Who should be the next Leafs GM? Fri, January 25, 2008
Scratch Brian Burke's name from the list of candidates for the general manager's job with the Toronto Maple Leafs - for now, anyway.
At the Hockey Hall of Fame on Friday with Anaheim Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli, who donated a 2007 Stanley Cup ring to the hockey shrine, Burke stated emphatically that he and his wife are happy in California and has no interest in applying for the Leafs' job that Cliff Fletcher was hired to fill on an interim basis upon the firing of John Ferguson on Tuesday.
If Burke is not interested in the job, who would be the top candidate to take over for Cliff Fletcher? Have your say in our forum.
I think if all Leaf-haters were exposed to psycho-analysis on a couch it would finally emerge that they don't hate the "Leafs" (i.e., the existing collection of players), but rather the Toronto media and their never-ending habit of regarding themselves as the most important aspect of Canadian sports in general, with the Leaf organization being the primary focus of their terminal hubris.
That's because, generally-speaking, they don't much care about the CFL and the Argonauts anymore, instead pining for an NFL franchise so they can hob-nob with the big boys. Nor are the Blue Jays and Raptors capable of delivering the kind of season that would allow them to strut around, pounding their chests as if THEY had anything to do with their success. Both are decent teams, but just not in the class of the elite, nor do they have much chance of getting there. So, really, very little to brag about in the sports pages.
Perhaps, if they didn't start applying the playoff pressure every time the Leafs win a few in a row, let alone start calling for them to be contenders (as Bob McKenzie, Bill Watters, George Gross and a few others did before the season started, A GM could build slowly but solidly without having to worry about seeing articles, and hearing chat shows, alternate between high praise and crepe-hanging. Ferguson was, in the end, no different than the guy he fired as coach who, when he served as GM, also succumbed to the endless pressure by trading away the future for "seasoned veterans" who might just get them to the Cup.
They've been doing that since it last worked in 1967. But the big difference is, in 1967 they only had to win two series - 8 games - and the old bodies like Armstrong and such were able to get through that minor grind. Now they have to win 4 series and 16 games. That's almost a fifth of a full regular season and it's doubtful that any team with a roster full of "seasoned veterans" could get through that grind.
But even if it gets them deep into the playoffs, what's the reward at the end? A low draft pick which, even if he develops, won't be around to help for several seasons. Now you have to look at the roster and say "they weren't good enough last year, so what do I do to stave off the doom-and-gloom journalists?" Why, of course, bring in a new batch of "seasoned veterans." And round and round it went for 41 years.
I agree with those those say forget about the Dougie Gilmours, Bobby Orrs, Mark Messiers, etc. That won't work. Nor will a 72-year-old former great coach who never had any success as a GM.
George O'Leary, 2008-01-27 12:23:33
John Ferguson Sr.
Yeah, I know he's dead, but could he do any worse than anyone else has done in Toronto? The whole organization is one big never-ending embarrassment to Canada.
stu, 2008-01-27 09:43:20
The Maple Leafs should look at men who are experienced GM's and have had some success.
Doug Gilmour doesn't fit that bill and would be another experiment, which we don't need.
We need a man who has already proven himself, along the lines of a Bryan Colangelo for the Raptors.
He also must be given full autonomy.
Gordon S., 2008-01-27 09:36:50
Sam Pollock
vincesport, 2008-01-27 00:19:42
John if the leafs were smart they wouldn't be in this possition.
Does anyone know how many GM's they have had in the last 10 years and how does it match up with other teams??
Seems to me like they keep having the same problems over and over again while still triing a bandaid solution. Could it possibly be the upper managment? They do the hiring and the firing. If a busness goes bankrupt you don't blame the janitor, you blame the guy making the desicions. In this case several guys.
Dwain, 2008-01-26 15:44:10
Burke is over rated. Perry and Getzlaf were already drafted by the Ducks before Burke got there and them 2 are the future of there team.
They should wait till the summer and go after Ken Holland in Detroit. Stevie Y is the future president/ gm of the Red Wings so he could be expendable if the price is right.
Jimmy, 2008-01-26 14:47:26
doug mcclean!
nels skaalid, 2008-01-26 08:36:05
No wonder the leafs are in the shape they're in..read the comments - Bobby Orr, Larry Robinson, Doug Gilmour, haha, we just got rid of JF and they want to let someone else cut their teeth in the worst job in Hockey. The Leaf fans want to outsmart the world and fast-track their way to the cup. Get Real! Good solid ownership is required. Plan the work, work the plan. The fans will be screaming in two weeks that trading more draft picks for that ONE guy who will take them to the cup this year. C'mon Cliff..do it! Trade 3 first rounders and a third for Chris Chelios...that's all we need! Oh yeah, throw in White, or better yet, sign him for 6 million a year..haha. C'mon people, who do you hire to fix your car? the garbage man? Get a mechanic!
Dave, 2008-01-25 19:59:02
BOBBY CLARKE IS THE MOST QUALIFIED FOR THE POSITION OF PRES. AND GM
BARRY, 2008-01-25 19:55:49
How about me?? ill work for cheap and i love and live the game!
jp mcarthur, 2008-01-25 18:43:23
Who should be the next Leafs GM?
I think if all Leaf-haters were exposed to psycho-analysis on a couch it would finally emerge that they don't hate the "Leafs" (i.e., the existing collection of players), but rather the Toronto media and their never-ending habit of regarding themselves as the most important aspect of Canadian sports in general, with the Leaf organization being the primary focus of their terminal hubris.
That's because, generally-speaking, they don't much care about the CFL and the Argonauts anymore, instead pining for an NFL franchise so they can hob-nob with the big boys. Nor are the Blue Jays and Raptors capable of delivering the kind of season that would allow them to strut around, pounding their chests as if THEY had anything to do with their success. Both are decent teams, but just not in the class of the elite, nor do they have much chance of getting there. So, really, very little to brag about in the sports pages.
Perhaps, if they didn't start applying the playoff pressure every time the Leafs win a few in a row, let alone start calling for them to be contenders (as Bob McKenzie, Bill Watters, George Gross and a few others did before the season started, A GM could build slowly but solidly without having to worry about seeing articles, and hearing chat shows, alternate between high praise and crepe-hanging. Ferguson was, in the end, no different than the guy he fired as coach who, when he served as GM, also succumbed to the endless pressure by trading away the future for "seasoned veterans" who might just get them to the Cup.
They've been doing that since it last worked in 1967. But the big difference is, in 1967 they only had to win two series - 8 games - and the old bodies like Armstrong and such were able to get through that minor grind. Now they have to win 4 series and 16 games. That's almost a fifth of a full regular season and it's doubtful that any team with a roster full of "seasoned veterans" could get through that grind.
But even if it gets them deep into the playoffs, what's the reward at the end? A low draft pick which, even if he develops, won't be around to help for several seasons. Now you have to look at the roster and say "they weren't good enough last year, so what do I do to stave off the doom-and-gloom journalists?" Why, of course, bring in a new batch of "seasoned veterans." And round and round it went for 41 years.
I agree with those those say forget about the Dougie Gilmours, Bobby Orrs, Mark Messiers, etc. That won't work. Nor will a 72-year-old former great coach who never had any success as a GM.
George O'Leary, 2008-01-27 12:23:33
Yeah, I know he's dead, but could he do any worse than anyone else has done in Toronto? The whole organization is one big never-ending embarrassment to Canada.
stu, 2008-01-27 09:43:20
Doug Gilmour doesn't fit that bill and would be another experiment, which we don't need.
We need a man who has already proven himself, along the lines of a Bryan Colangelo for the Raptors.
He also must be given full autonomy.
Gordon S., 2008-01-27 09:36:50
vincesport, 2008-01-27 00:19:42
Does anyone know how many GM's they have had in the last 10 years and how does it match up with other teams??
Seems to me like they keep having the same problems over and over again while still triing a bandaid solution. Could it possibly be the upper managment? They do the hiring and the firing. If a busness goes bankrupt you don't blame the janitor, you blame the guy making the desicions. In this case several guys.
Dwain, 2008-01-26 15:44:10
They should wait till the summer and go after Ken Holland in Detroit. Stevie Y is the future president/ gm of the Red Wings so he could be expendable if the price is right.
Jimmy, 2008-01-26 14:47:26
nels skaalid, 2008-01-26 08:36:05
Dave, 2008-01-25 19:59:02
BARRY, 2008-01-25 19:55:49
jp mcarthur, 2008-01-25 18:43:23