Why “Tank Nation” Tanked

Recently, TML blogger Mike Ulmer wrote a blog about the ongoing debate among Leafs fans about whether to tank in favour of draft picks or to demonstrate “integrity” and have the strongest year possible. In the blog, Ulmer says, “They (Leafs fans) want a better draft choice (forgetting for a second the mathematical nuances of the system) and they have endured a pretty rough season. If any fan base deserves a last-place finish, it’s Leafs Nation.”

As someone who holds a Political Science degree and spent considerable time and effort studying Canadian Consititutionalism, it has been fascinating to watch the debate drag on amongst what Constitutional scholar Peter Russell would call “the chattering classes” (Leafs “academics” vocal on the streets and on the various message boards) but in the end, what all Leafs Nation citizens must eventually come to realize is that under no circumstances can we allow “Tank Nation” to prevail; it is not a matter of integrity either but rather the efforts on behalf of the leaders of “Leafs Nation” to introduce measures which shall serve, as section 91 of our Canadian Constitution calls, “the Peace, Order, and good Government” of our team. A culture of winning is sorely missing and instilling that within the organization is critical to ensuring that we succeed.

For far too long, it has been acceptable for the Leafs to have a losing season with the hope of suddenly turning it around and winning the following one. Ticket prices have been raised without consequence (since the corporations are happy to pay whatever it costs) and performance has deteriorated. The Leafs need to turn the tide. We need a management structure in place where losing is not acceptable and inculcated into the team’s players and culture. Brian Burke and Ron Wilson may not be the solution to all of the Leafs' problems, but they are certainly starting to fix the issues that have plagued the leafs for decades.

This week marked the first 100 days of the Burke regime and in political circles, it would be closely scrutinized with detailed accounting published of his accomplishments. What has the Burke administration done?

December 6th – Appointment of Dave Nonis as SVP of Hockey Operations
December - January – Travelled with players from Leafs and the Marlies.
January-February – Met with fans from the Leafs and the Marlies in candid Q&A sessions.
January 21st – Trade Earl for Hamilton.
February – March – Lost Kronwall and Mark Bell to the waiver wire.
March 4th – Active on trade deadline day.Traded Antropov and Moore for 2 second round picks in 2009, and 1 conditional 2009 pick. Picked up Kolzig, Heward, Rogers, and a 4th round pick in return for Petiot. Claimed Gerber and Reitz of waivers. Signed Jeff Hamilton to contract.
March 11th – Signed Jeff Engel to SPC, acquired Ashton Rome on reassignment, and signed Jeremy Swanson and Andrew Martens to PTOs on AHL Clear Day.

Now that the dust has settled, we’ve called up 7 Marlies to the Leafs, picked up 11 players into the organization, lost 6 players, and captured 3, possibly 4 draft picks. It has been a busy 100 days but we’ve managed to put in place a fix to the goaltending problem, picked up players or picks that will be useful over the next few years, and started on the long road ahead to fix the attitudinal problems.

What comes next? That’s easy. There are five key things that need to be done between now and the start of the next season:

• Finish the season strong. Changes have been made to the composition of the team in the hopes that we are stronger. We need to prove that we are by posting more W’s both at the Marlies and at the Leafs levels of the organization.
• Fight for a playoff berth in the AHL. We need the Marlies to make the playoffs this season to give the organization more playoff experience.
• Gear Up For, and Have a Solid Draft Day. With big changes to the rosters, Burke will need to start putting the pieces of the puzzle together for next season. Answering the question who will stay and who will go will help to drive the decisions on draft day. With a strong scouting organization, the Leafs are in a good position to pick wisely and with tough decisions ahead, we need good choices at the draft.
• Determine what both the Marlies and Leafs should look like next season. Once we know who we have to work with internally, we can go after the UFAs and refine what both rosters will shape up to be. Burke has put in a whack of temporary fixes (particularly on the goaltending front) and making decisions that permanently fix the problems are the next logical step in the rebuilding process.
• Share the vision. Fans need share Burke’s vision for the future. Fans need to move away from “tank nation” stances and start moving towards “if we build it, Lord Stanley’s Mug will come”. Fans need to get involved in the building process because they are needed more than ever before if we are to succeed.

With less than 20 regular season games left for both teams, tanking is NOT an option. Let’s go out there and make each and every one of them count!

Finally, on behalf of all DDP members, I extend my sincerest sympathies to the family members and friends of the following soldiers who gave their lives in Afghanistan over the past week and thank them for their bravery and service to Canada:

Trooper Marc Diab
WO Dennis Raymond Brown
Cpl. Dany Fortin
Cpl. Kenneth O'Quinn

Rest in Peace.

You can email Chris with comments and questions about the blog, Duke’s Dog Pound Supporters Club, or the Marlies anytime to dukesdogpound@yahoo.ca.