Wilson gets his Christmas wish - a piece of paper

[Casa_Nova]

Ron Wilson's Christmas wish has come true -- he has received a contract extension from the Toronto Maple Leafs.

A day after playfully suggesting on Twitter that his holiday would be better if Santa delivered a certain piece of paper to his stocking, Wilson Tweeted an update on Christmas morning.

"He came! He came! Remember saying that as a little kid? Well he did: I got a new Red Ryder BB gun and a contract extension!"

The extension was later confirmed by TSN, although details are not yet known.

Wilson was in the last year of a three-year contract and currently has the team sixth in the Eastern Conference; poised to make the playoffs for the first time during his tenure.

The Leafs are 18-13-4 with 40 points.


__________________

I know a lot of people don't like him, but he is one of NHL's winningest coaches. It's not like he had a lot to work with since he has been with the Leafs. Stability is good for a franchise trying to rebuild itself, and I would keep him and Burke around for a few more years to see if they will deliver now that we finally have a few more pieces to build upon.

 

[big dogie]

Noooooooooo!

 

[Doot]

Wilson does not Deserve it!

I wish it was toilet paper and Leaf fans please take out the tissue paper cuz losing has just begun. This is our worst Christmas wish!

 

[Ironhead]

Oh damn. I am not so sure about this. I was in the 'wait until we make the playoffs at least' camp.
I think he is a good coach, I am not sure if he is the right coach for Toronto. I would really like to know the terms and I am more concerned with length then dollars.

 

[mac]

Oh damn. I am not so sure about this. I was in the 'wait until we make the playoffs at least' camp.
I think he is a good coach, I am not sure if he is the right coach for Toronto. I would really like to know the terms and I am more concerned with length then dollars.

why not give the General Manager the benefit of the doubt on this decision...he is probably more than you to get it right anyway.

 

[shack]

I don't see the big deal. Anytime he starts to bomb out, they can fire him. As long as he's getting reasonable results (meaning the team must continue to improve) he needs the security of the contract to properly coach. Are the players supposed to play hard with a lame duck coach? For sure somebody would use that as a criticism of Burke if they failed to make the playoffs.

But most coaches get fired while under contract.

 

[Doot]

He can do what ever he wants ( Burke ) he dosen't have to justify giving an extension to a coach who has yet coached the Leafs to the playoffs ..

637-546-101-88 coaching record with Anaheim, Washington, San Jose and Toronto. He is "lifetime 47-48 in the playoffs." Damn Yankees!

 

[gcostanza]

I am pretty sure he has been rewarded for past accomplishments ie highest paid coach at 2 million a season ..

Except he's making about $1.4M/season.

 

[ray liotta]

He's being rewarded for mediocrity with the Leafs. Let's see if they even do end up making the playoffs this season.

 

[Dawgger]

Burke didn't bring him here, but Burke made the decision to keep him here.
I don't understand why you extend a contract of a coach that has proven nothing to this organization.
Why wouldn't you wait until the season was over? At least then you can make a decision based on this years
accomplishments. If you make a decision on his first 3 years he is toast!
Burke owns the problem now!

 

[shack]

Burke didn't bring him here, but Burke made the decision to keep him here.
I don't understand why you extend a contract of a coach that has proven nothing to this organization.
Why wouldn't you wait until the season was over? At least then you can make a decision based on this years
accomplishments. If you make a decision on his first 3 years he is toast!
Burke owns the problem now!

Lame duck coaches are in a very compromised position. Again, what's the big deal. He can be fired at any time. His contract doesn't affect the cap.

I don't see the big deal. Anytime he starts to bomb out, they can fire him. As long as he's getting reasonable results (meaning the team must continue to improve) he needs the security of the contract to properly coach. Are the players supposed to play hard with a lame duck coach? For sure somebody would use that as a criticism of Burke if they failed to make the playoffs.

But most coaches get fired while under contract.

 

[great bear]

wilson is a solid coach. he now has the players he wanted. burke has surrounded him with high calibre assistants, they have a very young team, they have an excellent coach with the marlies and they now have some depth.

 

[dj1470]

Do we know for how many years this extension is for or is it a big Burke secret?

 

[Dawgger]

Lame duck coaches are in a very compromised position. Again, what's the big deal. He can be fired at any time. His contract doesn't affect the cap.

You make valid points, however IMHO HE SUCKS!

 

[Mervyn]

There is still some hope for those who hate him , just because he got an extension, that does not mean he will be coach for that entire period, just means he will be paid for that entire period.

 

[Casa_Nova]

Burke didn't bring him here, but Burke made the decision to keep him here.
I don't understand why you extend a contract of a coach that has proven nothing to this organization.
Why wouldn't you wait until the season was over? At least then you can make a decision based on this years
accomplishments. If you make a decision on his first 3 years he is toast!
Burke owns the problem now!

It was the worst kept secret at the time that Burke was going to come to Toronto, it was made even more apparent when Fletcher brought in Wilson whom everyone knows has close ties with Burke. Burke may not have been the actual one who offered Wilson the contract, but let's not think that Wilson's hiring had nothing to do with Burke at the time. It was almost a packaged deal.

Granted the Leafs hasn't made playoffs in Burke's and Wilson's era...but there is no denying that the team has gotten better, and for the most part is heading in the right direction. I have no issue with the contract extension now. It's over and done with. Now there are no more worries and rumours and the team can focus on competing for a playoff spot.

 

[JohnLarue]

To me this Burke saying fuck you .. I am signing Wilson to a contract extension ...

To who ?
You ?

Burke has to answer to the owners and no one else

If Burke decided to extend Wilson's contract it was because he thought it is the best thing for the hockey team and how you view it, is not at all relevant

 

[Casa_Nova]

Do we know for how many years this extension is for or is it a big Burke secret?

According to Darren Dreger, It is a 1 year extension with room to tinker at the end of the year depending on what happens.

 

[Ironhead]

One year, not so bad. I guess it was the least Burke could do to take the 'lame duck' label away and have the team focus for the second half of the season.

 

[Malibook]

I really don`t care for Wilson when he is being interviewed but I must say that he does seem to have an eye for who is playing well and who is struggling during a game and making moves on the fly.