TORONTO (June 26) — What the fu** was that headline, today, in the Toronto Star?
Can you imagine the relief for John Chayka, general manager of the Maple Leafs, knowing that Canada’s largest newspaper had swallowed “information” intended to shush the media and prompt it to disregard any and all possibility for tonight’s draft… and afterward? Look at the sub–heading, below. It’s all done. It’s over. Chayka will refuse to answer the phone for the rest of today, clearly certain which player he’ll select No. 1 in Buffalo. And, there’s no reason to worry about changes to the roster, as Auston Matthews, Morgan Rielly and Matthew Knies are “happy.”
Isn’t that sweet, Leafs Nation?
Should it remain status quo with the club beyond choosing Gavin McKenna, I’ll have vastly overrated Chayka, who seemed to possess mettle. We must acknowledge, however, that he works for Ed the Conqueror and Keith Pelley, neither of whom are apt to keep fingers out of the hockey pie. So, all key decisions moving forward are likely to come from “Corporate.” Which evidently includes the “branding” of McKenna and the continued absurdity of expecting Matthews to become Doug Gilmour after mid–April (No. 34 jerseys must still be leaving the shelves).
As for Rielly, I want to see Chayka — with a straight face — look into a TV camera and tell Toronto hockey fans that the longest–serving Leaf will spectacularly fulfill the remaining four years of his contract. After plunging off a cliff the past two seasons. Knies, of course, is the next Gordie Howe so all trade dialogue involving him must cease. An 11th–hour order has apparently come down from the ivory tower at Rogers that Chayka package Steven Lorenz and Dakota Joshua — but nothing more — to San Jose for the No. 2 pick in tonight’s swap meet.
During his recent pilgrimage to Arizona, Chayka requested a special favor from Matthews: that he, as captain and irrefutable leader–by–example, take McKenna under his wing and convey all which is needed for a Stanley Cup challenge. That Auston wouldn’t have the faintest clue about such matters after ten years is immaterial. He is, after all, “incredibly, remarkably, stupendously, orgasmically” excited about helping the Maple Leafs win.
A Facebook post, yesterday, showed how hopelessly and fictionally attached Toronto fans remain to the No. 1 draft pick from 2016. Tens of thousands are still dining on those 69 goals, even if typically followed by disappearance in all key playoff moments (and a body that has progressively worn down). Neither of which seems to register on the executive floors at One Mount Pleasant. My post (as below — seen by merely 86,000 people and generating 524 comments) showed a mock photo of Matthews in a Sharks jersey. The remark at the top from Clark Gauthier, as I alleged in a follow–up, may have resulted from the abuse of alcohol. Only that he was one of perhaps a half–dozen observers who insisted the No. 2 pick tonight — and MACKLIN CELEBRINI — be included in any trade for Toronto’s vaunted Mr. November. Seriously. And you wonder, even for a moment, how easy peasy it is for The Conqueror and Keith to ensure that those No. 34 jerseys keep moving from Real Sports Apperel.
Sportsnet, today, wondered what the Maple Leafs could add with Knies to a package for Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski. Only if Werenski has somehow made it known to Columbus that he’s unlikely to re–sign when his contract expires in two summers would the Blue Jackets move such a precious commodity.* That includes for anything the Leafs currently own (or, will own, as in McKenna). Were Chayka to somehow maneuver Werenski into a Toronto uniform, he’d win general manager–of–the–year honors before the first puck drop in October. It would be, without question, the biggest trade acquisition for the Leafs since Cliff Fletcher landed Gilmour in January 1992.
*TSN reported tonight that the Blue Jackets are listening to offers for Werenski.
Anyhow, other than to see McKenna don his Leafs jersey, there’s no reason to watch the NHL draft. Not if you’re a Leafs fan. After all, the Toronto Star has nonchalantly guaranteed that none of Matthews, Rielly or Knies will even be considered for trade by Chayka. Not tonight. Not this week. Not at all. The guy wearing the ‘C’ is incompetent beyond measure once the stakes begin to rise. But, heck, he’s “happy.” And, what else should truly matter?
COVERING THE NHL DRAFT FOR THE FAN–590
During my 23–year radio career, I was privileged to cover the NHL draft in 1992–93–94–95–96–97–98–99–2000–01–02–03–04–07 and 2008. It was part of my gig following the Leafs, home and away, for Canada’s first all–sports station. I’ve kept a few items from those early summer treks to such places as Montreal, Quebec City, Hartford, Edmonton, Calgary, Columbus and Atlanta. Included were the draft booklets handed out to media (today, everything is digital). And, of course, my FAN–590 draft credentials. Enjoy this nostalgia:
EMAIL: HOWARDLBERGER@GMAIL.COM
Sure give up picks and prospects and sign Werenski. Then in two years when both he and Auston walk, we will have emptied the cupboards again. All that will be left is McKenna. It appears the Leafs are trying to win the cup and rebuild at the same time. Not possible. Especially the part about winning the cup. Auston and Willie are established playoff losers. I want them no where near McKenna and Cowan. I fear that Knies has already bing drinking the Auston cool-aid and is too cool for school. And of course the decision is unanimous on the number one pick because the decision came from Pelley.
How many times do we have to steer right into the iceberg before we realize it’s not a good idea.
Didn’t realize you had “Leafs” fear. Not doing stuff has held back the franchise for six decades. I had you pegged differently, Faber.
From your blogs I get the impression that Ed Rogers is really running the Leafs like Ballard did, (remember, “I sign the cheques around here”), and Pelley is his insulation, one to blame if things go sour. Howard, why is Rogers so in love with Matthews? Also, I think Matthews and Nylander should be moved. They are a bad influence on the new kids like Knies and now McKenna.
Rielly Domi and Tavares are good influences, though.
Same old, same old. The tradition shall continue. Bad management in Toronto. If you think there’s no pain coming, there’s pain coming. The pain will never end. The insanity will never end. The foolishness will continue on as we have already seen in Chayka’s small work sample size. Better if he had done nothing. They chose to keep Hildeby over Woll. Disappointing but not surprising. Hoping for better but don’t see it yet. Keeping Rielly would fit in with some kind of logic. It would cost a lot of money to buy him out. It’s easier to be a bad team. The laughing stock of the league. Why change it? Making sense doesn’t make sense.