One Step Forward, Four Back

There are many reasons why the Leafs can't move forward.

One is that this franchise can never resist moving backwards.

They fired Punch Imlach in 1969 because he was running the team into the ground. Then they brought him back a decade later to finish the job.

Carl Brewer walked out on the team in 1965. They brought him back 15 years later at age 41 and he aptly demonstrated he couldn't play anymore.

Wendel Clark was the future when he was drafted in 1985, and no longer the future when he was traded away for Mats Sundin in 1994. Then they brought him back. Twice.

Doug Gilmour brought the last sense of glory to the team with the run to the conference finals in '93 and '94, but by the winter of 1997 was gone for a package of futures - Jason Smith, Alyn McCauley and Steve Sullivan.

Five years later, he was back again, if only for an unbelievably brief time. Then he came back again as an executive.

I could go on. Mike Pelyk, Steve Thomas, Drake Berehowsky, Tie Domi, Bobby Baun, Darby Hendrickson - the list just goes on and on. I mean, last week, they extended an offer to Curtis Joseph to come back for another shot.

It fits a franchise bereft of ideas that the best ones always seem to be familiar ones, usually ones that failed before.

No other team does this, or at least not nearly to this extent.

So of course the Leafs have reached out to Cliff Fletcher.

It's the only hockey executive's name most of these dummies would know.

Come on back, Cliff. All is forgiven. At a time when rebuilding through the draft is the only way to go, why not re-hire the man who coined the phrase, "Draft, schmaft?"

Does nobody remember that in Fletcher's last season the Leafs finished with 68 points and were even worse than they are now? Doesn't anybody remember they didn't even get to use that miserable season to draft high because the No. 4 pick was traded to the New York Islanders, who selected Roberto Luongo?

Going for it now and paying for it later was the m.o. of the last 15 years of Fletcher's career. He traded Brett Hull to get Rob Ramage and Rick Wamsley. And in Phoenix, he was part of the management team that embarked on a disastrous program to bring in faded stars in an attempt to make the Coyotes competitive.

Now, let's be clear. Fletcher is a classy, classy individual who has done more in and for the game that most anybody on the planet. When he was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a builder, he was one of the few you could say actually deserved it.

But hiring him to be the caretaker GM isn't just a case of MLSE being unable to think outside the box. It's that their box is so incredibly small.

It's a desperate attempt to grab on to Fletcher's popularity, still impressive in the city a decade after he left.

Fletcher has oodles of friends in hockey, and so you'll hear tribute after tribute about him, about his knowledge and experience.

What you won't hear is anybody telling you the truth because people respect Fletcher so much.

They won't tell you that they had to get him out of out the Phoenix hockey operation super fast because he was driving Mike Barnett and Wayne Gretzky crazy.

Fletcher was allowed to walk away from that hockey disaster without a mark on him because he is so beloved in the game.

But if he comes back, the gloves will be off again.

I hope Fletcher tells these morons to take a hike. He doesn't deserve this, although you can bet the old energy is coursing through the Silver Fox's bloodstream this morning.

Being a GM in the NHL these days is a young man's game. It takes an incredible amount of dedication and energy and drive. Wanna hire a Fletcher? Then hire his very smart son, Chuck, now an executive in Pittsburgh. This team needs a GM to get to work now, not an interim GM to hand off the job in June or July, thus putting the Leafs behind the eight-ball for next season. Again.

Then again, we all need a good laugh now and then. And watching the Leafs go backwards again is just too funny. Remember when they fired Roger Neilson, then brought him back a couple of days later and wanted him to wear a paper bag over his head.

Hey, Maybe Cliff will wear a paper bag!

But if he won't do it, how about Floyd Smith? Or Pat Burns, yes, that'll work. Or Doug Carpenter, or Gerry McNamara, or John Brophy, or Jim Gregory, or Mike Smith, or. . . . .

Comments

[Ian Weir]

....or Gord Stellick!

[Peter Ing]

You forgot Mike Palmateer, Luke Richardson and last year's "playoff saviour" Yannick Perreault.

[Peter]

Hey Damien,

Have to agree with you on this one. Cliff is not the one..only Scotty Bowman could turn this around if we are looking at geriatric replacement candidates. Draft, Schmaft = Daft!

Over the years the Leafs have been consistent...bad management from top to bottom.
This has been further exacerbated by all that follows bad trades, scouting and draft picks.

Brad Boyes would look good in a Leaf uniform now. Luongo too. We only get mediocrities like
the current squad outside of Sundin and maybe Kaberle. Sell the team to someone who cares about the franchise in the fashion of Mike Ilitch...oh but that would be too risky for Toronto.

[smokey]

I agree with you Damien regarding recycling former GM's such as Fletcher but would add both Bowman and Muckler to the pile. These gentlemn were former greats but not the guys to remake the Leafs.

Personally, I think they should not make a change right now at all in the GM's role and let Fergie continue. He is much younger and stronger and able to better accept the pressures of the job in Toronto. Its not his fault that Blake and Tucker are not scoring as last year. There are so many guys who are simply regressing but who would have predicted that but a short win streak can change the atmoshere quickly. Also, by waiting, there may bea few more guys available and I don't think an immediate change helps in the long term unless the perfect guy is there.

[phil vconstandinou]

to damien cox- my what an intelligent comment you make about being a gm of a hockey team being a young mans job; how old a person is jfj??? Ithought we wanted an experienced gm. your suggestion that the leafs hire cliff fletchers son sounds to me that you really are smoking something funny- wasnt jfj a junior exec with the blues? you really are a funny guy to figure out!!!

[Bo]

How about Pat Quinn? Peddie has already said hiring Ferguson was a mistake. And who did Ferguson replace? That's right, Pat himself. He already knows the organization, warts and all and he's available.
Gee it almost makes you wish for a return to the Dryden years.

[Ankur]

Honeslty, how come nobody is talking about Firing Richard Peddie, more than getting ride of JFJ, the first person they need out is Peddie, simple 3 steps, fire peddie, fire JFJ and trade Sundin, this ship will atleast be going in the right direction. Your right Fletcher is not the right guy, but it cant' be a nobody either, they need somebody with pizzazz and some type of hockey knowledge, Neil Smith or Scotty Bowman would be the best types I see, why are leafs looking for an interim solution now, they need somebody that can use the situation now to build for the future, there are quite a few players that would help playoff teams and a lot of first round draft picks to pick up from guys like Tucker to Hal Gill.

[Adam C]

"Draft, schmaft" is just something you say when you've already traded away your picks; it's not like it was Fletcher's philosophy. Fletcher had a team on a clock, and he went for it.

"Being a GM in the NHL these days is a young man's game." That's a pretty pat statement. There are plenty of young, lousy GMs and plenty of older good ones. 'Youth' and 'drive' may be assets, but they're not the be-all and end-all of the job by any stretch.

Hiring an experienced guy on an interim basis makes a lot of sense to me. Hiring an excellent guy on a permanent basis makes even more sense, but I think it's probably beyond MLSE's capabilities.

[Patrick]

smokey, what are you smoking? It's not Blake's or Tucker's fault for accepting the bad contracts offered by JFJ. I'm not excusing them, but we all would gladly take the money at our jobs if we were offered a raise. JFJ has clearly demonstrated he can't make sound decisions regardless of the hockey pressure. Do you think Ken Holland's job is any easier in terms of pressure?

[Ron Rogers]

Damien, I'm glad that you're maintaining a voice of sanity in the midst of this mess. Why MLSE thinks Cliff Fletcher would be the ideal person to start the rebuilding is beyond me!? He decimated the Leafs during his final days in T.O. by trading away prospects and picks, and then proceeded on the same course in Phoenix. Also not a big fan of bringing in Bowman...does no one remember the mess he made of the Sabres when he was G.M. there in the '80s?
Unfortunately, I can't see any decent hockey man wanting the job, knowing that they'd have to work under Peddie and run every potential deal past the Board of Directors. But hey, I'm sure the suits from the Teacher's Union are fully equipped to judge Mats Sundin's value at the trade deadline!

[Don K]

You are bang on with this column Damien. It is so predictable how this stupid organization thinks. Their first reaction is to ALWAYS bring back ex-Leafs when the team is in crisis. Does it ever work? The proof is in the pudding, 41 years and counting.

[Sean]

Everything about the Leafs has been so negative lately. Let's make something positive out of this situation.

If Fletcher is hired, I propose that we all agree to donate $1 to charity every time Damien uses the phrase "draft, schmaft" in an article from now until the rest of the year.

Let's do it, Leaf fans! Knowing Damien, we'll be able to build a new wing on the children's hospital by May!

[Conn Smythe]

Cox, so what is your solution then? Fletcher would be a perfect fit on an INTERM basis. The season is half done - who are you going to get to fill in for a half season? Use Fletcher as a stop gap and then begin your search in the summer.

Fletcher is a hell of alot better than the GM we have now.

Use continue to use the 'draft, schmaft' quote, but his trade of Wendel for Sundin worked out well, eh?

As for Fletcher's son, are you serious? People were saying the same thing about Ferguson before he took the Leafs job. The Leafs need an experienced, stand alone kind of guy.

Stick to what you do best, Damien - whatever that is...

[dan]

I read Cliff Fletcher is 72 years old today. The MLSE board loves their "experienced veterans". Allison, O'Neill, Corson, Nolan, Belfour, Francis, now Fletch! We are now officially a joke.

Cox is bang-on. The leafs' business model is built on nostalgia. Oh the storied maple leafs, and the glory days of 67... Every game they bring back an old timer in their "welcome back" segment at the ACC. Anybody else tired of having to stand up and cheer EVERY GAME for somebody they never saw play live? They only do this because their on-ice product is in shambles and their is little else to be proud of these days.

Please tank back to back seasons and shoot for a Stamkos-Tavares combo to build the team around... Malkin and Crosby seemed to work out pretty good...

[John Hunt]

I can't remember which commentator said it, but the point of hiring Bowman is not that he would necessarily be a great GM but that he would bring professional organization to the Leafs that they have never had since I can remember. What I see as Bowman's role in Toronto is the model he followed in Detroit, minus the coaching. In Detroit, Bowman was appointed GM, then hired Ken Holland as assistant GM, and I believe Jim Nill, gave them structure and then let them grow into their current roles. No one has mentioned it (at least not that I have seen), but Bowman was the coach of the Canadiens during some of the time the great Sam Pollack was the Canadiens' GM. You have to imagine that some of Sam Pollack rubbed off onto Scotty. At the very least, Bowman knows what a professional hockey organization looks like. From his experience in Detroit, he has shown he can replicate it.

Whether the Leafs can get Bowman in the middle of the season is one question I have not seen too many people address definitively. Mostly there is an assumption that the answer is no. But Bowman has a unique job with Detroit, and who knows whether his agreement with the team would allow him to quit for any reason or no reason. If he cannot quit mid-season, certainly Bowman or one of his star pupils in Holland or Nill is worth the wait until summer. In the interim, hire someone like Glenn Healy on the condition that Bowman (or Holland) would be Healy's mentor when he arrived. Or maybe work out a Sundin trade with Detroit with part of the compensation coming back in the form of Ken Holland. I certainly would not go with Cliff Fletcher, Pat Quinn (whoever suggested either should be caned) or another retread.

[Adam C]

"Draft, schmaft" is just something you say when you've already traded away your picks; it's not like it was Fletcher's philosophy. Fletcher had a team on a clock, and he went for it.

"Being a GM in the NHL these days is a young man's game." That's a pretty pat statement. There are plenty of young, lousy GMs and plenty of older good ones. 'Youth' and 'drive' may be assets, but they're not the be-all and end-all of the job by any stretch.

Hiring an experienced guy on an interim basis makes a lot of sense to me. Hiring an excellent guy on a permanent basis makes even more sense, but I think it's probably beyond MLSE's capabilities.

[vince]

There is no reason to hire an interim GM (Fletcher?) who is known for his courage in making bold moves and big trades. An Interim GM should be someone who can stay the course until someone else comes in to "make the big trades" if that's what is needed. Such a hiring would lack vision for the future.

[mjb]

Definition of INSANITY - performing the same action over and over expecting a different result. Could apply to Leafs management as well as fans.

Hey, what about bringing back Eddie Shack - talk about laughs!

[J. Boyd]

All you get with these old school guys is the same old ideas, same old views of the game, call up some old cronies to help out. They live in the past. How many companies are run by 75 year olds who aren't just figureheads?

They are dinasaurs, go play golf somewhere and forget about being the hero. And these clowns who actually think about hiring these guys should also be put out to pasture. Please tell me what Cliff Fletcher and even Scotty Bowman would do to save this mess.......we're talking a rebuilding program - 3,4, years,,,,these guys will be pushing 80!!! Wheel them in every morning, or better still order meals on wheels, save them having to go out in the cold.

[Steve Barnett]

Getting Fletch for the balance of the season is fine with me..Anybody is better than what we have now. But the problem is you hire Fletch, let him do his stuff, but who does he report to?...Thats right! The soup salesman! So what changes? Nothing, thats what..We have the cart before the horse here fellas. Until Dick is done, we are doomed..There is no sense hiring anyone until Dick is relieved of his duties..We can talk and talk about who we want but we should be talking about who we dont want. I mean does Dick not see that the whole city hates his guts? What kind of a guy goes through life knowing that anyone he passes on the street probably hates him...I'll bet his dog doesnt even like him. They must be sitting in the Big Top on Bay and feeling the heat. Does anyone there tell Dick what's going on down in client land? As Dick looks out the window at his empire slowly rising up from Bay St does he think to himself "Dick you are one solid hockey guy, you son of a gun" "That Scot Boreman or whatever his name is has nothing on ole Dick" So until the time comes that Dick is back selling condos and merchandise this is all an effort in futility folks...This fish is rotting from the head down..

[smokey]

I recall the signing of Blake was a steal and keeping Tucker was a home town discount...there were a lot of GM's wanted these guys. However, Fergy gets them and then they don't produce...how is that Fergy's fault.

All these retreads people are clamouring for are not the answer and why would any organization ever want to fire Peddie who has made the Leafs the most profitiable club in the league. Again, I say do not do anything on impulse and wait till there is someone special out there. Leaf fans are frustrated but this is not the time to panic and repeat mistakes.

[Baldy Cotton]

So far, the most intriguing name I've heard is David Poile. Could be a good fit, but I suppose the MLSE bozos would never be able to follow up on such an obscure lead. There have been reports that Poile might possibly be looking for an escape hatch from the Hee Haw situation.

[N.B.]

Hey Damian,

What about Mike Milbury? The man has been lurking about at TSN since the beginning of the season. Why not give him a shot? If Peddie and the other board members are as short-sighted and stupid as you say they are, what have they got to lose?

Cliff Fletcher may have said "draft schmaft", but you can't possibly top Milbury for making stellar picks only to trade them away. Take a look around the league...

I'm kidding, of course. I would keel over dead if this actually happened. Leafs fans have endured so much that a move like this one would kill us all.

[Patrick]

I'm a Leaf fan, but I know that Damien should stick what he does best, which is not be a shill for the Leafs. While he hits some sore spots, Damien's job is not to please the homers or come up with solutions for MLSE.

In any case, he contributed to another story on this site today as to what he thinks should be done. Feschuk's insights were particularly funny.

[Alex]

I, like every other Toronto Maple Leafs fan, feel entirely helpless as to what is going on within the organization. Just recently I was made aware of this website.

http://www.firerichardpeddie.ca/

The address pretty much speaks for itself, I thought perhaps some of you would be interested. If someone could forward to the website to Damien Cox himself, perhaps the website could get printed in the paper and we could save this sinking ship.