Fletcher At The Helm

As absurd as it sounds, the Maple Leafs might as well rip up Cliff Fletcher's 19-month contract.

And give him a five-year deal.

Whether you or I or most of the sharper minds in the hockey world think it would be smart to do doesn't matter a bit.

Those that run MLSE and the Leafs live in a bubble, totally removed from the realities of building championship teams. They do what they like in the way they like, knowing with confidence that their ever forgiving fans will happily buy tickets and t-shirts and merchandise no matter what is actually produced.

When it comes to Fletcher, however, it's clear the quaint notions of January in which he was presented as a fatherly figure, a Wayne Embry type, a temporary caretaker assigned the job of clearing the decks for a new Leaf management team, have completely evaporated.

Now, Fletcher is making major decisions with long-term implications. Just in buying out Darcy Tucker and signing Jeff Finger and Nicklas Hagman, Fletcher has tied up $7.75 million worth of Toronto cap space for the next four years at least.

He has signed a veteran coach, Ron Wilson, to a lucrative, long-term deal. He has bought out a 28-year-old backup goalie, Andrew Raycroft, and replaced him with 41-year-old Curtis Joseph, who couldn't find a job for the first half of last season. He has sacrificed two useful draft picks to move up in the '08 draft to select stay-at-home defenceman Luke Schenn, and dumped another third rounder to acquire winger Jamal Mayers. There's talk the Leafs may be pitching hard for defenceman Ron Hainsey, and the asking price is apparently something in the neighborhood of $5 million or more per season for six years or more.

These are all decisions, whether they're good ones or bad ones, that will affect the Leaf franchise for years. There are those conspiratorial types who believe Fletcher is really carrying out the wishes of Brian Burke, who would love to run the Leafs but can't right now.

But there's not a shred of evidence to support that theory.

As of now, there's no new hockey boss on the horizon. The Leafs aren't even looking anymore after saying publicly there were no candidates available good enough to take the job. That said, up-and-coming execs like Doug Armstrong, Dave Nonis, Brian Lawton and Tom Kurvers have all been hired to new jobs in recent days. None own the Stanley Cup ring as NHL general managers that the Leafs apparently cherish, but then again, none of the players Fletcher has acquired have championship pasts in NHL competition either.

All of this said, if they're going to let Fletcher make these major decisions, the only logical follow-up is to make him truly responsible for them by giving him a long-term deal to run the hockey club.

Of course, that would be idiotic to most thinking people. Moreover, most of the recent moves seem largely a smokescreen to cover up the fact that the jobs Fletcher was brought to Toronto to accomplish, specifically dump assets at the trade deadline for major gains and make sure Mats Sundin didn't walk on July 1st without the Leafs realizing something in return, were not accomplished.

That said, is giving Fletcher a long-term committment any sillier than letting the 72-year-old executive tie the hands of the next GM by spending millions of dollars on players and clogging up cap space with buyouts?

To be fair, Fletcher and the Leafs weren't the worst offenders on the first day of the NHL's silly season yesterday.

Washington believes the failed goaltender known as Jose Theodore is worth $4.5 million per season even though he's proven to be thoroughly unreliable. The Islanders spent a lot more on Mark Streit than the Leafs did on Finger. Boston blew their brains out to the tune of $4 million on Michael Ryder. The Rangers, by committing $11.5 million per season to Wade Redden and Michal Roszival, seem to be heading down the same slippery slope the Leafs did when they threw big money at Bryan McCabe, Tomas Kaberle, Pavel Kubina and Hal Gill.

The best decisions? Lou Lamoriello got a proven offensive performer in Brian Rolston, and a player who has played in New Jersey before. Edmonton's decision to bring in winger Erik Cole for underachieving Joni Pitkanen could pay major dividends.

The real winner yesterday, it seems, was the NHL Players Association, which now seems to be emerging as the long-term winner of the lockout, with even pedestrian athletes receiving enormous, multi-year contracts from foolhardly GMs.

The NHLPA has the option to re-open the current labour deal before it runs its full six-year length. My goodness, why would it do that? With teams like the Leafs still in the business of spending good money after bad, and with the payroll minimum now almost the same as the maximum the owners players were prepared to live with in order to end the lockout four years ago, NHL players are accruing riches at a staggering pace with no sensible end in sight.

Comments

[Bill Hunt]

Once again, the Leafs can do no right as far as Cox is concerned. Finger is a bit of a roll of the dice, but Fletcher is trusting his instincts, talked to Quenneville, whom he trusts and who coached Finger last year. I'm sure the market dictated the price. I doubt Fletcher started the bidding at $3.6 mil.
Cujo is a serviceable backup with some history in Toronto. He'll be OK and give the Leaf fans something to chant from the cheap seats if he can steal a win or two.
Come on Damien -- "up and coming executives like Brian Lawton and Tom Kurvers"...how badly would you fry their asses if the Leafs had hired either one of these guys for their front office team. JFJ had as good a pedigree as either one of those guys when he was hired four years ago and you were among those who kicked his ass out of town last year. How long would it take you to write that "it looks like JFJ all over again."
Nonis wouldn't have had any credibility in Toronto because the perception would be that he's just holding the keys for Brian Burke. And Armstrong was a nobody when he was assistant GM in Dallas until he helped them win the Cup in '99 and you would have carved his hiring too.
Interested to see how you characterize the hiring of Joe Nwndyk when he comes on. No doubt his status as an ex-Leaf who has been in the trenches and a College guy will buy him some time -- or will you be the first one to rip him a new one? In short, the Leafs can't do anything right. If they sign this guy, well, why didn't they sign THAT guy.
There's a lot wrong with the Leafs, it's true. They need fixing. Fletcher is trying to do that. But unless the Leafs call and clear every move with you; it's perceived as the boneheaded building of a guy who is overstepping his mandate and clogging up Brian Burke's roster.

[Colin F.]

What's that? Damien Cox wrote a negative piece and contradicts himself - shocking!

You honestly believe Curtis Joseph "couldn't find a job for the first half of last season"? The guy was looking for the right situation playing internationally and now is coming home to be a veteran voice in the locker room. You are telling me you would rather have Raycroft at 2 million than Cujo at 700,000 as your backup who is playing max. 15 games?

Damien, you are a sports journalist...it is your job to be knowledgeable about the topics you cover. If you don't know Jeff Finger's game - that is your fault, not Fletcher, Wilson, or the 15 other GM's who were trying to sign him. Cliff has now tied up 7.75 of 56+ million... that is at most 13% of cap space for the next 4 years - far from handcuffing if you ask me.

Once upon a time you wrote insightful columns whether they be critical or analytical. Your writing has turned into nothing but predictable negative drabble.

[Brian]

I use to look forward to your comments Damien but your constant bantering of Cliff is now a joke. Your slamming of Finger does not deserve a response but here it goes. We do not see Western Teams that much and obvioulsy Ron Wilson and Cliff has. Now no one is saying that Finger is going to be a top 2 defencemen but at a comfortable number 4 why not and look at the current rate for a defencen.. As for Nicklas Hagman he will give the Leafs a nice 3rd line forward with speed. What you fail to understand Damien is these players are bit's and pieces of the larger puzzle. That is how you built teams not like some teams that load up on just a few superstar's and forget the rest. That is what Ottawa has done and what do they have one line. Look at Detroit many pieces they can throw 4 lines what are trying to say is the word balance.
Mr Cox you need to learn a bit more about hockey.

[John C.]

You know Damien,

Maybe you should go to Detroit and work there, I have not read a positive article from you regarding the Leafs in the past 20 years no matter what they do or have done.
Oh! by the way do you remenber the Detroit Red Wings of the 80's if I remenber correctly they always finished at the bottom of the league standings while the Leafs were providing exciting playoff runs for their fans in Toronto.

[DEUCE]

Hey, Maybe ole Fletch is setting the table for something more. Cujo could be a good trade bait next year at the trade deadline. We Leaf fans can't be hoping for any quick fixes, it has taken forty plus years to get to this state, it will take five years minimum to get the team back on track to respectability. If you are content with being competative and satisfied with making the playoffs, you will want Fletch to make big moves for big players for big money but it will be short term. Let's see where the team is headed after three or four years rather than day to day or month to month.

[Matt Morrison]

I just don't get why there is all this negativity towards Fletch and his moves. I'll admit, I was nervous when the Leafs brought him back; but he's done everything that's been expected of him that was possible.

His hands were tied with the muskoka five, so it should come as no surprise that he was unsuccessful moving them.

Mats is Mats, and only signs when hes ready, so it should also come as no surprise that he hasn't been resigned.

As for 'trading two usefull picks for Luke Schenn' get a grip, this guy could be the next Captain of the team if he turns out. He looks like hes prime time, and a real character guy who wants to play for the Leafs, great move by Fletch.

What about the buyouts? Well I'm pretty sure Fletch's mandate was to clear the decks for the new GM (and common, its going to be Burke, we all know it, so lets stop the speculating). The goal was to break the monopoly that the 5 had on the dressing room which is finally starting to happen. Got to rebuild the dressing room, along with this team, from the ground up.

The signings? Cujo - great backup and veteran guy who knows how to deal with Toronto fans and media. Signed for cheap.

Hagman - Potentially a great signing, but at worst, definitely an upgrade on Tucker. Younger, faster, and he's scored more goals at a much earlier age.

Finger - You are all kidding yourselves if you think that Wilson wasn't behind this one. Based on his comments it is clear to me at least that Fletch asked for Wilsons input, who then said that Finger was the 'most improved player in the west', blah blah blah, and then Fletch went out and got him. Yes, this move could turn out to be grossly overpaying, but it could also turn out to be a stroke of genius, thats the nature of the game; Risk/Reward.

Finally, the reason why none of these signings are as big a deal as Coxy would have you believe? NONE of them came with a no-trade clause. If the new GM doesn't like the players, he can trade them, simple as that. The new GM isn't hamstrung, he has tradable assets, unlike what Fletcher was left with.

Don't be too quick to criticize.

[LT73]

Damian, sorry bud, but I can't help but laugh my butt off this morning. This new comments section has been a long time coming. Please tell your boss that we're really happy to have it.

As can be seen above there are in fact some pretty sharp (and not so sharp) Leaf fans out there. I think Bill Hunt really nailed it. The truth is, I'm not sure you're really sensing the current mood in Toronto.

Yes, we're all tired of losing. And yeah, we're all tired of the 41 year drought. And yes, most defintely, we're all sick and tired of Peddie. But, many of us recognize the effort being made to make things right. It won't happen overnight. We're gonna be losers for a few years. If all goes well that will mean we'll draft high and improve. Hagman and Finger are bit pieces, nothing more.

I honestly believe Fletcher's doing the best he can given the circumstances.

[Me]

Damien, again with 100% criticism of everything the Leafs do. You're becoming a joke with your columns. In your eyes, Fletcher can't win with any move he makes.

[Jacob S.]

If you look at profits etc., the star posted it the other day, mostly all the canadian teams are near the top in attendance merchandise etc. yet they were the ones who didn't spend so much yet. All of these teams in the states the majority are bleeding money like crazy, didn't tampa bay lose like 20 mill last year? where is the money coming from, even the nba isn't this ludicurous as only established stars are getting big long term deals and everyone else is getting the mle and smaller. This is rediculous any scrub defenseman is getting 4-5 year deals at 4-5 mill per.

[Joel G]

RJ, you're mistaken on the Malone/Roberts for a 3rd rounder scenario: those were for those players' exclusive bargaining rights before noon on July 1; Malone and Roberts could have easily walked away from negotiations with Tampa and signed elsewhere, which is why there was "only" a 3rd round pick involved in gaining said rights to negotiate with both players. If it had been a trade for the players' actual rights, well you can be assured those two would have cost Tampa more than a 3rd round pick. We were only slated to receive a 2nd rounder if Montreal had succeeded in getting Sundin to sign with them: are you saying Sundin is worth only a 2nd round pick???

And Antropov could absolutely be the centrepiece of, or the second strong half of, a trade for a blue-chip prospect and a high pick (not necessarily a no.1.). Kubina may not be as valuable as he was before the deadline, but he's damn desireable for a team like Columbus, or even Pittsburgh, who could still fit Kubina under the cap (I think) for one year, at least. They still haven't replaced the loss of Hossa's stick (and hunger, and 2-way play), and Kubina has more than a little offensive upside from the blue line for a team that needs to climb back right away into the final.

And even though there was nothing really outrageous in my trade speculations in my earlier post, RJ, I might have been a tad over-excited, so I'll revise a trade I suggested earlier that you thought foolish, to one that would see Kubina and Antropov go to the Pens for Staal and a 3rd round pick. Two towering players, one a D, the other a Centre/Winger, whose mean age is 30, who had nearly 100 points between them last year, and who are both passionate about winning. This Pens team could use those two players, and will have little room for the salary Staal will command in a year's time.

[David]

A response to Brian who says that Finger, Hagman and others are "bits and pieces of the larger puzzle." I agree with the thought. I'm just not convinced that these are the right bits and pieces and that anyone in the organization knows what the larger puzzle is. The fact is the Leafs have shortchanged their front office and scouting staffs for many years while allowing people ignorant about hockey to make crucial decisions. The result has been apparent on the ice. Of course, we can try to be optimistic. I've been doing that for 41 years, but with all due respect to Fletcher, why should Leaf fans give the benefit of the doubt to any decisions this organization makes about player personnel?

[Big Bear]

Maybe I'm the only guy defending Cox on here, but here goes once again:

The guy doesn't get paid to write "positive" articles, as some of the geniuses on here seem to expect. He gets paid to call them as he sees them. As I said earlier, I would rather listen to a guy speak his mind than put up with the fawning adoration of all things Leaf that comes from the rest of the Canadian media.

Agree, disagree--you can do either (or neither). But if what you want is "homerism" and uncritical praise of all things that MLSE does, go watch LeafsTV.

Sheez!

[Iam Canadian too]

So mch has happened in the 400million frency of July1. I wonder if Mats Sundin ever wanted to be traded to another team. Gosh $20 million for 2 years, is something very difficult to turn down. Is Matts healthy?

[Bob]

You titled it Winners and Losers. Yet, you didn't state anything other than the Blue Jackets who are the worst run organization in hockey, were winners. As a Rangers fan I can assure you they completely ripped the Jackets off. Zherdev hasn't matured yet and found consistency. However, after watching Tyutin for several years I can tell you that he isn't improving. He makes bonehead plays with the pucks and his offensive skills are very limited. They fact they threw in Fritsche made the trade more stupid for the Jackets.

Umberger and Torres are both interesting additions but are hardly enough to say the Jackets improved. They have stunk for years and I don't see these moves putting them over the top. Backman is freakin horrible by the way.

[BenB]

Good article. Fletcher is not doing what he's been asked to do, namely, clear out the trash, and create flexibility for the new guy. He claims to be re-building a team, yet is trading away the team's future draft picks. Worse, he's then signing these guys (Finger excepted) to short-term contracts. With no assets to play with, the Leafs will be an even less attractive team to manage a year from now than than they were 2 months ago. One bright side is, they're going to get a heck of a high draft pick in '09! Assuming, of course, it's not traded.

[David]

To Big Bear
I agree. Cox consistently challenges the soft pedalling of this lousy organization and the CEO and management board responsible for it. I'm not sure why other Leaf fans have a problem with this. The evidence is on the ice 82 times a season.

[victoria]

The comments made by those at MLSE immediately after the signing of Jeff Finger merit consideration.
Having said that, so few media members actually took the time to look up the minutes Jeff Finger played against the West's best.
If they had done so they would have found it was not true. Kurt Saur did and that is why he was resigned by Colorado not Finger.
The increased ice time averaged over 21 minutes? Again not true.
Colorado's shut down defenceman? Then why bench him for FIVE games when you should need him most....the playoffs? That means Colorado's SEVENTH defenceman was signed for big money in Toronto?
Who would have thought...........
The same GM who went to "war" with Dan Cloutier as his goaltender is now seen as a potential savior in Toronto.
The same goaltender who shunned Toronto in a snit for greener pastures in Detroit is now welcomed back to afford him the chance to finish out his career in Toronto? Wasn't he offered 24 million reasons to do that back in 2002?
The same Nik Antropov that is at his peak market value doesn't get traded on draft day but is instead Toronto's #1 center? Agh.
The same Cliff Fletcher accumulates some draft picks for spare parts at the deadline just to turn around and give them up for spare parts on draft day? (Hello Jemal Mayers). Kind of like selling off your junk at a yard sale only to go next door and buy all of theirs.
Kevin Lowe blasts the Anahiem market along with Brian Burke? What did they do except sell out night in and night out. I don't hear him say anything about other markets that can't say the same...........say a certain team in the desert who should be back in Winnipeg?
Gary Bettman should move heaven and earth to strenghten his product and "they will come" (re: TV deals) but instead of Canadian markets and rivalries he screws up the CBA; screws up Nashville sale; screws up the NHL draft day and splits it up;
Doug Weight; trading of Dan Boyle; Jagr to Russia instead of Pittsburg; Jeff Finger; Andrew Raycroft......WHY????
Toronto fans remember, the winter angst will result in a June 2009 hype never seen before in Toronto. Lead on Mr. Antropov