Naming Names

Ideally, the Maple Leafs would have the pick of the litter, the very best hockey minds in the world clamouring to work for them.

But that's just not the way it is.

Moreover, to get one of the really big names - Brian Burke, Lou Lamoriello - they'd have to wait until June or July, and this thing's going downhill faster than that.

There are quality hockey people out there, available today. Even Pat Quinn, as utterly laughable as that may sound. Then again, this is an organization that brought back Punch Imlach, Carl Brewer, Mike Pelyk, Wendel Clark, Doug Gilmour for second go-rounds, so it's not like the stupidity of bringing back Quinn would be out of the MLSE strike zone.

So who would you get? As a new GM, or president, or coach?

Here's a list of some hockey people to ponder:

FORMER PLAYERS: Steve Yzerman, Ron Francis, Mark Messier, Al MacInnis, Doug Gilmour, Glenn Healy, Tom Kurvers, Steve Larmer, Kris King.

AGENTS: Don Meehan, Brian Lawton, Mike Liut.

COACHES: Randy Cunneyworth, Greg Gilbert, Bob Hartley, Mike Kitchen, Don Lever, Barry Melrose, Pat Burns, Pierre Maguire, Brian Sutter, Craig Hartsburg.

EXECUTIVES: Neil Smith, Mike Murphy, Colin Campbell, John Muckler, Scotty Bowman, Mike Milbury, Bob Murray, Mike Barnett, Doug Armstrong, Jim Nill.

So who do you like? Or is a quality name missing?

Here's the sad part. The Leafs had a glorious opportunity to bring in one of the NHL's best managers, Bob Gainey, back in 2002. Ken Dryden tried to squeeze Gainey into the job, but Quinn, with his own political agenda to advance, blocked it, and the rest is history.

And not very pleasant history.

Comments

[John McCabe]

Damien, finally you're acknowledging that JF never really had a plan. Nor did he stand a chance to create one (being a guy who had done lots of negotiating, but never understood how to evaluate talent).

Still, if you're going to bring someone in now, lets make sure that we evaluate past performances. Drafting wisely is the key to the economics and success of NHL clubs now - get talented players and keep them as long as possible as cheaply as possible. Scotty Bowman is a great coach, but he didn't do a very good job in Buffalo as GM.

Where is Craig Patrick today? He always seemed able to pull the right strings in Pittsburgh. I'd bet he still knows the back roads of hockey pretty well.

[Frank]

Pie in the sky. It's nice to dream, but how realistic is it that Peddie goes? The GM/coach lists are wish lists, and wishing hasn't gotten Leafs fans anywhere in 40 years.

Chop from the top? I say amen.

[Anslem]

Correct me if I am wrong, except for Neil Smith none of the above candidates have won a cup as a GM. Smith won the cup by trading away New York’s young prospects which is the wrong strategy for the Leafs. So, no one on this list is good enough for the Leafs. Scotty Bowman won all those cups coaching teams and not building them. I am surprised you even included Mike Milbury on this list as I think he is a terrible GM.

My GM of choice would be Craig Patrick, formally of Pittsburg. I think winning 2 cups and drafting players like Mario, Jagr, Crosby, Malkin, and Fluery and trading for Ron Francis makes him fully qualified to lead the Leafs to a Cup.

[kyliep]

Scotty Bowman. That's Bowman. I believe it's spelled, 'M-e-s-s-i-a-h'.

[Michael Nestlehut]

After weeks of listening to Leaf players respond to Paul Maurice's pleas to play D sound like a kid's response to taking out the garbage, "yeah, yeah, I'll do it." It was Scott Mellanby on HNIC who finally lit the lamp in my head when he said they weren't executing consistency because they seem to be waiting around for something to happen (firing wise). This would explain why they won the "pride" game against Ottawa and pulled out a stinker versus Boston the next game.
Something has to change, I don't know if you fire one or both, but to go on in denial is just a disservice to the fans.
GMs- I like your thinking regarding Campbell and his media tolerance. I orginally thought Neil Smith would of been a slam dunk,but if he couldn't deal with the multi-headed monster Charles Wang put together how is he gonna deal with the Leafs multi-tiered front office? Don't know enough about Doug Armstrong, but the win-lost record is there.
Coach-More questions than answers. Is Greg Gilbert ready? Will Hartsburg leave the Soo? Could Hartley deal with the media? Is Dave Poulin too far out of box? Is Jacques Demers just too far out there? Would bringing back Stand Pat Quinn in either (or both) GM/coach position be just raising the Titanic?
I don't how this will play out and knowing the Leafs there's no way to even begin to predict it. What about Cito Gaston? I know I'm starting to have nightmares about Bob Pulford being the GM and Barry Melrose the coach.....Yikess.

[Billie Bob]

What a blast! Don't you just love this? Years ago, when we first heard that JFJ was the new GM we all knew that it was a huge mistake. He is the worst there is and how the Leafs decided on this guy is amazing. I would do the GM job for less money, make better decisions and get the team in the playoffs.

My first duty would be simple. Trade: McCabe, Kaberle, Gill, And-drop-off, Pony, Raycroft and Toskgoala.

Bring in new, young fresh blood, all Canadians. Then offer Brian Burk $5million to do the GM job and then I would move into the Presidents office. Maurice would have 10 games to show me something or he's gone and I would bring in Ted Nolan or Lindsay Ruff. You bet, I'd steal the best coach from my opponents.

Oh yeah, I would dress Belak for every game, put him on D and sit Woszie!

[geof johnson]

I think that many comments are not very realistic, like hire Scotty Bowman. The man is in his 70's and is retired, like he is going to want to start with this mess. It will take a general manager with energy and who is relatively young to rebuild the leafs for 5-10 years. Yes, not 2 or 3 years it will take much longer. They need to hire out of a consistent good organization like New Jersey. They have a philosophy and build through the draft and don't have quick fix expensive free angents. They lost Scott Gomez but got some draft picks and younger players to step in. They really need someone like Lou Lamerello, but if he is not interested they need to hire someone out of this organization and take that philosophy to the leafs. Strong defensive, team and who cares if the media and fans say it is boring 2-1 or 1-0. The most popular game in the world is soccer and they always have 1-0 games and no one has ever complained world cup soccer as boring.
Take the example of the Minnesota Wild and their philosophy and the Jacque Lemaire, the Anheim Ducks. Trade Sundin to a contender say Ottawa and let him win the Stanley cup with Ottawa this year (they should win) and get some draft pics, trade Macabe, Tucker, all the older veterans and get draft picks. They also need to hire more scouts, more scouts in the U.S.A college, Easter Europe, Canada etc. They need to rebuild for 5-10 years and hire the staff from New Jersey and tell the teachers pension to sell and sell the leafs to one person like the owner in Detroit who really wanted to win a stanley cup.
Geoff Johnson

[Glenn]

BOB CLARKE

[Bruce]

Come on think....

Replacing the JDJ or Maurice is not going to get these players to get their high paid butts in gear. What Maurice needs to do to bench them for at least one game, more if needed.
Make them sit at the end of the bench for all to see..... McCabe, Kaberle, Tucker even Sundin. There are lots of players with the Marlies who could play as good as these guys are right now. Maybe a little centering out might bring them back to the skill level we are told they have.
Isn't that what the really successful coaches from the past used to get their superstars playing. Toe Blake did it. Scotty Bowman too.

Until something fires these guys up, firing the management will not do a thing. Except give the players an out.

[Fred]

Does anyone else notice the eerie similarities at work in this city.
Peddie as President seems more interested in making money and protecting JFJ. Ferguson who was brought in as an unproven assistant GM, seems unable to admit past mistakes and/or make anything other than a stop gap move. Also really over values his own players. They'd all be great if it wasn't for those damned injuries! Paul Maurice, caught in a bad situation not of his own making where he is expected to deliver a winner with a handful of past their prime players mixed in with a bunch of over priced journeymen and some kids with only a half dozen years experience who have yet to realize their super-star potential. (Tongue planted firmly in cheek at the end!)
Hold a mirror in front of them and what do you see. Perhaps Paul Godfrey, JP Ricchardi, and John Gibbons.
Just wondering!

My choices: Off the wall but President Paul Beeston
GM: Throw as much money as it takes to land one of Darcy Regier, Darcy Regier, or Darcy Regier.
Coach: Lindy Ruff

Enjoy your work Damo, especially keeping Stellick in line. Keep it up!

[kenny]

It's easy to see that this issue is really hitting home with Leaf fans. However, it would be nice if, instead of making suggestions about things over which they have ZERO control, they did something that's both effective AND within their power: stop filling MLSE's coffers by buying Leafs merchandise.

Although I only get to see a Leafs game once in a long while (and it's always three rows from the back wall), I can actually understand the season ticket holder mentality when they don't want to give up their seats forever. I can understand this.

However, when at the game, don't buy a single thing: no dry pizza slices, no $8 hot dogs, official programmes, or overpriced beer. As for the rest of us, stop buying Leaf jerseys, golf shirts, windbreakers, Leafs Nation DVDs, replica pucks, boxers, and every other item MLSE knows will sell like hot cakes if it has a blue-and-white logo on it. Most important--cancel LeafsTV.

It would take an act of God to make the seats empty at a Leafs game; however, all it takes is a little common sense to deprive MLSE of their merchandise and specialty channel revenue, especially now that the holiday season is approaching.

You all can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk? Knowing Leafs fans, I guess the answer is "no."

[rdk 12 of Pgh]

What about Craig Patrick? He could bring in Ron Francis for a 2 year apprenticeship and complete the former Penguins trifecta by hiring Randy Cunneyworth as the coach.

[junior]

Tom Kurvers??? Are you kidding me? On what basis should Tom Kurvers be considered to fill a management position at MLSEL?

Would that be based on the many Norris trophies he won while anchoring the Leaf blueline following the brilliant and worthwhile trade that brought him here (and ridding us of the burden of that slacker Niedermayer), or in the alternative on the basis of the many division championships and Stanley Cup playoff victories racked up by the Phoenix Coyotes during his tenure as Director of Player Development there?

Please. How about restricting the discussion to actual possibilities?

[Richard Whitbread]

Damien,
Tough I'm not a Leafs fan, I think the Leafs management could use a guy like John Muckler. Mucks in not the best GM when it comes to late season trades (at least he didn't impress me at trade deadline times here in Ottawa) but his philosiphy of developing players versus renting players, would make him the right man for the job of rebuilding, not just the Leafs, but their support/farm teams. His famous answer to critics up here was that he would not sacrifive the futre of the team for a long shot in the present. (this might be a refreshing change for teh Leafs organization. He's also very good at training and evaluating scouts. (something that seems to elude JFJ.) Just my 2 cents.

[Dan Lawson]

I really like the David Conte suggestion, also like Jim Nill and Dave Taylor as GM candidates. Not sure about Neil Smith - he built a winner in NY but his inability to get hired and, or keep a job of late is troubling. Whoever it is we can't afford another experiment with inexperience (i.e. JFJ). It's time for the Leafs ownership to step up and demonstrate a REAL committment to winning - that means giving Scotty Bowman WHATEVER he wants to take over as President.

I like Maurice but this team has not been prepared to play on too many occasions. Grab Larry Robinson, Pat Burns or anyone named Sutter as Head Coach. Also - bring in Scott Stevens to coach the D - I don't think he has much coaching experience but he commands respect and you can bet he'll put a group out there that will be tough to play against every night.

Also, the fact that Mike Milbury's name is on Damien's starting list is very very scary - no way this guy should be let anywhere near the Leafs or any other team - except maybe Ottawa ;-).

[A-Mar]

even if Bowman were interested I'd rather him a president than a GM... to be honest even though he's an established winner... I don't think he has the edge in the GM department that someone like Dave Taylor or even Jim Nill from Detroit has. Mark Messier would make a better coach than GM, could any player in a dressing room not pay attention when he talks?

[Jamie Annett]

What about bringing in Wayne Gretzky as President/General Manager.He's doing a pretty good job in Phoenix now,and look what he did a few years ago with Team Canada.I would also bring back Pat Quinn as coach and bring in some of the Leaf Alumni as Assistant coaches-eg.-Borje Salming,Darryl Sittler,Doug Gilmour,Wendel Clark,just to mention a few.

[Jody]

Ken Holland!

[Brian]

I'm sticking with JFJ. He's as capable as Healy, Messier, Francis or Yzerman. JFJ has provided the talent for this team to win. A coaching change may make the greatest difference. Give Gilbert the reins for the rest of the reason as he certainly has the Marlies on a roll. It's the guys on the ice that need to improve. Although Maurice may be a good coach he is not clicking with this roster. While Philly looks good after replacing their GM & coach, the same changes in Boston have not produced a playoff team. Let JFJ finish the season and then reconsider things in April.

[Jeff Brown]

I like Colin Campbell as President/GM. Assistant GM Glenn Healy will become GM in 2 yrs if the Leafs are successful. Mark Messier returns to action as Player-Coach, attempting to inspire his teammates/players by sporting a Lanny McDonald-style mustache and vowing to stop the Leafs from being "a bunch of pussies."

Leafs please trade: Sundin, McCabe, White, Ponikarovsky, Wellwood, Tucker, even Kaberle for draft picks or prospects.

When did the Leafs forget you can still hit players? And stand in front of the net? On powerplays especially? please?

[R Spence]

The biggest problem with the Leafs right now is it's Fans. Unfortunately, I'm one of them. We'll watch anything that moves on ice and as long as it has a Leafs jersey on it. The owners (the Teacher's Pension Plan Group) are making a 22% return on their investment; who cares about the quality of play on the ice or its future? As long as the fans keep coming to games, they can continue to sell TV rights, sell team merchandise, keep costs as low as possible and the dollars keep rolling in, there is absolutely no incentive to build a better Leafs organization. Why would they? Its as simple as that in my opinion!! What's a little bad press? They can hire PR guys a whole lot cheaper than it costs for quality management and players.

In most US markets, you can't afford to put a bad product on the ice or the fans won't come. In southern Ontario, we'll grumble a little, but we keep on coming. Bad product or not.

The owners goal is not to get in the playoffs or win the Stanley Cup; it's to see if they can get to a 30% ROI. Now that's a win for them!!

[Ron]

Pres: Scotty Bowman - winniest coach in the NHL.
GM: John Muckler - look at what he's done in Ottawa, and what a grudge match he'd have trying to put a better team on the ice in Toronto.
Coach: Paul Maurice - give the man a break. What coach can make a consistent winner out of this motley crew? If he benched the real offenders, he'd have a revolt on his hands and management would have no choice but to fire him.

I agree with Damien that no player should be protected. Players that have to go include McCabe, Wozneiwski, Raycroft, for their inconsistent play, and even Tucker who has become a distraction. I'm still willing to give other non-producers a chance, like Blake, Stajan, and Steen, but my patience is wearing thin. Toskala has been far more consistent in goal than Raycroft will ever be, and with a better team in front of him, Toskala can be a great goalie, as shown in the 3-0 win over Ottawa.

The real question is, however, is any body at MLSE even listening?

Hello? Any body there? Or, are you at the bank counting your profits?

Ron
Carlisle, ON

[Newton]

The Hockey Operations need to be conducted solely with a view towards winning hockey games. Sentimental fan biases and ownership interference have no place in the hockey ops decisions of a modern cap-bound NHL franchise.

A proven player development GM hired along with some youthful CBA/cap specialists is the only way to go. Perhaps the Leafs need a fresh faced Theo Epstein type to help with their personnel decisions. Heck, maybe even a guy who never even strapped on the blades. Old time hockey decision makers still have a significant roll to play but shouldn't be calling the shots exclusively. Reason and creativity will be need to win in the cap age.

[Dave Kearney]

One thing that doesn't make sense from Damien's column is the notion that Bob Gainey is such a great GM. The Habs are dropping fast and I predict they will be in the same position as last year. He signed Hamrlik for 5 million (Kubina?)and Samsonov. His draft picks have been just OK, remember Price was selected 6th overall (a pretty nice spot to pick from). Their prospects are only slightly better than the Leafs. The only reason Gainey's stock is high, is because the Habs got off to such a good start.

[RT]

Its time to tune this team and the NHL out, until the Leafs get competent senior management. This team reminds me of the return to Ballard years and it’s simply too painful to watch! I don't purport to know who are the best candidates for the job but it’s obvious that its time to clean house from the President on down. Hang onto the 2008 draft picks and the young players and re-build. Clear cap space and sign free agents in the summer. Obviously the Leafs need a President and GM with credibility and the ability to execute on the re-building plan. Until then – I’m off the bandwagon. I’ve been a Leaf fan since the Ballard years of the 70’s – far too long to be with this organization and I’m not sticking around this time around!