Forget about a quick, conventional solution to filling the holes in the Maple Leafs' hierarchy.
On May 7, the day Paul Maurice was fired as coach, his departure took a back seat to news the Leafs had requested permission from the Vancouver Canucks to talk with their fired general manager, Dave Nonis.
That rekindled talk that Nonis's former boss, Brian Burke, could be on his way to Toronto next summer to front a hockey office that Nonis would set up while Burke serves the final year of his contract as the general manager of the Anaheim Ducks.
Burke insists he knows nothing about such a plan, though the Leafs were pursuing him in the shadows up until last month, when the Ducks ownership demanded Burke finish his term. It's believed the Leafs are already being closely watched by the NHL for evidence of any tampering with Burke.
Officially, the two-man search committee of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd., says it has not formally interviewed any candidates as of yet and the assumption is that they won't make a final decision until the end of the playoffs, when it's clear which executives will be staying with which teams.
Those who have openly campaigned for the job include former Dallas Stars' GM Doug Armstrong.
The timing of Maurice's firing raised eyebrows, coming a month after interim GM Cliff Fletcher said there was no rush to make such a move, given Maurice has a year remaining on his contract.
Maurice might have been a convenient man behind the bench in a coming season where the rebuilding Leafs aren't expected to contend. But Fletcher said it was obvious the new GM would be hiring his own coach and he was trying to "clear the decks" for the new man.
The Leafs are now without a full-time GM, a coach and on July 1 will be without a captain if center Mats Sundin doesn't re-sign.
SEASON HIGHLIGHT In the stretch run, the Leafs twice won five of six games to revive their season and put themselves just four points out of a playoff spot on March 25. Overall, under interim general manager Cliff Fletcher, they were 17-13-3. Goalie Vesa Toskala made 30 consecutive starts from mid-January until the Leafs were elinminated.
TURNING POINT On Dec. 18, leading the Carolina Hurricanes by a goal, left wing Alexei Ponikarovsky got too fancy attempting an empty net goal and the Leafs eventually lost in overtime. They would've been just four games under .500 with the win. That defeat started a death spiral that saw general manager John Ferguson fired a month later.
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NEW President: Colin Campbell New GM: Dave Nonis New Coach: Craig Hartsburg
The weakest spot is probably Hartsburg. Though he has done amazing things at the junior level ie Canadian junior gold medal, his nhl experience is somewhat limited. Id definitely be willing to give him a shot; but why not Jo
I thought the first priority of the AHL is to establish your talent and help them mature into better players. Yet when the Marlies started their playoff season they went with the veteran Scott Clemmensen in net to start the series. Justin Pogg
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First of I would bring back Sundin, I don't care about the cap right now, with the deletions I make later on the 7 million will be fesible. Sundin really helped Antropov develop last year, and with one more year of Sundin's tutalige I think Antropov can peak at about 65 points.
Here is a list of forwards that will be UFAs in the upcoming summer (some will of course sign before becoming available). Who do you like for the leafs?
Yeah I know.. they say all the right things. " I love toronto" ... " I wanna win the cup in toronto" ...... blablablabalbala lmao
The truth ?? See, these players, sundin , mccabe, kaberle, tucker , all know FOR SURE THEY CAN NEVER WIN IN TORONTO.. but they wanted management to suffer..... I fricken
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<td> Alright here we go, now this
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Should the Leafs resign Sundin for another year. I feel that they should not resign Sundin if he is truly asking for seven million as the Hotstove analysts suggest. They could sign two or three good players for that price. However, if it is a contract under five million, let him play another year in leafland. Why not bomb next year and have a chance to draft Tavares.
Yesterday's loss to Boston looks to be the nail in the coffin for the Leafs postseason hopes. I just thought I would throw the question out of who should not be in a Leaf uniform next year, whether through trade or buyout. Here are my thoughts: &nbs p; &n bsp; Maurice- though I do respect his coaching abilities,
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I read a report that the Leafs (why not Leaves?) were looking into acquiring Ken Holland from Detroit.
I would love to see my 2nd favorite team benefit from his ability, but that would rip my beloved Wings to teh core. Everyone said Detroit would be scewed after the lockout with a salary cap and one President's cup later and we are still going strong all thanks to Holland.
