Ron Wilson is frustrated

The highlight of the day at the Leafs practice session was the media scrum which followed.

Wilson blew a gasket as he singled out sniper Phil Kessel for his recent string of futility where he has only one point in his last 10 games. That kind of production isn’t what you expect from your top player, so the criticism is warranted. However, you might question the public nature of that tirade.

These comments ought to be made in private.

This tactic, when added to the many sarcastic and pointed comments by Wilson seem to be a clear attempt to separate himself from the unfolding debacle of another potential non-playoff year.

It could also add to the lack of desire for a player, or a group of players, to want to play for such a coach, particularly in front of the media horde in Toronto.

This is not the kind of public relations that will attract potential free agents, either.

Sure, we get that Wilson is frustrated, but it seems to be an about face from his stance earlier in the year when he maintained a calmer façade and even said that he needed to maintain that calmer presence in the face of early season struggles.

The bottom line is that he has been unable to implement any perceptible systems on the team’s inept special teams and the chronic inability to be ready at the start of games, which has resulted in early 2-0 deficits in more than half of the team’s games.

Surely, even though he and GM Brian Burke are the best of friends, the GM has to realize that this coach and group of players is not meshing well and someone needs to answer for that inability.

This reaction by Wilson yesterday may turn out to be a kick in the pants for the players but it is more likely a panic reaction of a coach who is losing his grip on the job.

The numbers don’t lie.

Tags: brian burke, Phil Kessel, Ron Wilson, Toronto Maple Leafs