and the subject got around to the demands of the Toronto hockey market. Wilson -- obviously having to inkling he would be fired in San Jose and wind up with the Leafs -- was rather blunt about his soon-to-be situation:
"I've talked to a few of our players -- names I won't mention -- and have said, 'Hey, if you want attention, it would be something to play in Toronto,' " said Wilson, who broke into the NHL as a defenceman with the Leafs in 1978. "They tell me, 'No chance -- there's no way I'll ever go up there and be put through that.' Unless you knew you could absolutely win the whole thing, it's awful tough to survive in that atmosphere."
Working in a lukewarm hockey market in northern California, Wilson admits there are days he would appreciate more attention, but he understands how hard it must be for Leafs coach Paul Maurice to handle his daily responsibilities.
"My P.R. people show me everything and highlight it if [a newspaper] says I'm getting fired," Wilson said. "But, guys like Paul Maurice and Mike Babcock -- in bigger markets -- need things sanitized so they never have to read they're an idiot. It's hard to see that stuff about yourself."
Wilson will obviously hope to avoid any such reference as coach of the Blue & White. His hiring is one more domino in the series of events that will ultimately land Brian Burke in Toronto. Though GMs usually demand to hire their own coaches, the Leafs understand that Burke may not be free of his obligations in Anaheim until his contract expires next summer. And, Fletcher must feel that Burke will have no qualms with Wilson being on board. The two men are long-time friends and former associates, dating to their days together at Providence College.
A Burke-Wilson duo would provide the Leafs' fans and media with two of the sharpest minds -- and tongues -- in the business.
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