Coach’s Corner: Maple Leafs need Canadian spirit

Ron MacLean and Don Cherry discuss the relevancy of the fighter role in today’s hockey, meanwhile Don doesn’t like the Toronto Maple Leafs outsourcing talent from colleges instead of using local talent, such as Connor Brown of the Toronto Marlies.

Don Cherry has a bone to pick with the Toronto Maple Leafs once again.

Appearing on Coach’s Corner with Ron MacLean, Cherry vented about the team’s decision to call up recent NCAA signing Casey Bailey rather than a homegrown, local player such as Connor Brown of the Toronto Marlies.

“You bring in a college guy?” Cherry said on Hockey Night in Canada. “This guy never paid his dues. The whole organization loves college guys. They need to get some Canadian spirit in there like the Los Angeles Kings. It’s an absolute shame. The guy that comes here is from Alaska. Leafs, start getting those (Toronto) guys instead of those college guys.”

Cherry has been a consistent critic of the Maple Leafs for not drafting enough Canadian players. He couldn’t understand why Brown, a 21-year-old having a strong season at the American Hockey League level, is not getting rewarded by the team.

“We have Connor Brown down with the (Toronto) Marlies,” said Cherry. “He set a record in junior. He was the scoring champ and is leading the team. He is plus-20 and never gets a shot.”

The 5-foot-11 Brown leads the Marlies in points (51 points in 64 games) in his first AHL season. He ranks second on the team in goals (17) and third in plus-minus.

Brown was the Ontario Hockey League’s most outstanding player in 2013-14 after he registered 45 goals, 83 assists in 68 games with the Erie Otters.

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