WHAT A GREAT RIDE IT WAS!
Well, Leaf fans, we do not have much to complain about. How
brutal the predictions were has been discussed time and time
again. Our expectations were low and, wow, were we surprised.
The Leafs have done good. The focus on that, however, will not
last long. With success comes higher expectations. Next season,
the fans and media will hope to see improvement. If the team
falters there will be lots of finger pointing and people will
have an answer.
This off-season, like so many in the past, promises to be filled
with turmoil as the powers that be try to decide what to do.
There is this on-going power struggle with Mr. Dryden and Mr.
Smith. It is very unlikely that both will remain - it says here
that Smith is gone and, to be frank, good riddance. I am
not going to argue that everything, well almost everything, he
touched turned to gold this season - it nearly did. However, he
certainly is not a team player. Why during the first round of
the playoffs would he feel so compelled to tell the Philadelphia
Inquirer, that he would only return as the Leaf GM, that he had
not been offered that post and not sure what he would do if he
was offered it. How hard would it have been to say "no
comment"? Or "I will address this after the season is over"?
I for one am not impressed with his "me before the team"
attitude. What he should be saying is that "I came here to get
this team to the top and until we are there my job is not done."
He has yet to say that. If, and when he does leave - don't
believe all the hoop-lah that all is lost - it is not. True he
held many of the discussions - but take the Leaf system for what
it is - a group of well educated men who collectively made
decisions. Dryden, Quinn and Smith along with the scouts and
specifically Anders Hedberg made most of the decisions as a team.
No decision was made independently, all were made together. As
such, I would say adieu to Mr. Smith. For a long time we have
heard what a great mind Hedberg has and what a great GM he will
make. It says here that Hedberg should be given more control on
paper - associate GM sounds good to me. Allow Quinn to assume
more say without any change to his title as Head Coach. Allow
Watters, Dryden and Quinn to aide Hedberg in to becoming what
they have touted for so long the GM of the future.
|
Curtis Joseph
by Meredith Martini
|
MVP: Curtis Joseph provided the team with the superstar
goaltending needed to lift the team to the next level.
SURPRISE: Sergei Berezin broke through with 37 goals. And
Steve Thomas' 28 goals and 73 points were more than expected from
the aging veteran.
DISAPPOINTMENT: Fredrik Modin had only 16 goals and 31
points in 67 games despite seeing some time on the top line with
Mats Sundin.
OFF-SEASON CHANGES: The Leafs need to get bigger up front
and get a steady defensive defenseman. Sylvain Lefebvre is
available.
