Wilson fired, Randy Carlyle takes over

[Mack674]

I guess he hasn't given up on the season, although they would have to go something like .770 win pctg to make the playoffs now.

That just blows my mind. If the Leafs had gone 4-5-1 over the last ten, which is still bad, they'd be in excellent position to make the playoffs. The only thing they couldn't do was completely fall apart.

I think some commentators on Leafs TV or maybe CBC even said after that Edmonton win that the drought would finally end, and it would take a monumental collapse for them to miss the playoffs this year.

Like lose 10 in a row for example. Is that monumental enough? No, losing in overtime does not count as "not a loss" so lost 6 in a row is not true. They didnt "win" any games, so if you didn't win that must mean that you've... lost?
Its 10. TEN. TEN GAMES. DOUBLE, DIGITS.

Burke should be held accountable for some of this sure, but damn, when is the criticizing of Dion going to come in? Real good leadership there bro, couldn't inspire your team to bother playing like they give a damn for over 2 weeks. Really, I applaud you. Well done.

They got two points in Edmonton. That's a win. It's 6 in a row. Your point is well made, but inaccurate.

Really? I guess you're right. Perhaps the last couple of weeks have seemed alot longer but I was sure that was much longer ago than it was. Okay so either way, 3 points out of 22. Lost 10 of 11.

I'm still having touble coming to terms with how much of a mammoth collapse that is at such a crucial point in the season. Had this happened in October or November is one thing but to happen now is just.. infuriating.

 

[cw]

Wilson departs with about the same record after 64 games as he compiled last year ... and close enough to the year before .. and close to the year before that ...

I suspect they realize what the unlikely math is on making the playoffs (roughly 11% chance).

Aside from trying to win that lottery, which as others have pointed out, is usually really tough for a coach to turn the team around on a dime, Carlyle will get to review these guys in action to help Burke make the necessary changes and prepare for next year.

I would have preferred a players coach but Carlyle will give some of the softies on this roster a good deserving boot in the arse.

I suppose we'll get to find out who wants to play in Toronto and who is just along for the ride.

Some guys are going to get a plane ticket out of here for this - whether they want to be here or not.  Wilson may have fallen short but so have the players. They're obviously not good enough.

 

[Frank E]

So glad he's gone. Burke looks like a fool for giving him that extension.  As awful as his special teams and team D were, not everything can be laid at his feet. There are quite a few players who should be a little red-faced right about now.

No more excuses for Burke now either. The roster has been turned over and he brought in his own coaching hire. No playoffs next season and Burke should be gone as well.

Hey MFer...what's up?

 

[L K]

I would have liked to see Eakins get the shot, but I'm not going to complain.  Carlyle can be a tough coach, but I think this team needs a bit of a kick in the pants.

I might suggest a change in the name of the thread.

 

[LittleHockeyFan]

moderator note:

Please be respectful of eachother. I don't want to dissuade any conversation about Wilson's tenure here, but I'd rather you all concentrated your energies on that and not on sniping at eachother please.

 

[lamajama]

I hope Lupul will be OK and Phil can handle Carlyle's intensity.

Burke is now really on the clock.

 

[cw]

Wilson departs with about the same record after 64 games as he compiled last year ... and close enough to the year before .. and close to the year before that ...

I suspect they realize what the unlikely math is on making the playoffs (roughly 11% chance).

Aside from trying to win that lottery, which as others have pointed out, is usually really tough for a coach to turn the team around on a dime, Carlyle will get to review these guys in action to help Burke make the necessary changes and prepare for next year.

I would have preferred a players coach but Carlyle will give some of the softies on this roster a good deserving boot in the arse.

I suppose we'll get to find out who wants to play in Toronto and who is just along for the ride.

If this had happened 4, 3 or even 2 games ago they would still have had a reasonable chance at turning it around. After that Florida loss though....

I would have preferred a little fire sale at the deadline. Even if Carlyle beats the odds and made the playoffs, they're not good enough to win anything. I'd rather they get their roster stronger by getting something for guys that aren't going to be around for a parade down the road anyway.

 

[Mack674]

Wilson departs with about the same record after 64 games as he compiled last year ... and close enough to the year before .. and close to the year before that ...

I suspect they realize what the unlikely math is on making the playoffs (roughly 11% chance).

Aside from trying to win that lottery, which as others have pointed out, is usually really tough for a coach to turn the team around on a dime, Carlyle will get to review these guys in action to help Burke make the necessary changes and prepare for next year.

I would have preferred a players coach but Carlyle will give some of the softies on this roster a good deserving boot in the arse.

I suppose we'll get to find out who wants to play in Toronto and who is just along for the ride.

Some guys are going to get a plane ticket out of here for this - whether they want to be here or not.  Wilson may have fallen short but so have the players. They're obviously not good enough.

At LEAST this will really help drive home who needs to go and who deserves to stay now that the cloud of "Wilson the Terrible Coach" excuse has passed.

I don't know how I'd feel if the team made some miraculous turnaround and won 7 in a row or something. Just be even more angry they were capable of playing well this whole time but it took this long to ditch Wilson.

I guess I am going to watch Saturdays game after all.

 

[Frank E]

I hope Carlyle gets out his Canadian passport at his introduction PC.

 

[Redleaf]

Great, hopefully half our roster joins Wilson wherever he goes next year, starting with Phaneuf.  What an albatross that contract is.

Time to change up your handle now. Maybe something less macabre?

 

[Highlander]

He gave Wilson the contract as a going away present to an old friend. Wilson inherited a shit team and tried hard. I like Ron but I think they have to run with Eakins. Probably Leafs current assistant coach (forget his name) will take over for the interim but Dallas will run the squad next year for sure.

 

[LittleHockeyFan]

I think I'm gonna like this. I loved Randy Carlyle as a Leaf (waaaaay back then. Somewhere in the basement, I have a photo I took of Randy Carlyle and Pat Boutette at the airport, coming back to Toronto after beating the crap outta the Penguins one night, circa 1977)

 

[Berard34]

Can someone explain to me how Carlyle's contract would work?  Do the Leafs negotiate a new contract?  Does that relieve the Ducks of having to continue paying him or can he double dip?

 

[Frank E]

He gave Wilson the contract as a going away present to an old friend. Wilson inherited a crap team and tried hard. I like Ron but I think they have to run with Eakins. Probably Leafs current assistant coach (forget his name) will take over for the interim but Dallas will run the squad next year for sure.

Check your twitter feed.

 

[ZBBM]

Wilson departs with about the same record after 64 games as he compiled last year ... and close enough to the year before .. and close to the year before that ...

I suspect they realize what the unlikely math is on making the playoffs (roughly 11% chance).

Aside from trying to win that lottery, which as others have pointed out, is usually really tough for a coach to turn the team around on a dime, Carlyle will get to review these guys in action to help Burke make the necessary changes and prepare for next year.

I would have preferred a players coach but Carlyle will give some of the softies on this roster a good deserving boot in the arse.

I suppose we'll get to find out who wants to play in Toronto and who is just along for the ride.

Some guys are going to get a plane ticket out of here for this - whether they want to be here or not.  Wilson may have fallen short but so have the players. They're obviously not good enough.

You are right, and as much as I disliked Wilson other heads will roll.

It will be interesting to see how Carlyle handles Phaneuf.  Who knows, maybe he can get him to keep his game very very very simple.  And cut waaay back on his minutes to minimize exposure to the elements.

 

[Mack674]

CW, id actually contend that if they somehow did make the playoffs they would actually be fairly dangerous. They would have to win at a pretty incredible clip to make it now and would be very hot going into the post season.

It should be pretty clear that this team is really made of come April.

Something to think about anyway.

 

[BermudaBudsFan]

They will regret not hiring Eakins.

 

[cw]

CW, id actually contend that if they somehow did make the playoffs they would actually be fairly dangerous. They would have to win at a pretty incredible clip to make it now and would be very hot going into the post season.

It should be pretty clear that this team is really made of come April.

Something to think about anyway.

I think they'd run out of gas. Their playoff run effectively began a few games back.

The parity in this league is so great, they'd have to get pretty lucky on top of intense effort to win at a .700+ clip (what they need to do to qualify) as their pts win% for the last 54 games is about .500.

 

[ZBBM]

From the team website:

Carlyle Replaces Wilson As Leafs Head Coach
Friday, 02.03.2012 / 9:19 PM / News
Toronto Maple Leafs
Brian Burke, President and General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced Friday evening that head coach Ron Wilson has been relieved of his duties. Replacing Wilson as the 28th head coach in Toronto Maple Leafs history is Randy Carlyle. Assistant Coach Rob Zettler has been reassigned to other duties in the organization.

Hired by the Maple Leafs on June 10, 2008, Wilson compiled a record of 130 wins, 135 losses, and 45 overtime/shootout losses in 310 games behind the Maple Leafs? bench.

?This was not an easy decision for me to make,? said General Manager Brian Burke. ?I want to thank Ron for all of his hard work and dedication to our organization over the past four seasons.?

Randy Carlyle, 55, spent seven seasons as the Anaheim Ducks? head coach. He was named the seventh head coach in team history on Aug. 1, 2005, and led the Ducks to their first Stanley Cup championship (2007), Pacific Division championship (2007) and five playoff appearances (2005-09, 2011). Only one NHL coach has won more postseason games than Carlyle?s 36 since 2005-06 (Mike Babcock).

Carlyle had the most wins and highest winning percentage in Ducks? history, compiling a 273-182-61 record in 516 regular season contests (.588 winning percentage). Carlyle?s teams earned at least 98 points in four of his six Anaheim head coaching seasons prior to 2011-12.

In the most successful season in Ducks? history, and with Brian Burke at the helm, Carlyle guided the Ducks to their first-ever Stanley Cup championship in 2007. The Sudbury, Ontario native also led Anaheim to its first Pacific Division championship in 2006-07, compiling a regular season record of 48-20-14 for 110 points that season.

Carlyle becomes the 16th individual to have both played for the Maple Leafs and then taken on the reins as the team?s coach. The former James Norris Trophy winner with the Pittsburgh Penguins played 94 games on the blueline for the Blue and White from 1976 to 1978 and had two goals and 16 assists.

 

[azzurri63]

Next best thing to us hopefully making the playoffs. Glad we don't have to listen to his crap after every game. Some say little too late. I say about a year too late or even longer than that. Also heard yesterday on a Vancouver radio station about his extension which as far as I'm concerned was a joke. What I heard was that it was 2 year extension. If that's the case Burke should've gone with him. Said it last week the one year was just padding his buddies pockets. Anyone else hear or find anything on the extension. Doesn't really matter now but would be nice to know.