If the Leafs don't make it - What next?

[Marmoset]

The reality is that two seasons without playoffs won't be tolerated in Leafland.

Nor should it be.

It would be fine if the team was rebuilding and their young talent just came up a little short. But that's not the case. This is a team that has been in a win-now mode these past two seasons, and despite this has missed the playoffs both times.

Even if this team is healthy next year, is there any reason to think that they will be dramatically better as currently put together? I'd have to say no. And I'd rather see someone I have more confidence in than JFJ trying to put that better team together.

The Leafs gave a tremendous effort - better than I thought they were capable of. But even with that effort, it wasn't enough. There has to be change, and it starts with the GM.

[trevc3]

Fergie came in in an impossible situation.

Let's face it, it should take a few years for a team to make the major adjustments that the leafs had had to make with the new CBA.

We went from a team that overpaid for anyone and traded away almost all of our young assets in frequent attempts to bolster the team at trade deadlines.

That being said, I have no confidence in JFJ either. But all he could do is play the hand he was dealt...and it was a losing hand no doubt.

[Marmoset]

Fergie came in in an impossible situation.

Let's face it, it should take a few years for a team to make the major adjustments that the leafs had had to make with the new CBA.

We went from a team that overpaid for anyone and traded away almost all of our young assets in frequent attempts to bolster the team at trade deadlines.

That being said, I have no confidence in JFJ either. But all he could do is play the hand he was dealt...and it was a losing hand no doubt.

What was so impossible about it? Once he got the job he continued to hand out big contracts and neglect the lack of young players in the system. That was his choice. Was the situation ideal? Absolutely not, but he made the decisions (or upper management - let's not get into that) to continue with the same general outlook on the team. His most significant moves have not worked out. He can't blame it all on Pat Quinn. Whatever you think of Quinn as a GM (and I don't think much), his teams made the playoffs.

[trevc3]

Quinn had the benefit of bottomless pockets. Fergie obviously hasn't. For a leafs' GM, that's a HUGE distinction.

But I really can't argue with you. I hate the contract we handed to McCabe and I hate what we gave up for Perreault, a player we gave us exactly 5 points.

We agree on the bottom line - Fergie didn't get it done.

[Andrea>Dirk]

If he isn't fired, this team will just be a treadmill team for another 5 years. The answers is fire him, and either rebuild(unlikely) OR bring in a GM with a vision for the team to improve all while remaining competitive.

[whysoserious]

Fergie came in in an impossible situation.

Let's face it, it should take a few years for a team to make the major adjustments that the leafs had had to make with the new CBA.

We went from a team that overpaid for anyone and traded away almost all of our young assets in frequent attempts to bolster the team at trade deadlines.

That being said, I have no confidence in JFJ either. But all he could do is play the hand he was dealt...and it was a losing hand no doubt.

This is somewhat true, but he also basically got a get out of jail free card before the free agent period right after the new CBA and chose not to buyout anyone. There was a clear opportunity there to make some significant changes, instead they locked themselves into the same team and proceeded to make things worse last off-season.

I agree with Marmoset, if they were truly rebuilding, playoffs wouldn't matter at this point. But the company line is continuously make the playoffs and go for the Cup, even when the talent on the team is just where it finished this year, borderline playoff team.

[dagger]

Would a new GM want a new coach? Colangelo kept Mitchell on, but that's a rarity in pro sports, and it might not have happened if Colangelo had been free to hire Iavaroni. So while I have felt that Paul Maurice did a decent job - aside from overplaying Raycroft and not benching the vets often enough for my liking - if his boss goes, we may see him go too, which is why MLSE might give Ferguson one more caretaker year with a mandate to start getting rid of veteran salaries.

[trevc3]

Would a new GM want a new coach? Colangelo kept Mitchell on, but that's a rarity in pro sports, and it might not have happened if Colangelo had been free to hire Iavaroni. So while I have felt that Paul Maurice did a decent job - aside from overplaying Raycroft and not benching the vets often enough for my liking - if his boss goes, we may see him go too, which is why MLSE might give Ferguson one more caretaker year with a mandate to start getting rid of veteran salaries.

I fully expect Paul Maurice to be the coach of the Leafs regardless of who the GM is. I thought he did a great job considering the lineup we were throwing out there for most of the season, and I think anyone with knowledge of the NHL would agree with that.

[Andrea>Dirk]

Maurice did great this season given what he was given.