Dodgeball?

By Paul Bruno

With the Leafs struggling and holding down last place in the league standings following their franchise worst 0-5-1 record, much is being written about the prospects for the rest of the season.

Coach Ron Wilson is being criticized for not implementing a system that is taking advantage of the quality additions on the club’s blueline.

Brian Burke has been hammered in the papers for throwing three future draft picks to the Bruins to acquire the injured sniper, Phil Kessel. He is also taking a big hit for overrating the talent level of the team he has put together, based on this poor start. 

The goaltending work of Vesa Toskala has been roundly criticized with a veiled critique of newly-appointed goaltending coach Francois Allaire’s efforts to change Toskala’s style. Now the Finnish-born goalie is on the shelf with a knee injury that will sideline him for at least two weeks. His backup, going into the season, Jonas Gustavsson also suffered a groin strain after completing his first starting assignment. His injury probably came about because he had some physical issues that short-circuited his training camp and he was not yet in top shape when the Leafs turned to him for that early starting assignment. He is expected to heal in the next few days.

The forwards were viewed, collectively, as the weak point of this club, and have lived down to that expectation out of the gate.

As a result of these factors the Leafs have played with a lead for all of five minutes, in total, so far this season.

The media is having a field day with all of this and are making snide remarks about the Dodgeball practice.

To give you a perspective on what Leaf players are dealing with, just imagine how you would feel if you had to go to work with all these factors contributing to your atmosphere.

That wouldn’t be a pleasant prospect, would it?

Well, that’s why the first practice following their most recent loss was devoted in part to a game of Dodgeball. Despite some media barbs aimed at this development, it was a good idea because that idea is designed to foster a more positive environment. Everybody aspires to feel good about going to work. Pro athletes are no different.

Ron Wilson is trying to show this team that he cares about creating a good environment. It’s a credit to him that he recognizes the need to take the edge off the tension around his team and came up with this idea.

That’s why they played Dodgeball…

Tags: brian burke, Dodgeball, jonas gustavsson, Ron Wilson, Vesa Toskala