COACHES WHO HAVE THEIR BACKS WATCHED

Quick thought on the blockbuster deals consummated this morning between the Leafs, Flames and Ducks before I head to the rink to call the crap out of Stars-Coyotes.

Toronto gets:
Phaneuf
Sjostrom
prospect Keith Aulie

JS Giguere

Calgary gets:
Niklas Hagman
Jamal Mayers
Matt Stajan
Ian White

Anaheim gets:
Jason Blake
Vesa Toskala

Those who believed this type of deal was impossible due to budgets and cap restraints let me at least suggest this little caveat pertaining to two of the three parties.

The NHL bottom feeding Leafs are coached by Ron Wilson. He will coach Team USA at the Olympics and his boss in Toronto, Brian Burke, is also the Manager for the American entry in Vancouver. Do you think firing the coach was ever an option?

In Calgary the team has gone from Cup contender in many peoples eyes to out of the top 8 in the Western Conference. The head coach is the G.M.’s brother – and is in his first season behind the Flames bench. Brent Sutter is the 4th coach in the last 5 seasons for Calgary. Do you think firing the coach was ever an option?