End of the Quinn Era

Weep not for Pat Quinn.

John Ferguson, now there's another story.

In canning Quinn as head coach Thursday morning, Ferguson put himself squarely in the line of fire if next season duplicates the results of the one that just ended.

But for Quinn, it was one heck of a run.

You have to look at this from a historic perspective. In lasting from 1998 right through to the end of the 2005-06 season, with a lockout wiping out one season, Quinn had a longer run than any head coach of the Leafs since Punch Imlach during the glorious, four-Stanley Cup 1960s.

None of the 14 other men who guided the Leafs between Imlach and Quinn lasted nearly as long, and that tells you something about Quinn's ability as a coach and his tenacity as a hockey politician to have outlasted so many personnel and ownership changes within the Leafs organization.

Quinn did it by creating a mix a strong regular season results and moderate playoff success, and by being able to out-muscle Ken Dryden in a drawn out executive tug-of-war that saw Dryden eventually pack it in and head off for federal politics.

As well, he won big with the 2002 Canadian Olympic team and the '04 World Cup squad, and that gave him currency in a city in which he was otherwise unable to end a Stanley Cup drought that stretches back to 1967.

Moreover, he made a great deal of money while doing the job, and even more when he held the GM post, as well.

In the end, Quinn simply ran out of wiggle room and time.

When he lost the GM post to Ferguson in 2003, he was on the clock, and that became even more apparent as he and JFJ failed to negotiate a comfortable working relationship.

Beyond that, every coach is hired to be fired, and Quinn's inability to produce a Cup winner or even a Cup finalist meant that, eventually, the team would have to turn to another coach. Mounting public criticism of team chairman Larry Tanenbaum and president Richard Peddie put added pressure on the team to make a substantial move this season after a promising campaign deteriorated after January.

In essence, Quinn lasted as long as a coach could last without winning. Indeed, Pat Burns only made it from 1992 to 1996, and he had as much success during his time with the Leafs as Quinn had over the past eight years.

Quinn had his shot, and undoubtedly, he'll now get another somewhere else.

Comments

[Vince LoTempio]

Speaking as a Sabres fan from the suburbs of Buffalo, I'm sad to see the Leafs not make the playoffs (really). I hate to admit it because of all the flak I get from friends, but I root for the Leafs to win the cup if the Sabres are out. I don't blame Quinn for this season, I would blame management (read: GM). Ferguson put together a team with a "Ranger-like" menatality and spending. The GM also did a poor job putting a line-up together that was suited for the new NHL.

[Bill Sandhu]

Maple Leaf philosophy of signing free-agents is bargain hunting. Why get a couple of good players instead of 4 or 5 useless ones. Lindros, O'Neil and Jason A. Resign Mcabe and get rid of Aki Iceberg.

[Oben Necip]

Ferguson has got to go. It's time for Spring cleaning. He has been given 3 years to prove himself and instead created a retirement home for washed out NHL'ers. His time is up. Why waste another year or two with Ferguson? Why do they insist on sticking with an inexperienced GM who would rather sign Domi (16 points) for more money than Anson Carter (55 points)? This makes no sense and just proves the inexperience. Ferguson was clueless in the old NHL and even more so in the new NHL. If they want to redo this young team, they must start from the top down. With Quinn out of the picture, we need JFJ thrown to the curb as well. Get a seasoned and talented GM that wants to win and can handle the pressures of directing one of the biggest and profitable sport teams in North America. It's not fair to the Leaf Nation and it is about time that MLSE showed their fans that they are not in it just for the money. They owe us that much.

[ryan mcner]

I think that it is sad that they had to use Quinn as there scapegoat. Ferguson has been their now for 3 years and the only thing he has done sucsefully is fail! Quinn did well with what he had to work with. Fergie needs to give Mats some help up there and put a decent goalie in the net. Maurice has done a fine job with the young Marlies guys, so all the more reason to keep him there. The Marles are a great AHL team right now talent wise thanks to Maurice, why take away? May be Quinn should have been put in place of Fergie as GM and Maurice as coach? I wonder how that would go???? bottom line Ferguson can't manage a pro hockey club, send him back to the Blues!!!!