"Perturbed Leafs head coach Ron Wilson snapped at a reporter who dared question why captain Dion Phaneuf was not on the ice for Toronto's open-to-the-public optional skate on Saturday morning prior to the team's contest against the Capitals.

About 10,000 fans showed up at the ACC to watch as the Leafs did final preparations for their night game.

The scribe wanted to know why the team would deny fans - many of them kids - the opportunity to watch the Leafs captain work out.

"I don't even know how to answer that question," an irritated Wilson snarled. "We're trying to win hockey games right now, and it was optional."

That's all Wilson had to say on the subject, but the reporter had raised a valid point. Of all the morning skates to take off, why miss the one where thousands of fans have come out to get a glimpse of you in the flesh? It's not like the players overexert themselves during the game-day skates and it's an opportunity many fans rarely get."