Slow and Easy or Fast and Furious?

With Cliff Fletcher poised to take over the Maple Leafs - the official team announcement came just before noon today that John Ferguson Jr. has been fired - the interesting question is this; how will Fletcher try to fix this team?

To answer that, it's worthwhile to look at his first moves when he was hired the last time to run the Leafs, back in July, 1991.

The Leafs were coming off a 57-point season and had missed the playoffs five of 10 years, meaning they were probably in worse shape then compared to now.

Fletcher, then 55, came in with a five-year, $4 million contract, albeit one that wasn't set in stone until the following September when Steve Stavro gave up his battle to have Fletcher either fired or reined in.

"There's not going to be any quick cures," vowed Fletcher.

So what was his first big move? Did he stockpile draft picks and prospects?

Uh, not quite.

Instead, in September he swung a deal with Edmonton to bring in three veterans - goalie Grant Fuhr, winger Glenn Anderson and forward Craig Berube - in a whopper of a deal. Fuhr was coming off a shortened year due to a drug suspension, but Fletcher proclaimed him to be the "cornerstone to a new foundation."

In exchange, the Leafs surrendered a package of young players including 23-year-old Vince Damphousse, Luke Richardson (22), Scott Thornton (20) and goalie Peter Ing (22).

Damphousse retired in 2004 with a Stanley Cup ring from Montreal and 432 NHL goals, 314 for teams other than the Leafs.

Richardson has played 1,385 NHL games and is still skating for Ottawa. Thornton is also still playing and gunning for 1,000 games-played.

And what about the three players the Leafs received?

Berube was moved four months later in the monstrously successful Doug Gilmour deal with Calgary. Fuhr was peddled 18 months later in another deal that brought short-term help to the Leafs in sniper Dave Andreychuk. Anderson lasted all the way until March, 1994 before being traded to New York.

As of today, Fletcher now runs the Leafs again. But will he take the same approach?

Stay tuned.

Comments

[madmaf]

Cliff Fletcher!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

All of Montreal is currently on a forced break - we can't stop laughing!!!

The future of hockey has arrived in Toronto!

Good luck guys.....

[Thierry Nihill]

I remember a time, not that long ago, when John Ferguson was being hailed as "a great hockey man", a "first-grade evaluator of talent" and "representative of the next wave of young, brilliant hockey minds." I watched with dismay the shenanigans associated with Shayne Corson . I watched with horror the complete disinterest that was Eric Lindros in going the extra mile for the club "he wanted to skate for since he first laced up skates." I turned away in disgust when two long-time friends and team-mates, Joe Nieuwendyk and Gary Roberts, were both permitted to skate away from the hockey team they should both have been able to retire wearing the jersey of. Last I heard, Gary Roberts was still considered a leader in the Pittsburgh locker room, and is still contributing. Are all of these soap-operas the direct fault of (first) Pat Quinn and (then) John Ferguson? I sense a deeper - much deeper - cancer here, and I think it begins within the plush, executive offices of Maple Leaf sports. Everyone can pile on Richard Peddie, and deservedly so considering the man in his arrogance seems to regard the Maple Leaf franchise as his own personal fiefdom, for some of the moves (or non-moves) that he's made. To me, the fact that no-one seems to want to work for (let alone with) him speaks volumes. It doesn't take a linguist or deciphering expert to read between Scotty Bowman's lines in regards to his dealings with Mr. Peddie. However, I believe that the bigger truth and responsibility must reside with Larry Tanenbaum. If Mr. Tanenbaum truly cares about parading the Stanley Cup down Yonge Street anytime before he leaves this mortal coil (rather than building a gaudy monument to his ego a la Steve Stavro at Mount Pleasant), he will do the necessary thing and ask Mr. Peddie to step down from his responsibilities. It appears no-one "young", "brilliant" or regarded as a "top hockey man" wants any part of the Peddie Circus - and they have to rely on retreads like Mr. Fletcher in order to try and right the listing ship. There are plenty of top people available and qualified - and certainly more respected and personable - than Richard Peddie to right the keel of the good ship Maple Leaf, I think. Doesn't the aforementioned moniker "Scotty Bowman" spring to mind? He has the experience as both a hockey man and the President of a hockey club ...

[Clark Aitken]

It looks to me like they may be trying to re-create the path they took with the Raptors. After Babock was fired, Wayne Embry inherited the interim role and began to move the pieces that weren't part of their immediate and long-term future, setting the table for Colangelo's arrival to shape the team in his image.

I fully expect a number of veterans that do not fit in to the Leafs long-term future (like Tucker, Kilger, maybe even Raycroft, Blake and Kubina if a suitor can be found) to be moved in the coming weeks, leaving whomever the new GM is to move forward with the young core players and some extra cap room to reshape this team.

It's only the first step of the journey; let's not bury him before he's done anything.

[TT]

Come on. Give the guy a break. As far as I can remember, he was the first GM for a long time that actually provide some success for this franchise. Dave Andreychuk was a potent winger for Doug Gilmour and scored a lot of goals. Who knew how Vince Damphousse would turn out if he stayed in this franchise? Any body would be better than JFJ.

[Tree]

Everyone bashing Cox' article needs to take a step back and think a little to gain some perspective. First, his record from 11 years ago IS relevant - his best trades garnered immediate help, not prospects; this team doesn't need immediate help, and it would actually hurt the rebuilding process that is needed. He doesn't believe in building through the draft - then or now. In his last go-'round in Phoenix, he didn't build through the draft (even though the team had high picks); rather, he brought in aging vets like Hull, Jovanoski, Joseph ... while trading away young talent like Nagy (who has been a success in Dallas). So his past matters - because whether you're talking 15 years ago or 2 years, he's not great at rebuilding teams (face it, when he inherited the Leafs back in the day he could spend whatever they wanted; these days, unless he can find some gullible GMs, he's committed to $40M next year - and that doesn't include Mats). I agree with Cox - not a wise hire.

[murray groves]

damien no cup in 40 years tells you this maple leaf organization is badly flawed at the top.business people are making player personnel decisions,spending money on a proper scouting system is viewed as a waste,the leaf top 4 defencemen earn the same dollars[$20 million]as the ducks top four,$2 million revenue could be earned from each playoff game yet mccabe gets $7 million per year and the scouts,none of which owns a ring,dont get a car allowance.changing the players on the ice should be well down any list of priorities fletcher has to address.

[PS3Hax]

Damien, its really the Peddie show, isn't it. The board is a bunch of buffoons that have largely hidden behind the snake oil salesman. They toast themselves on their burgeoning real estate wealth at the expense of the evisceration of the "tradition" of the maple leafs. peddie is a control freak, he has signed a deal with the devil and will not take his hands off the tiller.

And tannenbaum, just horrible. no clue on championship making. completely political and just plain scary.

[Dafydd]

Trading Sundin would be an error. Did the Habs ever trade Beliveau or Rocket for picks? Kaberle, Sundin, Toskala must stay. Otherwise, Cliff, go ahead and deal.

[Mike Milner]

When you build a hockey team, you build it from the net out. I thought everybody knew that. That's why Grant Fuhr was brought here.

[Rob]

This is awesome, it's like watching a great and timeless joke being created for future generations to enjoy.
Fergy will get hired by a bottom-rung, struggling team without a living joke management structure and take them to greatness, the Leafs will take credit for "training" him and pat themselves on the back (as they miss the playoffs again), the fans will scream that they should get G.M's like him, and you'll have a ready-made book subject just dying to be written, Damien.
Everyone wins.
Can't you just smell it?

[John]

Well, Fletcher began to fail when Stavros started to act like Ballard. Notice a trend? When the ownership tries to pretend that they know something about hockey, and runs the team, the team fails. The current situation is exactly the same with Peddie.

I listened to the press conference. Damien clearly has the knife out for Fletcher and Fletcher, just as clearly, feels somewhat the same for Damien. I think mixed into this report is something in the history of these two and that's colouring this article. The reviews of this move outside of Toronto seem to be much more positive.

I am, however, a bit surprised at the Quinn bashing... For the record, Quinn has the highest winning percentage, just shy of 60%, of any Leaf GM in the history of the franchise. He didn't win the cup, but the Leafs under him were consistently one of the best teams in the league. He, at least, created teams that had a shot at it.

[Scott Summers]

Damien, I hope you were listening to the Q/A with Peddie & Fletcher during the news conference.

This is my take leafs fan...

1, MLSE has NO PLANS to finish last to stock pile some high draft picks.

2. MLSE & Corporate partners will be happy and will make money as long as Leafs finish above 80 points.

3. Even today they want to make the playoff knowing very well they will not go far in making the playoff or going far in the playoffs with out some good young talent.

4. They want to keep Sundin and trade others from the team for some spare parts.
(Not draft pick). Now they have re-tooled the team, now they can take a run at the playoffs.

5. MLSE has no plans to win the Stanly Cup. Therefore the team does not need to be blown apart and rebuilt. Bring in Fletcher make face lift to the team. So MLSE can concentrate on milking poor Leaf fans money.

Everyone remember when JFJ was hired, He preached the importance of drafting well and focusing on developing own talent as the key to Stanly Cup success. The very next year, the board would have told him enough re-building, make the playoffs. Guess what happened is history.

Leafs fans, MLSE pulled another fast one over your head.
SORRY! NO CUP, NO MORE! Until MLSE, is bought out by a single owner.

Cheers
Another disappointing future to look forward to.

[Steve]

Punch Imlach is gonna be some kind of p*ssed when he hears about this and then realizes he hasn't checked his e-mail for 2 weeks. All those urgent messages from Peddie. Coulda been you, George...

[Davd]

Unless they can find someone who can cause the contraction of 24 franchises, it doesn't matter.

[Earl Nelville]

Contrary to what some might say about the restrictions of a salary cap handcuffing Fletcher, I would suggest that under constraints like a salary cap and the limited room with which he has to manouver, it will be very interesting to see how a seasoned veteran like Cliff Fletcher will operate. I think that the current conditions that the Leafs organisation finds it's self in is exactly the reason why you bring in a wheeler dealer like Fletcher. A hit man who will do what has to be done. Let's just hope he has Scotty Bowman's cell number on his speed dial.

[Alan]

The Board had to give a 19 month contract to Fletcher because they didn't see the writing on the wall months ago? They took no previous action to start shopping for a new GM until they finally decided that Ferguson must go? What kind of silly Board is this? If they were running my company they would be sued by the shareholders for incompetence. All members of the Board need to be replaced and all should give back their paychecks. Pitiful, pathetic franchise with no backbone, no leadership and no vision. Leaf fans better not hold their breath for changes of any substance anytime soon. This is a franchise in sorry need of a new buyer with a box of grenades.

[Garret]

What is most disturbing is that most Fletcher apologists miss the point. He brought us some modicum of success. We didn't win the cup. We weren't even close. Those years were a lovable bunch of overachieving scrappers. It was fun to watch, but nobody should admit that we really had a chance at the cup those two years. When you frame it, "We have to be competitive," it sounds like a euphemism for "We'd rather win some games than win the cup."

Kind of like how, "We're a playoff team" seems to be the euphemism for "We're not entirely sure if we'll make the playoffs."

I would

[Brandon Steen]

Damien,

Maybe you should lay off beating the "Hate Leafs Drum". Your continued comments on the hiring of Cliff Fletcher is getting old. Cliff is the best man period for this caretaker period. He has a solid and trusted relationship with Mats, he knows the insane Hog Town media circus that follows the team like lint. Sure their are others but that would be counter productive as we all know the real search begins in July and Cliff has stated at today's press conference that he has no desire to be one to throw ones' hat into that selection hat. Please cut the guy slack on being known as Mr. Draft Schmaft, aren't we allowed time to change. Cliff pointed out that today's barometer depends heavily on youth, picks etc. So spend your energy covering the Australian Open and praying the Thomson Group buys out the Teachers.

[Eric]

Damien,I love reading your column.It is informative and accurate. But I have to play Devils advocate here. Why do I read an undertone in your column of pessimism? I ask why are all the sports writers semi-critical of this latest move by MLSE? I would like to say that Fletchers reign before was very similar to the way other Gms of that era and by those standards he was by all accounts brilliant. How many 50 goal seasons did that short term acquisition of Andreychuk get? We all say its the closest we've been to Lord Stanley since good ol' 1967. Listening to Fletcher speak it seems he has that same grasp on how things work this time around too. Given the far superior team he gets to start with this time around I for one am excited to see what happens this time around. MLSE has given the Toronto fans and writers exactly what they have been pleading for since JFJ's failed attempts the last few seasons. Alls I am asking is how about a little bit of positivity and maybe some rants about something other than all the draft picks Fletcher gave away last time. Time will tell. Where's the love guys?

[steve conti]

Its hard to believe a man like Cliff Fletcher with all of his experience will come in here with "limited authority" to make hockey related decisions. If he still has to run all moves by MLSE what has changed?? nothing. that is why it is 41 years and counting.

[Roberto Calazar]

A "gutless Pat Quinn" because he wouldn't face the media?
What exactly entitles some ink stained wretch to make that assessment?
We all know you couldn't stand the guy, because he saw through your phony "objective" reporting and held you in the disdain you deserve.
Now years after the fact you are still taking shots and Quinn can't respond or even know?
Now, that is gutless and typical.

[Hiten Patel]

JFJ had to go before he traded the 2008 Leafs 1st pick. You see when Fletch took over in 1991 he didn't have the pick that Floyd Smith traded away (the infamous Kurvers trade) and he didn't have enough true NHL calibre assets (but somehow turned fast fading Leeman into Gilmour who turned out to be the best NHL player IMO from 1992-1994) to trade for draft picks when he came on board in 1991.

Yes Fletch traded away Leafs 1st pick in 1997 for Clark but he also got Mathieu Schneider in that deal who can still play on elite teams. And remeber he also traded Gilmour to NJ for Jason Smith, Steve Sullivan and Alyn Maccauly. Of course Damien convenietly fails to mention that.

[Belter]

Fletch needs to make some projections of a points "baseline" the team must have by, say, a week before the deadline. If they do not meet that total by that time, then the season's over and start making moves based on building for next year. That "baseline" has to be set at a high total, too, one that sees them sitting in no less than the approx. the 6th playoff position at that time.
If they are at or above the identified points baseline, he has to make moves based on an expected appearance in the playoffs. Some will say, "There's no way they'll make it to 6th by that time!" and if they don't, that's fine, the deals must start being made for next year. Set the bar high right now and make it the ONLY acceptable level, or else that's it, towel is OFFICIALLY thrown in on this season, rather than just being assumed by us fans as usual, but never stated by the club.

[Greg Smith]

And what did Fuhr fetch when he was traded by Fletcher to Buffalo?
Andreychuk, Puppa, and a 1st round pick which became Kenny Jonsson.
Why give all the facts when part of the facts make a better story?

[Conn Smythe]

Garret, I'm no 'Fletcher apologist' but his Leaf led teams brought us within one game of the Stanley Cup final in '93. That was, sadly, our only real, legit shot at the cup (notwithstanding our other semi - final appearances).

I fail to see how a game 7 is "not even close".

Cox thinks this signing of Fletcher is wrong, and will continue to harp on what a big mistake it is.

Regardless of the fact that Fletcher hasn't done anything yet, Cox is already critical.

Cox won't acknowledge if Fletcher does a good job - just like in an earlier article of his, his criticized Flecther's trading of Brett Hull from the Flames - all the while glossing over/ignoring his large contribution in making the Flames a Stanley Cup winner.

When Cox guides a team to the Stanley Cup, or is in the Hockey HOF, then I will show him some respect - respect he is obviously unable to give to Fletcher.