In retrospect, it doesn't seem like any coincidence.
During Gary Roberts' four seasons in Toronto, the Maple Leafs played in 51 playoff games.
Since he left, even though he didn't want to depart, the Leafs have played in none.
The departure of Roberts, and his emergence once again in the post-season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, raises questions about the leadership abilities of Leafs captain Mats Sundin.
Sundin was captain during Roberts' stint in Toronto -- although some referred to Roberts as the captain without a 'C' -- but had deep support around him during the most successful seasons.
While Roberts was able to elevate his game and elevate others around him at the same time while with the Leafs, Sundin has managed to elevate only his own game, having little tangible impact on the play of his teammates.
The fire you witness now, even in a 41-year-old Roberts, is the kind of fire Leafs teams have been missing since his negotiation was mangled by the previous Toronto general manager. The kind of leadership that never is easily replaced.
THIS AND THAT
The assumption in hockey circles is that Brian Burke is all but certain to be the next GM of the Maple Leafs. That's nice. It's just not quite so certain at this time. The truth is, the Leafs have not yet spoken to Burke, period. And now more Burke rumours circulate, about him having interest in returning to Vancouver. The rumours, for the record, are just that, and the real Leafs interviewing, which could well involve Burke, has yet to begin ... Chris Bosh should know this much if he is complaining about noise at Raptors games: Raptors fans are about as raucous as Toronto gets. Unless they get all liquored up and start fighting, which is the fire the Blue Jays must now put out. Or, unless they pay no attention to the product and just sing, as the faithful do at Toronto FC games ... Those in charge of selling the Buffalo Bills games in Toronto claim that 100,000 have registered for the opportunity to buy tickets. Of course, they could claim just about anything. How do you scrutinize the numbers? The interesting number will be to see how many bought in on the concept of buying Argos season tickets to get first crack at Bills seats.
HEAR AND THERE
So, there was Ron MacLean and Don Cherry on Hockey Night In Canada, talking about Kirk. Three references to Kirk, actually. Just no mention of his last name, as if the audience is supposed to guess they are talking about Kirk Muller, an assistant coach in Montreal ... Best trade J.P. Ricciardi almost made: When Frank Catalanatto was still a Jay, Ricciardi thought he had sent him to Cincinnati in exchange for kid pitcher Johnny Cueto, who has 18 strikeouts in first two starts this season with the Reds ... Scott Rolen and B.J. Ryan, get well soon. The Jays need you ... Strange strategy: Late in a tied playoff game, how did Philadelphia Flyers coach John Stevens end up with a weak pair of defencemen against Alexander Ovechkin? Who is running the defensive bench, Rick Ley? ... Two years after being a semi-legitimate Olympic team pick, Bryan McCabe isn't wanted by Team Canada for the world we-didn't-make-the-playoffs hockey championship ... You know it's a mess inside the Florida Panthers organization when class act Joe Nieuwendyk walks away, wanting no part of it ... The two most fun teams in sport to watch right now: The Denver Nuggets and the Washington Capitals ... One more Hockey Night complaint: How can you be the big show in the country and not have all playoff games in HD? That's lame.
SCENE AND HEARD
Everybody is too polite to make a big deal about it, but two terrible goals allowed by Martin Brodeur ended up costing New Jersey its first two games against the New York Rangers and may end up costing the Devils the series ... Quick question: If the Devils lose their first-round series in the playoffs, is Brent Sutter still the choice to coach Team Canada at the 2010 Olympic Games? ... If I was one of Marion Jones' relay teammates and the IOC came asking for my gold medal, there is not a chance in hell I'd give it back ... He won't make anybody forget Yao Ming, but the Houston Rockets have added some size and not much else with the recent signing of former Raptor Loren Woods ... Here is why nice guy David Poile cannot be considered for the Maple Leafs' vacant GM job, even though some have pushed him as a candidate: This is his ninth season in Nashville. The Preds have never won a playoff round ... And another popular name to scratch: Jim Rutherford of the Carolina Hurricanes. How do you sell a GM who just missed the playoffs two years in a row to a city that just missed the playoffs three years in a row?
AND ANOTHER THING
Head coach Claude Julien has done in one season what Paul Maurice was unable to manage in two. He brought an identity to a Boston Bruins team that didn't have one. Not unlike what Pat Burns did in his first season in Toronto many years ago ... So now we learn the truth: Girl Guide Cookies are bad for you. And you know what? I'll still buy them ... The chaotic Olympic torch relay reached an all-time low when anti-Chinese protesters in Paris pushed, scratched and tried to wrestle the torch away from a tiny female Paralympian in a wheelchair ... Good news for NFL Network fans: Bryant Gumbel is gone as play-by-play man. A journalist, Gumbel was terrible at calling the games ... Steve Molitor's promoters have done nicely in establishing the Niagara Falls fighter's brand nationally, but their fight cards at Casino Rama would turn any newcomers off boxing. The bigger Molitor's name gets, the better the shows should get ... And here is what became of Lonny Bohonos. He is living in Thunder Bay, coaching triple-A minor hockey ... Wrestling kingpin Vince McMahon must be a Bruins fan. One of his new ECW wrestlers is called Bam Neely ... And hey, whatever became of Brian Skrudland?
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