Don Cherry had some choice words for Leafs management on Thursday night. (Shaun Best/Reuters) Don Cherry didn't waste any time in causing controversy during his first Coach's Corner segment of the season on Thursday.
The Hockey Night in Canada commentator took the Toronto Maple Leafs management, including Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment CEO Richard Peddie, to task for lowering expectations this season for the team when talking to the media.
Cherry also had some choice words for Leafs general manager Cliff Fletcher, who said the club only had one top-six forward (Nik Antropov), and coach Ron Wilson, who told reporters that "wins and losses don't matter" because the team is in a rebuilding season.
"I'll tell you what they're doing, they're saying, 'Don't blame me, blame [former Leafs GM] John Ferguson Jr.,' " Cherry said. "I'm glad he wasn't around for the crucifixion.
"All management was doing when they did that stuff was covering their own ass."
Cherry went on to say he liked the look of this season's Leafs team, but admitted he didn't think they would make the playoffs.
