Toronto-If you believe in the absurd 2012 phenomenon, watching another Toronto Maple Leafs game for a purpose aside from comedy would be fatuous. The club is in a position of insignificance. Sitting four points out of the league cellar (Carolina and Edmonton each have two games in hand), the Blue and White is set to be a laughing stock for years to come.

The probability of this season’s first round draft choice-which the Leafs dealt as part of the Phil Kessel transaction-being a top pick is high. Apathy is omnipresent.

Many observers have been quick to call for the dismissal of head coach Ron Wilson. After all, Toronto’s 2009-10 penalty killing has been historically atrocious. On the whole, special teams have been disastrous. And, the defense has been poor. While the foregoing dilemmas are often attributed to poor coaching, firing Wilson and his assistants would be meaningless. Put simply, the nucleus must be obliterated. But, considerable amelioration is unforeseeable. The impulsive general manager has succeeded in worsening the mess that John Ferguson Jr. and Cliff Fletcher created.

Brian Burke completely miscalculated the value of his assets, as indicated by his off-season additions and deletions. This was not a collection of players that was close to being competitive yearly. Though the National Hockey League is mired in parity, striving to squeak into the playoffs season after season is a futile plan.
Mike Komisarek, Francois Beauchemin, Colton Orr, and a talented, yet streaky, sniper were not the answer. This organization was in desperate need of a first overall draft selection, the yield of a terrible campaign and not surrendering picks.

Now, Burke must attempt to dig himself out of this abyss without attractive assets to deal, noteworthy available goaltending, and first round draft choices for the next two years. Apparently, none of this matters, as the GM proclaimed when asked about his method. “I don’t give a rat’s ass what they do in Pittsburgh or Detroit.” Oops!
The “cupboard” is not overflowing.

Proponents of the Buds’ method often point to the exorbitant ticket prices to justify the imprudent “win now” mentality. The bottom line is that the fans will continue to show up and the unhealthy Leafs obsession will survive. Besides, constructing a perennial Stanley Cup threat is better for business than constant mediocrity.

Should Burke continue his string of ill-advised maneuvering this summer, finding a replacement would be a judicious and necessary decision. Though this seems premature, one must recognize that if a GM’s direction is fundamentally flawed, change cannot come too soon.
The coach is not the problem. But, as long as the myopic board remains intact, Wilson may indeed fall on his sword. Brian Burke is here for the long haul. After all, according to MLSE, there was only one general manager worth considering.

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