The NHLPA Poll and why it means very little

I have been reading so many articles on how negative the recent NHLPA poll will be towards the Toronto Maple Leafs franchise and others, I find it almost laughable that such a big deal is being made of it.

Here is why,

First, Ron Wilson was voted as the Coach that most would not like to play for, that's great, guess what? so were Scotty Bowman, Mike Keenan, Punch Imlack and the list goes on, all you need to do is win, Ron Wilson has an abrasive personality, he is also a good coach, Ron Wilson's Leafs start winning, you won't find him on that list.

Toronto picked 4th in "would least like to play for"
This is nothing that Toronto fans have not known for decades, it takes a certain individual to play for the city of Toronto, you can't hide in Toronto if you have a bad year like you can in so many other NHL cities, the spotlight shines a whole lot brighter in Southern Ontario than it does anywhere else in the league.

Losing in Toronto is hard on players, a player who can stick it out until they are winners is rewarded ten fold however, ask Doug Gilmour and Wendel Clark, while not Stanley Cup winners, they played on winning teams in Toronto and are icons in the city and it's surrounding area.

If/when Toronto starts winning again, the poll changes, there is no doubt about that.

These polls are a simple measure of what is trending at the moment, if Edmonton was winning Stanley Cups like they did in the 80's, does anyone think they would be 2nd in "least like to play for"? not a chance.

Take the poll for what it is people, a trend, that changes from day to day.