Let the Man Do His Job - Or Fire Him

So you're a primo NHL unrestricted free agent, and the Maple Leafs are on the phone offering you money.

Presumably, you're talking to GM John Ferguson, but given the way the Leafs work, you're actually talking to the entire MLSE board of directors, which includes president Richard Peddie plus a couple of guys who want Ferguson fired ASAP.

Plus, if you can read and listen, there's all kinds of rumours that the club is planning to bring in "senior" hockey consultant to work over/alongside Ferguson. By "senior," the idea is somebody that has actually won something. Ever. Something the Leafs, other than Doug Gilmour in his vague job portfolio, don't have.

Which is why the names of Scotty Bowman, John Muckler and Craig Patrick - Stanley Cup winners all - keep popping up as candidates.

So if you're that free agent and you're considering those dollars, who, exactly are you agreeing to work for?

Ferguson? Peddie? Larry Tanenbaum? Bowman? Muckler? Patrick? Paul Maurice? Carlton the Bear?

At that point, don't you just move on to the next team that's interested?

The top-heavy Leafs seem to believe the answer to their problems is adding yet another layer of bureaucracy, something similar to the role in which Wayne Embry fills with the Raptors.

But understand this; Embry was important, really, during the period of time after Rob Babcock was fired and before Bryan Colangelo came to town. He moved the unmoveable Jalen Rose contract and did a couple of other helpful things before Colangelo took over.

If the Leafs really believe they need a "senior" person, then they should simply can Ferguson and let the "senior" person take over, clean house and start fresh.

More important, whether the person in charge is JFJ or one of these aforementioned people, once again its worth mentioning that person has to be given full rein and should not have to answer to Peddie and the board everytime its necessary to order new staples.

Keeping the current setup is why Colin Campbell and other respected hockey people weren't interested in the job when JFJ got it. Lou Lamoriello and Brian Burke would never, ever work in a situation in which they had to run everything past a board of directors.

These Leafs need fewer layers, not more.

Comments

[Scott]

Well said. Colangelo you'd think would be a lesson learned.

[Julian]

Spot on. The MLSE board needs to be told that they are clueless about sports and need to either bring someone in or give JFJ a contract.

How does it make sense to have a GM constantly striving to save his job? The Leafs hate me.

[Adam C]

Does everything really have to run past the board? Is the entire board stupid enough to approve of the Raycroft and Toskala trades? I guess it would explain a lot...

[Mark Macdonald]

Hi Damian,
The MLSE board seems hot on the flavour of the month in John Muckler. I hope they consider that this guy is old and rigid. He was the one who got so wrought up at then coach of the year Ted Nolan that he fired him. Muckler blackballed Nolan so effectively that for 10 years no one would speak to him let alone hire him. Muckler thumbed his nose at the Senator's owner and ignored his coach's advice this year. This is not the definition of a team player. Muckler's firing might seem unfair on some levels but it just seems to demonstrate the laws of karma.
You are such an excellent writer. I always enjoy your work.
Mark Macdonald

[Stephen]

If Scotty Bowman was interested, JFJ would have been fired yesterday.

[Andrerw Barrie]

Who are the two who want to see JFJ fired ASAP? while they continue to screw this team over, there is growing interest in a team, any darn team, moving to Hamilton, even if its a team that has its payroll slashed by owners trying to save money before they sell it. its got to be better than the Leafs. I have lost all faith (until the next win streak in October)

[kenny]

By trading for Toskala to play alonside Raycroft, Ferguson's implied message seemed to be: "we don't want to give up on Raycroft just yet because of the price we paid one short year ago, but just in case he stinks it up in 07/08, here's our backup plan."

By looking for a senior consultant to manage alonside Ferguson, MLSE's implied message seems to be: "we don't want to give up on JFJ just yet for reasons only we know, but just in case he stinks it up in 07/08, here's our backup plan."

I'm really liking this idea! I will look for a second team to follow and cheer for. I don't want to give up on the Leafs because of the time and emotional investment I have made over the years, but just in case they stink it up in 07/08, here's my backup plan...

[Steven]

Last year was it for me. I have officially given up my support for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Having followed them for well over 30 years I am frustrated by their inability to put a product worthy of consumption on the ice - let alone a premium product as their ticket prices suggest.

Bring on the Hamilton Preds!

Great work Damian!

[Ronaldo]

You Toronto newspapers writers are too easy on the Leafs. The Montreal media would have run JFJ and a bunch of lazy players out of town long before this. It's time for all of you guys to get tough instead of pussy footing around. One example: JFJ always said he had a "plan!" What the heck was it? You guys always give him a free pass even when he continues to make moronic moves.Look, he might be a nice guy and a good lawyer, but he has proven he is no hockey guy. Capologist lawyers are a dime a dozen-now get a hockey man and MLSE stay the heck out of the way!

[JPZ]

In answer to a poster's question above, the two who want to tie a tin can to JFJ are Larry "useless construction git" Tanenbaum (who understands the nuances of hockey about as well as the gaudy doorknob to his forest hill monster villa) and Dale "I'm a private citizen" Lastman (who, as a member of his twisted daddy's mayoral cabinet, was constantly flirting with and flouting conflicts of interest).

Now, I'm not a JFJ fan by any means, but I do feel for him a little bit in this situation. Only the Leafs could have such a couple of meddlesome and ignorant tools on their board (with one of those tools, Larry, being the decider). One is enough for most pro sports teams, but the way of the Leafian executive apparatus always sets the bar high for incompetence.

[Dyson]

Not to defend the Leafs, but any GM has to run things by the owner.

Melnyk just fired Muckler and promoted Murray to GM because he feels they're on the same page.

Does that mean Ottawa's ownership is dysfunctional and interfering? You'd have a hard time arguing that one.

[Steve Barnett]

Valid points Damian, But old news really in the scheme of things.
Peddie has had his fingerprints on this fiasco for a while now.
Dick fancies himself as a sportsman in the vien of a Sam Pollack dare I say. Dick truly believes that he is an astute judge of hockey pedigree. Dick is delusional. He hired Babcock because he knew he could control him and his decisions. Same with Fergie. Dick wants to be the most powerfull sporting magnate in this city.Until the Raps where close to bombing out and someone noticed.Namely the teachers. Dick then had to hire Colangelo. That must of killed him. Dick, I believe was a top notch soup salesman before manouvering his way into MLSE. Stunning credentials I must say.
So, to your point Damian, your are bang on. Until these corporate egomaniacs relinquish control to someone who knows what a hockey player is and how to get him we will forever be doomed to watching the "Dick Show". But Dick does have his upside. Condo's, arenas, pay TV, licensing rights and so on.
The bank balance is king at MLSE and the teachers love a good bank balance. "See Dick, See Dick run the Leafs" The rest of the league must be laughing thier balls off. Thanks Dick.

[Saul]

Is it that they don't need more layers, or that the board needs to not look over the shoulder of the hockey department? Because those are two different things, and you mentioned them both.

Lots of teams have presidents, including winning teams. It sounds to me like what you're really saying is that the board should butt out, not that they shouldn't hire a president.

[Guido]

"You Toronto newspapers writers are too easy on the Leafs."

Now I've read it all ... Besides Damien most of the media in Toronto want to bury the Leafs on a daily basis.

I agree with you 100% Damien, either you want this guy to be the GM or you don't, there is no middle ground. MLSE got exactly what the paid for, a junior executive with no experience... so it's hard to blame JFJ for the mistakes he's made, he's a rookie GM in perhaps the most scrutinized market in the NHL.

The only reason to bring in a Bowman,Muckler,Patrick or a Neil Smith is if you give them the President Tag and give them the keys to the kingdom.. but this won't happen because the Leafs are the #1 tenant in the MLSE cash cow. I think there's a better chance of Basille buying the Leafs than MLSE given full control over the hockey club outside the board.

Why a board can't just say: "Ok here's $x of dollars this year you have to spend, and with this we expect to be in the playoffs this year, now have a good day and go do your job"

If they don't make the playoffs you are gone. Gee how simple.

[chris]

I feel really bad for JFJ. Putting up with a MLSE board of governors that doesn't know what it wants for lunch, let alone for it's hockey team, has to be seriously frustrating for a guy with a hockey pedigree such as his. Throw in some useless egomaniacal media types who believe they can build this hockey team better and you got an instant no win situation for Ferguson.

In the right situation, JFJ would problably have made a good general manager on another team elsewhere. But he is doomed for failure with this outfit because of the above mentioned. As a result he may never get another shot as an NHL GM. And, as Damien Cox mentioned, what executive worth his salt would want to take the Leafs job knowing exactly what's in store for them?

And the loyal members of Leaf Nation continue to blindly support this outfit BECAUSE....?

[Mike McCann]

Damian can you please explain to me why I keep hearing about Colin Campbell being such a great option to be the GM or head of hockey operations for the Leafs.This is a man who was 10 games over .500 as a head coach of a team who had an unlimited budget(NYR) and has no history of rebuilding an orginization as a GM.Also please don't even get me started about his record in the NHL office as you and I have agreed many times about his weak sentences handed down!
PS Wouldn't Campbell qualify as one of those NHL dinosaurs you keep saying should be put out 2 pasture?

[Dan in Michigan]

I believe there were rumors Bowman would have taken the position if he had the green light to clean house and not be handcuffed by the board. I feel that is exactly what needs to be done to put the Leafs back on track immediately. Unfortunately, it sounds like this opportunity has been lost.

[John]

There's another reason why top managers may not want the job with the Leafs. Ferguson (not Pat Quinn Damien), has the team in such bad shape - there really isn't any talent in the minors - that it will be years before this team can be considered a contender.

It is clear that JFJ's experience and forte is with contract management, not assessing talent. Do you really believe that Steen is a potential first line forward or that Woz, Carlo, and company are about to become better than a #4/5 D on a contending team?

The savy managers don't want to start from scratch. That's why Brian Burke would take the job with Anaheim - the team was already pretty good and had talent on its way up.

[Dave Iorio]

I too have given up on the Leafs and this year I mean it. They are a team on a path to nowhere, being guided by non-hockey guys. What do JFJ, Peddie and Tanaunbaum know about hockey? Nothing. Until people in Toronto boycott this franchise in large numbers, nothing will ever change. The executives fight for power and the fans are left with garbage on the ice. I for one will not watch another game. Bring on the Hamilton Predators!

[Derek]

Would the hiring of a "senior" hockey executive not be the precursor to establishing an autonomous hockey department? Perhaps the BOG have taken notice of the consensus opinion that the first step in repairing this dysfunctional management arrangement should be to allow those charged with the task of winning championships to operate free of repeated sandbagging by adversarial board members, particularly those with personal agendas and/or a myopic preoccupation with brand/self promotion (yes, I'm looking at you Messers Tanenbaum and Peddie). They need not look any further than the meteroic rise in credibility the Raptors have enjoyed since Brian Colangelo was afforded the "keys to the mansion".

[Braden]

We all know the Leaf organization doesn't give up on people!

Lets think back to Hoglund, Rendberg, Quinn, etc, etc, etc. Everyone gets 1000 lives in this city. The best thing that can happen for the Leafs as a team is another team chipping at its fan base. Something has to happen for this team to smarten up.

[Matt]

The only reason that they're trying to bring in someone to "help" Ferguson is because Peddie is trying to save face for hiring TWO imcompentent GM's (Babcock being the other one). But guess what?!? Until us mindless drones stop buying their stinking merchandise and stop attending these sorry excuses for games, NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE!!!!!