Does it really matter. Burke can't score goals or keep pucks out of the net. The Leafs need both badly, but the owners don't really care. Every seat is sold out.
Paul, 2008-06-17 06:19:57

Who cares? The Leafs will always find a way to put the clamps on anyone that they do get. Until they get rid of Peddie and the Teachers their first priority will always be to make money through various ways other than hockey.
Wally, 2008-06-17 06:11:30

C'mon what's all the hype about?! It's not coaching the Leafs need- It's players- Don't tell me the salary cap is gonna be spent in the pressbox! LETS GET SOME PLAYERS!!!
bill, 2008-06-16 19:03:21

At least the Leafs are consistent. They have consistently tried to buy or trade for the players of yesteryear, tried to get the big name that would with that one decision deliver them the cup. Lack of effort on player development, team needs and who to draft have left the organization hollow without many assets to trade. So money was the solution and now with the cap, that's harder to come by. The ridiculously huge contracts given to their locked in players show that they still can waste it with the best of them.

But now they want to pick an organization that looks successful for a moment in time and skim their management team for surefired success. Same old same old. There is no plan in place to make this organization better. I'm betting before Burke is even in the door the Leaf brass will be arguing among themselves whether they should fire them all and hire the Wings staff, who weren't even on the radar one year ago. Well guess what, the Wings did it by patience and growing their own team from the ground up. And when they were too old, they didn't drop everyone and start again, they were loyal to those who were loyal to them and picked up players who would be stars in four years, not marginal players off a career year who would be bums in one year.

I say either hire a permanent GM now or let the acting one act. Buy out Tucker, let Sundin walk, but keep the rest of the big salaries and make them work for it. Keep Raycroft and get his head back in the game, even if it means management having to stand up to the fans like Burke does in Anaheim. Draft, trade and beg your way to a few young stars and work on a system that works for the team. In a few years then maybe the Leafs will give the fans more things to cheer than jeer, but until then let them play.

The best thing that could happen though would be for the Teacher's Fund to stop hiding behind all of this and pretending they aren't happy with all the money they are making off this franchise. I'd like to see them make a firm committment that if they can't turn the franchise around in 5 years to at least a final 8 team, then they sell off a majority share in the organization. What killed the Leafs was indifference in ownership from Harold Ballard and the current owners are just the same. I know hockey is big business and good business despite what the Americans think, but winning is even better business.
Rick W., 2008-06-16 16:27:26

Detroit Red Wings...WE build champions..

Toronto Maple Leafs....We build condo's
Brian O'Callaghan, 2008-06-16 15:41:14

who cares!! what did he do this year with all that talent oh yea out first round so yes he would do well with the leafs.
willy, 2008-06-16 15:08:46

Leaf Fans can wine all they want that God isn't going to come down and anoint their fair team with a Stanley Cup roster, or they can say, let's do it right this time. Tell Cliff dump some salaries, draft a good "D man" this year, and wait 'til next June and draft John Tavares. The Leafs will then have some serious blocks to start building with.
Doug, 2008-06-12 19:45:42

Leafs Nation! What the heck does that mean? A world of misfit hockey players for the last 40 years constantly viewed as contenders and then scrutinized by fans for not being able produce. Montreal is also a hard plae to coach, manage and play, however they do have the history to show for it, regardless if it was 15 yrs since the last cup win; at least it ain't 41.

Ferguson will cause more damage after bieng gone than when he was there; as we will see how efficient any manager or coach will be able to cope with a bunch of over-paid/under-achieving players such as Kubina, Tucker, McCabe and family... and won't even be able to get rid of them without a huge cost or maybe NOT at all until contract ends. Then you will see how your Ferguson was such a great manager. I doN,t see this guy getting a job anywhere else. A little bit like Mario Tremblay in Montreal.

Other teams in the league have done a good job working from within like New Jersey with their quality of draft picks, and Montreal with their quality of ex-players running the team, and many others in the league for that matter. The problem with Toronto is that its always dramatic; and always looking for players that fit in "popularity wise"; c'mon Tucker, Blake, Wellwood and company to win the cup...ya ok!
Rick, 2008-06-12 09:46:13

What's the matter can't they find any puppets for the teachers to pull strings on? Jeez even the 'has beens' are either under contract or smart enough not to be interested.
wally, 2008-06-12 06:07:53

i think the leafs should try reall yhard next time because all they have to do is win the cup and they will get back into being the world's best hoockey team in Canada.
josh grandy, 2008-06-11 21:01:43