In the interim

I know it's been a while since my last post. I'm currently in the middle of a review of the Canadian education system, which was inspired by a conversation I had with a friend a few weeks back. However, finishing said post has become a difficult task. Every time I've tried, I didn't like the conclusions that I was coming to, and so started over. Over the past few weeks, it's been a topic that has been a bit of a struggle to finish, as I've come to some interesting conclusions about our system.

Since that post is a work in process, I thought I'd just post a little something in the interim. I've had a few interesting thoughts flying through my head, some of note, others not so much so. I think the more significant ones are deserving of their own topic, and so will post them at a later time. In the meantime, it's the start of a new hockey season. A time when hockey fans and pundits alike can come together and celebrate the start of a new cycle.

So what are the soothsayers saying this year? Many of you don't really care, but since I'm such a great fan of the game, I'm going to discuss it anyway. I had originally intended to breakdown each of the six Canadian teams, but I've decided after a time that it would be of little value. Hockey fans all have their own ideas, and changing their minds can be an arduous task indeed. Instead, I've decided to pick at the major points, and perhaps make some predictions, so that when they actually come true, I can say, "I told you so."

Of course, we can't discuss hockey without discussing the two largest markets in Canada; Toronto and Montreal. Of course, Leafs and Habs fans are loathe to say anything negative about their teams, and if ever asked the question, "How do you think they'll do this year", will unerringly respond with the same response they give every year: "We're goin' all the way, baby!" Of course, for Leafs and Habs fans, that statement has become increasingly less zealous, and increasingly more unsure. And perhaps for good reason. The Leafs have missed the post-season the last two years, and the Habs have missed the post-season last year, and were removed rather unceremoniously the previous two before that. Who could forget Alexei Kovalev's "broken hand", allowing the Boston player (I believe it was Brad Boyes) to walk in unmolested to score the series clinching goal.

So what is it about Toronto and Montreal that have made them so unsuccessful the last few years, and will that trend continue this year? The simple answer to those questions is "shit management" and "yes". While John Ferguson Jr. has made minor improvements over the cesspool that Pat Quinn left behind, the improvements made by Leaf management overall have been marginal at best. While the removal of Robert Reichel and Michal Renberg was one of the best moves they could have made, their refusal to address their immediate problems (or future problems) have been concerning. Additions of mediocre players whilst trading away future prospects has been the downfall of Leaf nation, and we continue to watch as the house they have built on sand continues to crumble.

To perhaps be more positive about their future, the Leafs have, after about 5 years after the departure of Alexander Mogilny, finally decided to give Mats Sundin a winger who can score in Jason Blake. Is he the panacea for their team? Certainly not. While he may prove to be a valuable addition to the top line, and a fine compliment to Sundin, a cursory glance at the Leaf depth chart will immediately tell you what side of the playoff berth they will land. Teams lacking even a set of top six forwards and top four defenceman rarely make it into the playoffs, and while Raycroft and Toskala are both highly skilled goaltenders, the jury is still out on their long-term consistency.

And while they lack depth past their top line, their situation on defence may be even more dire. While scoring from the blueline is always important, a defenceman is, after all is said and done, a defenceman. Bryan "the pylon" McCabe, while able to put up impressive numbers, lacks anything resembling defensive awareness, and his long time partner, Tomas Kaberle, while slightly better, is still less than defensively sound. Their largest defenceman, Hall Gill, is slow and ineffective in containing faster skaters, regardless of size, which leaves the bulk of the defensive consistency on 3rd pairing defenceman Ian White, which is needless to say, not good.

While the Leafs have an outside chance of making the playoffs (and when I say outside, I mean "out the door, down the street, around the corner, and over the bridge"), not only are their short-term prospects suspect, but their is a rather dark shadow lying over their long-term future as well. Being in a division with the Buffalo Sabres and the Ottawa Senators, teams who have both taken steps to secure their future, only makes things that much more difficult. Unless Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment decide to hire someone who actually knows something about hockey, and decide to make a major change in the team's philosophy, capturing a Stanley Cup for the Leafs will be much akin to trying to climb a greased slope with a pitch of about 60 degrees on bare hands and knees.

Tune in next time for... The Montreal Canadiens: Dynasty or Disaster? Dun dun duuunnnnnnn.....

Burnsy.... out.