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

[Hustle&Flow]

Does MLSE fire JFJ and go after a top notch GM? Are there any that come to mind?

[AOC]

I have this sick feeling that JFJ won't get fired unfortunately. He has the injuries excuse to fall back on if the Leafs barely miss the playoffs.

[whysoserious]

JFJ should be fired and replaced by a top notch GM with experience. I'd like to see them make a run at Ken Holland, Lou Lamouriella or someone of that ilk.

After that, there should be a complete blow up of this team's core. Problem with that is all the no-trade clauses handed out by this organization.

The only players I would really hang on to are Kaberle, Wellwood, Tucker, Steen Stajan, White, Colaiacovo and possibly Sundin could be re-signed if the price is right along with possibly keeping Kubina.

[straightguji]

If we fire JFJ that alone would make a great off-season.

[CJ_18]

Bryan Colangelo would be a great GM for the leafs.

But, after this year, rebuild.

[dagger]

Bryan Colangelo would be a great GM for the leafs.

But, after this year, rebuild.

And yet the Leafs have locked into a lot of long-term contracts, some of which would be hard to move. So what top flight GM would take on the job. I'd leave Ferguson in there for one more year and tell him he cannot sign anyone to long term contracts. I'd order him to try to trade any and all long term contracts for shorter ones, even if it means a loss of value. If the Leafs are out of the playoffs with this gang, who cares if we lose any big contract. Sundin has been a dud down the stretch. McCabe has been a dud all year. Kubina? Ick! Tucker probably has trade value. I'd position the team for a run at Taveras in 2009 and some free agent flexibility in 2009 or 2010.

There are a lot of people assuming that you can't trade McCabe, Kubina, etc, but as Embry and Colangelo proved, if you try, you might be surprised. The same applies to these players' no-trade clauses. They can't be thrilled about the state of the team, and until you give them options, you won't know if they are dead set on staying here or ready to consider alternatives.

[Pchu]

Hire a GM with good reputation, not a rookie. Give him absolute power to make moves. Trade Sundin to start the rebuilding process. The ownership has to learn to be patient and leave the GM alone to do his job.

[whysoserious]

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And yet the Leafs have locked into a lot of long-term contracts, some of which would be hard to move. So what top flight GM would take on the job. I'd leave Ferguson in there for one more year and tell him he cannot sign anyone to long term contracts. I'd order him to try to trade any and all long term contracts for shorter ones, even if it means a loss of value. If the Leafs are out of the playoffs with this gang, who cares if we lose any big contract. Sundin has been a dud down the stretch. McCabe has been a dud all year. Kubina? Ick! Tucker probably has trade value. I'd position the team for a run at Taveras in 2009 and some free agent flexibility in 2009 or 2010.

There are a lot of people assuming that you can't trade McCabe, Kubina, etc, but as Embry and Colangelo proved, if you try, you might be surprised. The same applies to these players' no-trade clauses. They can't be thrilled about the state of the team, and until you give them options, you won't know if they are dead set on staying here or ready to consider alternatives.

If Sundin is willing to come back on a two year deal for cheap, I don't ming him re-signing.

As for your theory of just trading them, even if you don't feel your getting fair market value. I like it as long as they are smart enough to get teams to include some throw away picks they have. I don't really care what round they are in. They can slowly be packaged for better picks in other deals over a course of two year's.

I would move McCabe as soon as possible. He's still a good player having a bad year. Definitely not worth the money he got. Bring in some fringe young guys who are throw aways on their team because they haven't developed at the pace expected, guys with speed, let them go out and just have some fun for the next couple of year's while you rebuild your salary structure.

The one guy to me who should not be moved is Kaberle.

[D.Kerger]

Regardless of whether or not the Leafs make the playoffs this year, they should do themselves a favour and fire John Ferguson Jr and look for someone who can handle a high-profile team in the Leafs.

Although that may sound like a good idea or not, i dont think the managment has the testes to go through with a shakeup like that.

[Hustle&Flow]

They don't need to get a top notch GM. No Top notch guy is touching this multilayered organization.

They need a GM with balls to come and tell the fans and media that they are rebuilding and it will take 5 years. Then spend 2 years blowing up the current team and then hire a top notch guy with connections to do the rebuild.

Brian Burke is the best candidate. He will put the media and fans in place. Because the fans and media are eqaully responsible for the mess.

[whysoserious]

I'd love to get Burke here, but he's not likely to leave Anaheim too soon. We missed the boat on getting him. Same with Gainey back about 6 or 7 year's ago.

One guy who could become available is Doug Maclean. He might be a worthy candidate. I'm not sure about the rumours about Colin Campbell, he may just have the balls to do what H&F is talking about but not sure if he can back it up.

I'd still like to see them say screw it, we'll pay the Red Wings or Devils money just to be able to talk to Lou or Holland and then do whatever's necessary to get them here.

[MAS]

Burke came to Toronto after the lockout and told them he'd like to be the GM of the Leafs, MLSE then responded "Why should we pay you $3 million when we can pay JFJ $1.5 million"

This is a rumour which i'm 99% is true

[whysoserious]

Burke came to Toronto after the lockout and told them he'd like to be the GM of the Leafs, MLSE then responded "Why should we pay you $3 million when we can pay JFJ $1.5 million"

This is a rumour which i'm 99% is true

If that is in fact true, it further solidifies my loss of faith in MLSE on the hockey side.

This is one of the first Leaf seasons where I've come home and not even realized they had a game on that night. I've almost completely lost interest in the team. Don't get me wrong, they still have my support and I want to see them do well.

But for now, I almost feel apathetic towards that team.

[Hustle&Flow]

Burke came to Toronto after the lockout and told them he'd like to be the GM of the Leafs, MLSE then responded "Why should we pay you $3 million when we can pay JFJ $1.5 million"

This is a rumour which i'm 99% is true

That might be the unofficial reason. But the real reason is Burke is smarter than Peddie and Peedie cannot hire someone who is smarter than himself. If given full authority in the Colangelo signing he would rather not have Colangelo too.

[Tor-Rap-Tor]

Burke came to Toronto after the lockout and told them he'd like to be the GM of the Leafs, MLSE then responded "Why should we pay you $3 million when we can pay JFJ $1.5 million"

This is a rumour which i'm 99% is true

This is crazy if true, the Leafs are one of the richest teams in the NHL...
The only reason that they aren't spending money on players is because of the Hard Cap and this shouldn't extend to other parts of the organization... Peddie's tight fist of a few years ago when he hired Babcock for the Raptors and Ferguson for the Leafs, it could very well have happened but the success of the Raptors, having hired Colangelo may have tweaked a brain cell and hopefully we will spend the bucks to put Intelligence in the front office and someone that actually knows hockey...

[Garbage2Hero]

John Ferguson is a terible GM. He makes the stupidest moves. Why the hell would you brng in lindros,allison,oneil. All 3 guys did nothing for the leafs. The best move he ever made was acquire raycroft. If he ferguson gets fired..the leafs franchise will be a contender in a few years.

[kelso]

John Ferguson is a terible GM. He makes the stupidest moves. Why the hell would you brng in lindros,allison,oneil. All 3 guys did nothing for the leafs. The best move he ever made was acquire raycroft. If he ferguson gets fired..the leafs franchise will be a contender in a few years.

Thankfully you're not the GM- Raycrosft was his BEST move?? Did you watch the game last night?

Raycroft was a gamble and it hasn't paid off yet. he was horrible last night- absolutely brutal. Devereaux was a good move; Lindros and Allison were no brainers as we got huge hometown discounts and if they performed he would have looked like a genius; Oniel- oh well.

Don't be naive to think JFJ is behind all the moves at MLSE. Replacing JFJ doesan't make them a contender unless they get rid of Peddie in the process.

[AOC]

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Thankfully you're not the GM- Raycrosft was his BEST move?? Did you watch the game last night?

Raycroft was a gamble and it hasn't paid off yet. he was horrible last night- absolutely brutal. Devereaux was a good move; Lindros and Allison were no brainers as we got huge hometown discounts and if they performed he would have looked like a genius; Oniel- oh well.

Don't be naive to think JFJ is behind all the moves at MLSE. Replacing JFJ doesan't make them a contender unless they get rid of Peddie in the process.

LOL, I think what he's saying is that as bad as Raycroft is that, sadly, it's his best move. Pohl and Devereaux and those retreads are nice pickups, but not much to write home about. Lindros and Allison didn't take hometown discounts to play here. In fact, Allison took up $4.5 million in cap space, which is huge considering the type of player you can get for that much.

[Griff83]

Heads must roll and the first move needs to be canning Ferguson. Since his arrival there has been nothing but failure. Fill his spot with someone Respected/highly regarded and then start improving this team.

If you decide to resign Mats, which Im sure they will do to a 2 year deal you then need to go out and get him a bonified winger (Ray Whitney, Koslov (Thrashers) or find a way to get cap space to make a run at Drury or Briere.

I still think they need to sign or aquire a stay at home defencemen, that will stabalize our defence core. This was easily our weakest are this season being ranked basically in the bottom 5 in terms of Goals against.

[trevc3]

I don't neccessarily condone the firing of Fergie...but I do fully expect it to happen.

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