Dollars and autonomy were most likely part of the ask that Shanahan decided to pass on. Some would have you believe that Shanny is a meddler and Dubas wanted to make decisions without running it up the ladder.
Around The NHL #13
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rt
Clean Hits on Substack
Man. I thought the Shanahan presser was awful. I can’t believe the love it got on Chiclets.
I feel like Dubas handled this 100x better…
If I had to guess which with the respected old head, and which was the upstart with a lot to learn, based solely on statements surrounding this situation, I’d have got it completely wrong. Shanahan’s presser gave me second hand embarrassment. Dubas’ response strikes me as measured and appropriate.
I feel like Dubas handled this 100x better…
If I had to guess which with the respected old head, and which was the upstart with a lot to learn, based solely on statements surrounding this situation, I’d have got it completely wrong. Shanahan’s presser gave me second hand embarrassment. Dubas’ response strikes me as measured and appropriate.
Arizonatah Coyetis
Formerly Kai Yo T
- Oct 26, 2006
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But "Shanny" is a member of the old school boys' network, and Dubas is the young interloper, so the concrete heads who make up the traditionalist sect will always go with the former.
FTR polls in Toronto Market are suggesting less than 10% of people wanted Dubas fired.... for as reliable as polls are. IMO and its just that I think something happened behind the scenes with those 2 as Shanny never talks about anything and that office gives up very little info. My thought is that the Board did not want Dubas back and it would have taken a sales job by Shanny to get him a new contract. When Dubas wouldn't listen to Shanny's request not to talk, then gave the press conference he did, and then put forward a contract request differing from what they were talking about it lead to a childish response without long term thinking from Shanahan.
I had thought Harold Ballard was dead until last week!!!!
Dubas handled this part better but giving a season ending press conferences where you tell the world you aren't sure you want the job sure isn't a really well played plan.
rt
Clean Hits on Substack
I thought it was fine. He said he wanted a few days with his family to reflect. Players say that all the time. Nobody doubts their commitment.
rt
Clean Hits on Substack
Their actions showed me the opposite, ironically.
I think he’s good at some aspects of the job and terrible at others. And if used properly, he can be valuable. I sorta feel the same way about Maloney.
Arizonatah Coyetis
Formerly Kai Yo T
Shanahan's story, to me anyways, told a story of Shanahan getting impatient, reading into things too much, and making a hasty decision. No reason for him not to continue to be patient for a few more weeks, let Dubas absorb the season and the playoff exit, and then give him a chance to come back with HIS answer. Not the one Shanahan thought he'd get from him by playing mind-reader. I don't get the urgency in making this decision.
Also, I don't think that Dubas has done anything to deserve the assumption that he would somehow commit to coming back and no be 100% committed like he's always been.
Then again I'm sure there's more that happened that Shanahan didn't mention at the presser, even though he said way too much as it is IMO
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rt
Clean Hits on Substack
He did fine. Nothing wrong with what he said. The Leafs are stupid. And so is their market.
Yeah I can't agree with waiting a few weeks. It was 6 weeks from having 12 UFA's and top 2 Players NMC's kicking in. The GM needs to be working on that
Arizonatah Coyetis
Formerly Kai Yo T
I like deadlines more than I like the Shanahan method of "I slept on it and told him the next day I changed my mind." How about a "Hey Kyle, I understand what you're needing here, and I'd like for you to have it. Please understand my needs here too. Could we set a deadline for a final decision by _______________ so we both get a bit of what we need?
I also kept noticing that Dubas did everything through his agent and Shanahan mentioned several times he insisted on approaching Dubas directly. That had to come off as not only pressure, but disrespectful too. Maybe Dubas' comments at his presser were a message to Shanahan to "back off a bit, you're breathing down my neck. Talk to my agent."
Anyways, all just speculation on my part.
I'm definitely not saying Shanahan played this well...just challenging tge assertion that Dubas did. That first Shanahan quote came after the emailed contract demands that apparently differed from discussed
rt
Clean Hits on Substack
This is an All-Timer:
Wow! What a zinger!!!
Wow! What a zinger!!!
rt
Clean Hits on Substack
Wow. This article REALLY goes hard on Hextall.
theathletic.com
They want to make him seem equal parts super villain and complete buffoon.
But there’s a throw away in the middle of the article that hints at another side to this story, where Hextall says he was brought in to rebuild but then contrary to that, he was forced to re-sign the big three. It’s couched in the article as him yet again whining and complaining. It’s a terribly unfair article.
If they hired him so that he could blow it up and rebuild, then they did a 180 and told him he has to retain all the star players and old favorites, what’s he supposed to do? Of course his subsequent moves seemed erratic and without a concrete vision. His hands were tied and he was forced to operate in the no man’s land of big contracts to older star players.
Granted, much of the interpersonal stuff seems really bad. But a coach and an older player leadership group expecting to call the shots with a GM is a recipe for those kinds of disasters. Of course, the article lionizes them. A very ugly article. Bordering on tabloid or even propaganda. Smear job on Hextall.
Sounds like the owners are afraid of the players and the coach. And the GM was caught in the middle. His bosses are wafflers and his coaches and players are stuck in the past.
Maybe he does suck at his job. Maybe he is a jerk. But even if he was really likable and truly brilliant, he was in a no-win situation. And it sounds like the next guy will be too. Good luck to Dubas if that’s where he ends up. At least he’s got the personal relationship with ownership already. He maybe Pittsburgh’s best hope if that’s true.
Chaos, loathing and the Big Three: How the Penguins unraveled
Ron Hextall and Brian Burke's Penguins were defined by chaotic trades, internal conflict and the near-disbanding of three franchise icons.
theathletic.com
They want to make him seem equal parts super villain and complete buffoon.
But there’s a throw away in the middle of the article that hints at another side to this story, where Hextall says he was brought in to rebuild but then contrary to that, he was forced to re-sign the big three. It’s couched in the article as him yet again whining and complaining. It’s a terribly unfair article.
If they hired him so that he could blow it up and rebuild, then they did a 180 and told him he has to retain all the star players and old favorites, what’s he supposed to do? Of course his subsequent moves seemed erratic and without a concrete vision. His hands were tied and he was forced to operate in the no man’s land of big contracts to older star players.
Granted, much of the interpersonal stuff seems really bad. But a coach and an older player leadership group expecting to call the shots with a GM is a recipe for those kinds of disasters. Of course, the article lionizes them. A very ugly article. Bordering on tabloid or even propaganda. Smear job on Hextall.
Sounds like the owners are afraid of the players and the coach. And the GM was caught in the middle. His bosses are wafflers and his coaches and players are stuck in the past.
Maybe he does suck at his job. Maybe he is a jerk. But even if he was really likable and truly brilliant, he was in a no-win situation. And it sounds like the next guy will be too. Good luck to Dubas if that’s where he ends up. At least he’s got the personal relationship with ownership already. He maybe Pittsburgh’s best hope if that’s true.
Those are coaching decisions. Blame the coach for dis-respecting the game.
I did back when it was happening in AZ.
You sure have a hate for him. FTR his goalie was 2nd in Vezina voting just a year ago.
Shanahan wanted someone that wouldn't outshine him. Good candidates probably passed on the job as well, given the baggage.
How do you write such nonsense? Probably couldn't get a top 5 GM like Chayka. Probably the largest budget in the League to use for GM and you think they can't attract candidates?
rt
Clean Hits on Substack
Nah, just reality. He could fall on his face in reality I have no idea. But the silly notion that no one wants the job well that's just silly.
Front office staff don't count toward the salary cap, so I don't understand why TOR doesn't money-whip a small committee of co-GM's. Most GM's earn about what their 3rd line centers do. Get 7 guys to boot room your big decisions, drafts, signings, trades, everything. The wisdom of crowds and a diverse collection of opinions. Maybe some candidates have too much ego to be co-GM, but TML has endless stacks of money to make it right.
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