Sportsnet: Wilson: Leafs need 1-to-2 big-time defencemen

[Bluelines]

Ron Wilson doesn’t think the Toronto Maple Leafs have made the proper commitment to defence.

The former Leafs coach says it’s not related to coaching. He added that Randy Carlyle, who was fired Tuesday, did a great job during his tenure in Toronto and did more to improve the team than he ever did.

Appearing on Brady & Walker Wednesday morning, Wilson said the team’s defensive issues are directly related to a lack of upper-echelon talent.

“The Leafs haven’t been able to establish consistency in their defensive approach to the game,†Wilson said on Sportsnet 590 The Fan. “They have some of the parts. They need one or two big time defencemen to anchor the blue line.â€

Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf wasn’t mentioned by name in the interview.

According to Wilson, the lack of high-end players is a large component of why the team has been so erratic.

A day after calling the Leafs’ core group uncoachable in a local interview, Wilson said the team is too reliant on the production of forward Phil Kessel.

“(Kessel) needs to better insulated with better players around him — who can carry the load,†he said. “When Phil’s not going, the Leafs aren’t going.

“When he gets on a roll, he’s unstoppable. But he has issues with confidence — like anybody else. It might be surprising to hear that. If he misses every a couple of opportunities, he gets down on himself and he can slip away.â€

Entering Wednesday, the Buffalo Sabres are the only team in the Eastern Conference to allow more goals than the Maple Leafs.


http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/wilson-leafs-need-one-or-two-big-time-d-men/

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[Purity*]

Hey Hanta Yo' Ronny, how bout go find a coaching job instead of being a front-seat critic of the team who fired you???

You think it's any big news here that we need a #1D?

 

[theIceWookie]

It fascinates me that people are taking Wilson's word as this plumb line to follow. Despite the fact I probably agree we need a dmen of that ilk, the guy was a complete mess when he coached here (barely an improvement on Carlyle) and he hasn't exactly been involved with the team of it's dressing room for over two years now. Plus the guy doesn't even have a job with an NHL team

 

[Suntouchable13]

What's with this guy suddenly climbing out of his hole? We don't hear from him for almost 3 years, and then he suddenly comes out and throwing bombs. What gives? Strange.

 

[Gary Nylund]

LOL Wilson.

 

[Audi*]

It fascinates me that people are taking Wilson's word as this plumb line to follow. Despite the fact I probably agree we need a dmen of that ilk, the guy was a complete mess when he coached here (barely an improvement on Carlyle) and he hasn't exactly been involved with the team of it's dressing room for over two years now. Plus the guy doesn't even have a job with an NHL team

1) Pretty sure the guy retired

2) Wilson's turd has more validity when it comes to hockey than the amateur hour bs you spew

3) he's right

 

[ACC1224]

What's with this guy suddenly climbing out of his hole? We don't hear from him for almost 3 years, and then he suddenly comes out and throwing bombs. What gives? Strange.

The Media has gone to him for his opinion, perhaps they didn't in the past few years.

 

[Grant]

Is it really a mystery we need defensemen? We have one top pairing defensemen (phaneuf) who is able to make another player look okay on the top pairing (this year it's franson, in the past it's been gunnar, holzer, aulie). And then we have a bunch of guys who are 4/5/6 defensemen with half of those guys being soft.

 

[Hockey Crazy]

What's with this guy suddenly climbing out of his hole? We don't hear from him for almost 3 years, and then he suddenly comes out and throwing bombs. What gives? Strange.

He got some attention yesterday and now I think he wants to get hired onto the CBC panel with Glenn Healy.

The guy had a run and gun Leaf team for two years and now wants to tell us all what's wrong with the Leafs D. Thanks for the Tips Wilson...

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

Isn't Wilson the same guy that said years ago that the leafs were one piece away

maybe defensemen should be forced to keep both hands on their stick

 

[Bluelines]

It fascinates me that people are taking Wilson's word as this plumb line to follow. Despite the fact I probably agree we need a dmen of that ilk, the guy was a complete mess when he coached here (barely an improvement on Carlyle) and he hasn't exactly been involved with the team of it's dressing room for over two years now. Plus the guy doesn't even have a job with an NHL team

I don't think what he said is wrong, if we had 2 guys like Seabrook and Keith plus some front line talent that would insulate Kessel better it would obviously make us a better team.

All though Wilson has been commenting about Kessel and the players on defence, I take Wilsons recent comments as a backhanded way to blame Burke and Nonis for not giving the coaches what they need to win.

He is subtlety planting the seed that the coaches are not the problem, wouldn't be surprised if Ronnie coming out recently, after going into the witness relocation program, is trying to get back into coaching buy throwing the GM's office under the bus.

 

[Guy Boucher]

He's right though. Look at the improvement in Washington and Tampa once they beefed up their blueline.

Our biggest needs are on D and at C, and the need on D is far, far deeper than the need for a C.

 

[htpwn]

Didn't read.

Wilson's opinions are meaningless. He was a terrible coach and all he's proved in the last week is that he also has terrible character.

 

[thewave]

My posts almost mirror Wilson.

I said dump some guys and get 2 top 4D and insulate players like Phil. Same deal very obvious stuff really.

 

[AustonMitchWilly]

Van Reimsdyk pls

 

[Pilky01]

But according to the people here paying Dion Phanuef "big time defenceman" money and playing him "big time defenceman" minutes means that he is a big time defenceman.

 

[Pilky01]

Didn't read.

Wilson's opinions are meaningless. He was a terrible coach and all he's proved in the last week is that he also has terrible character.

He kept quiet for 2 full years and has only spoken up now in order to basically defend his replacement from getting slagged like he did.

 

[silentbob37*]

Then 2-3 Big time players. Getting too focused on position is counter productive.

 

[thewave]

But according to the people here paying Dion Phanuef "big time defenceman" money and playing him "big time defenceman" minutes means that he is a big time defenceman.

It's not all Dion. The forwards have a huge impact on how good your D and G look. Dion is a fine defender but sometimes he doesn't move his feet. During those times he looks horrible.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

Ron Wilson doesn’t think the Toronto Maple Leafs have made the proper commitment to defence.

The former Leafs coach says it’s not related to coaching. He added that Randy Carlyle, who was fired Tuesday, did a great job during his tenure in Toronto and did more to improve the team than he ever did.

Appearing on Brady & Walker Wednesday morning, Wilson said the team’s defensive issues are directly related to a lack of upper-echelon talent.

“The Leafs haven’t been able to establish consistency in their defensive approach to the game,†Wilson said on Sportsnet 590 The Fan. “They have some of the parts. They need one or two big time defencemen to anchor the blue line.â€

Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf wasn’t mentioned by name in the interview.

According to Wilson, the lack of high-end players is a large component of why the team has been so erratic.

A day after calling the Leafs’ core group uncoachable in a local interview, Wilson said the team is too reliant on the production of forward Phil Kessel.

“(Kessel) needs to better insulated with better players around him — who can carry the load,†he said. “When Phil’s not going, the Leafs aren’t going.

“When he gets on a roll, he’s unstoppable. But he has issues with confidence — like anybody else. It might be surprising to hear that. If he misses every a couple of opportunities, he gets down on himself and he can slip away.â€

Entering Wednesday, the Buffalo Sabres are the only team in the Eastern Conference to allow more goals than the Maple Leafs.


http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/wilson-leafs-need-one-or-two-big-time-d-men/

Huh. So Wilson sees exactly what I said...they still don't have partners for Phil and Dion.

Shocking.

 

[Jerkini]

What's with this guy suddenly climbing out of his hole? We don't hear from him for almost 3 years, and then he suddenly comes out and throwing bombs. What gives? Strange.

Personally I think his insights into the team are quite interesting and refreshing.

 

[mcleex]

He's not wrong regardless of your opinion of him. The Leafs defense needs a major overhaul

 

[thewave]

They really need to dump Jake and Robidas pronto. Just like they need to dump Bozak Lupul and Clarkson.

 

[zeke]

Oh christ now we have to listen to this jackass' opinion?

Yeah sure, Ronny, randy did a great job.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Personally I think his insights into the team are quite interesting and refreshing.

I am not saying they are not interesting, and true, I am just a little baffled that the media actually knows where to reach him.