"The sizzling start of the Maple Leafs is now but a memory.

And Ron Wilson's opportunity to land a contract extension at some point during this season is almost certainly gone as well.

GM Brian Burke wanted to give Wilson an extension last spring, believing the Leaf head coach had earned it with a strong second half to the 2010-11 season. But then Burke re-considered, and ultimately decided to let Wilson go into this season with his contract set to expire next June. The thinking was if the team played well in the opening third of the season, the way would then be clear to give Wilson a new deal.

Early on, that scenario looked favorable to Wilson. But five losses in six games, including last night's 4-1 loss in Nashville, have sucked all the air out of the Leaf balloon. The same problems - inconsistent goaltending, suspect special teams, an absence of a strong team defensive concept - have again crept into the club's game.

It's possible that Wilson will turn this around. Moreover, it's not his doing that No. 1 goalie James Reimer went down with an injury, and certainly not his doing that management opted not to provide the club with an experienced backup to Reimer. "