Maple Leafs fire Ron Wilson

[CheeversFan]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=389346

Thoughts ?

[Mike]

Looks like Randy Carlyle will be his replacement.

Source (http://twitter.com/TSNBobMcKenzie/status/175756126531485697)

Can't imagine this having any impact on the team for reason laid out here:

http://www.leftwinglock.com/content.php?237-Should-the-Toronto-Maple-Leafs-Be-in-a-Slump

[Mike]

I do wonder about the impact this will have on the starting goalie announcement each night. Remember Carlyle in Anaheim?

[NightParade]

I can see this having a difference and very quickly. It may not salvage the ridiculous shooting percentages, but the defense? That it can help. They've been atrocious. Everyone is getting on Monsters case and on Reimers case, but have you seen the shots they have to face? The D men going into the corner, waving their stick like it's a magic wand, then letting people skate out of the corner into the slot? It's been absolutely ridiculous, and somewhat astonishing given the talent at D and the first half of the season. I hope this rights the ship in the defensive end, and if it does that will help the offence as well.

[CheeversFan]

Randy Carlyle ehh ? C'mon Leafs fans, speak up on this.

[cbxero]

Good coach... I can't help but wonder how Lupul is going to react down the stretch.

[DaLeafers]

Randy Carlyle ehh ? C'mon Leafs fans, speak up on this.

What's their to say? Our AHL team could put forth a better effort and more NHL-esque display than this current team has the last 12/13 games.

I'm just waiting for the Mtl fans to mock us with a "HI-RE WIL-SON!" chant

[NightParade]

Completely different team on D tonight. I know it's way to early to say anything, but hopefully this is s sign of things to come for the Leafs.

Yeah, I'm a Leafs fan, Oilers first, but then I have a lot of love left over for the buds.

[CheeversFan]

I wanted to watch that game tonight, but got caught up in the Canes/Lightning game because of fantasy reasons. I did switch over to watch the last minute & saw Grabovski's game clincher & the GM's up in the box gettin' happy. Nice divisional win Leafs, and ya know what ? With the whole Southeast division flopping around, I'd say the Leafs have a good shot at that 8th & final playoff spot. Just gotta catch the Jets, Capitals, and now the (raised from dead) Lightning.

[Edgeman]

Wilson made his own bed. Randy Carlyle is a winner. Every team that has a good goalie has shot blockers in front of him. The Rangers play with everybody protecting the house when they are ahead. Luke Schenn doesn't block shots. That is bad for a stay at home d-man. Good move for Leafs. Carlyle can speak English. Is that a requirement ? LOL

[DaLeafers]

Luke Schenn doesn't block shots.

11-12 - 94 (tied for #63 in the league) and if he doesn't block as many shots, he's in top 10 for hits w/ 213 (#7)
10-11 - 168 -- 251 hits
09-10 - 116 -- 173 hits
08-09 - 119 -- 206 hits

Right now he's 3rd on the Leafs w/ Blocked Shots (Gunnarson has 131, but just 83 hits; Phaneuf has 106 and 158 hits)

Luke Schenn blocks shots AND plays the body.

[Edgeman]

11-12 - 94 (tied for #63 in the league) and if he doesn't block as many shots, he's in top 10 for hits w/ 213 (#7)
10-11 - 168 -- 251 hits
09-10 - 116 -- 173 hits
08-09 - 119 -- 206 hits

Right now he's 3rd on the Leafs w/ Blocked Shots (Gunnarson has 131, but just 83 hits; Phaneuf has 106 and 158 hits)

Luke Schenn blocks shots AND plays the body.

You made my point . He's third on his team in blocks. He is 63rd in league. That is the problem. Look at the league leaders. He goes games without blocks. He wasn't scratched because of his hitting. I never questioned his hitting. When d-men go for the big hits they take themselves out of defensive position. In the playoffs player take hits to make plays. When that play is made the d-man can't recover.

[DaLeafers]

You made my point . He's third on his team in blocks. He is 63rd in league. That is the problem. Look at the league leaders. He goes games without blocks. He wasn't scratched because of his hitting. I never questioned his hitting. When d-men go for the big hits they take themselves out of defensive position. In the playoffs player take hits to make plays. When that play is made the d-man can't recover.

I agree with that statement fully, but some players block shots more, some players play the body more.
Gunnarson wasn't playing as much as he is this year, so Schenn had more time to block some.
Gardiner obviously wasn't there either and he's been our #1 ice-time D almost every game he plays, so again less TOI for Schenn.
Liles has also come in and essentially, these 3 have dropped Schenn down the pecking order.

At least this is how I see the reasoning behind his lowered shot block total