Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Expecting the Extension by Xmas

November 29, 2011, 11:31 AM ET [ Comments]
Mike Augello
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Thanksgiving holiday weekend has usually been the line of demarcation for NHL managers to take an objective glance at their respective clubs and make a decision of whether changes need to be made. The weekend told Washington GM George McPhee and Carolina boss Jim Rutherford that it was time for a change, which resulted in the dismissals of Bruce Boudreau and Paul Maurice.

Other clubs could be readying themselves to swing the executioner’s axe, with Ducks coach Randy Carlyle, Calgary’s Brent Sutter and perhaps Scott Arniel of the Blue Jackets the most likely victims. These teams could opt to make a trade to shake things up, but the status of most team’s salary caps makes swapping players a difficult proposition.

One coach who appears to not have to worry about a William Wallace-like demise is Toronto coach Ron Wilson, who has piloted his team to a 7-5-1 record in November(traditionally a bad month for the Leafs), without starting goalie James Reimer and a number of key players available to him, following up on a successful 7-3-1 record in October.

With three consecutive road wins in Tampa, Dallas and Anaheim, Toronto is now 14-8-2, in first place in the Northeast Division and second overall in the Eastern Conference and will face one of the hottest clubs in the league; the Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins in a home-and-home series starting Wednesday night at the ACC.

GM Brian Burke stated before the season that he would be amenable to discussing signing his old friend Wilson to a contract extension during the season but that would be based on how the team was playing. In his fourth season, it is clear that for all of his sarcasm and bluster with the media, Wilson has not lost the room and his players play for him. Even the special teams, which have long been the bane of his existence in Toronto are improved.

If the positive direction and success of the team continues through the third month ending in the letter ‘R’, you can expect that one of the things the Wilson family will find under their Christmas tree is a multi-year contract extension.

Does the prospect of Wilson being here for another three or four years give you pause or are you encouraged by the team’s progress?

Follow me on Twitter: @mikeinbuffalo

KINDLE USERS: Please sign up for Maple Leafs Buzz, which includes a free-of-charge 14-day trial and is just 99 cents per month afterwards. For more information click here.
Join the Discussion: » Comments » Post New Comment
More from Mike Augello
» Matthews Game-Time Decision; 2023 Draftees Update; Leafs vs. Capitals
» Leafs Frustrated And Immature In Loss To Devils
» Practicing Load Management Down The Stretch; Leafs vs. Devils
» Woll Wonderful In Loss To Canes; Keefe Downplaying Samsonov Injury
» Podcast Sunday – Off The Post Radio