Maple Leafs' head coach Ron Wilson yells at the referee in their NHL hockey game against the Canucks in Toronto
Toronto Maple Leafs' head coach Ron Wilson yells at the referee during the first period of their NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks in Toronto, November 13, 2010. Reuters

Toronto Maple Leafs Ron Wilson received the Christmas present he had been hoping for when the National Hockey League club confirmed they had signed the head coach to a contract extension.

Wilson had hinted as much on Sunday that Santa Claus had delivered him the perfect gift: 'He came! He came! Wilson tweeted.

Remember saying that as a little kid? Well he did: I got a new Red Ryder BB gun and a contract extension!.

Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke confirmed the deal on Monday on the team's website.

It's easy to say 'fire the coach' when the team isn't winning, but when you haven't given the coaching staff good enough players, I don't think it's fair, said Burke.

Wilson is in the final season of his original four-year deal and yet to guide the Maple Leafs to the playoffs, posting an overall record of 119-120-42.

Entering Monday night's action, the Leafs sat sixth in the Eastern Conference standings with a record of 18-13-4.

Christmas