TSN: Brendan Shanahan named President of Toronto Maple Leafs

[Al14]

So, do you think that was an issue with Dryden when he was president?

I hated that singing, even more. AN ex-Hab, ewww!

However, our record with him at the helm was pretty decent!

Let's hope Shanny has the same effect!

 

[ErnieLeafs]

Hum, Chicago is 11th best in goals against while San Jose is 6th best.

How are they bad defensively again? Or are they bad offensively? Or what is it am I missing?

I was agreeing with you, fella

Just providing examples for the locals.

 

[ShaneFalco]

A little confused here. I know that Shanahan is the president and alternate governor. But what exactly does he do? Is he involved in any hockey operations/manners?

My guess is he'll make all the major decisions (including coaching and GM), but his team will manage the cap, negotiate contracts etc

 

[SprDaVE]

I was agreeing with you, fella

Just providing examples for the locals.

All righty.

 

[ErnieLeafs]

It was in response to the poster suggestion Kadri might not play.

Understand the context.

I think it is actually you, in fact, missing the grand scheme context.

DeBoer was asked about a player he coached in junior, by a member of the Toronto media, RIGHT BEFORE his team was playing the Leafs.

This is known as "lip service".

 

[RC51]

finally! leafs make a good move. If SHanny is left alone to do his job by his bosses I see a full rebuild in the making. THE RIGHT WAY. The leafs do have at least some good assets to start with. Next comes the gm+coaching staff. Then a REAL assessment of current assets. Some will have to go, some will have to be acquired, some will have to be drafted.
All will have to come together at the same time and all under the cap.
About 3 years it should take. That will give the new coach + GM the time to install a SYSTEM, a winning system starting from goal to dmen to forwards. You need some size, some toughness, some speed, some very good talent. ALL players pulling in the same direction every night under a SOLID hockey system. A totally hard to beat team that comes to play EVERY NIGHT. My Habs are NOT their yet but we are going in the right direction.
GOOD LUCK.

 

[Schennanigans]

I'm convinced no coach will make much of a difference. I'm convinced it's a players problem not a coaching problem. Players need to get much better or we just need new players.

 

[Ed Belfour]

Let's not be in denial. It is a choice, look at how this team has played under 2 coach's. Almost identical.

You are missing the point, LA Mike Richards and Drew Doughty can up their points totals by 20 if they were as selfish as this Leafs team, but they choose to play defence first because the goal is to win.

They know sacrificing a high risk game for a safer game, is good for the team.

Do these players do this?

Our players don't do this, and it's why I seriously question anyone who thinks bringing in a new coach will do anything. Our players are the problem, Carlyle's asinine defensive system just amplifies that.

We need to bring in a coach who can employ a strong defensive system, sure, but if the team stayed the same as it is we still wouldn't go anywhere. Up and down our lineup we have a bunch of soft, one dimensional players who have zero compete. When the going gets tough, our team crumbles. This is simply not a team that will ever fight through adversity and scrap their way to wins.

 

[ACC1224]

A little confused here. I know that Shanahan is the president and alternate governor. But what exactly does he do? Is he involved in any hockey operations/manners?

He will set the direction of the Team.

 

[Ed Belfour]

I strongly disagree with you. Babcock didn't even go over offence when he coached the men's Canadian hockey team, he stressed the importance of defense and stated these guys know how to score. Kessel has shown this year that he wants to win, and by bringing in a coach to be strictly defensive minded with his system and wins games and all the players buy into it, than he would buy into it. Carlyle never had these guys sold into his style of play, for whatever reasons Carlyle lost the team and guys were scrambling on the ice all year long. Carlyle sat guys for making mistakes early in the season and didn't sit older players for making the same mistakes or worse, to me that set the tone.

I actually think we're on the same wavelength here. For the record though, it's easy to employ the system Babcock did at the Olympics when you have all that firepower on offense. When a guy like Crosby can take a backseat offensively, you know what you're dealing with. Babcock employed a strict defensive system for exactly the same reason as what I said...he knew that he had the horses on offense to get him some goals. He basically figured that if he played smothering defense, he had the talent on offense to pot enough goals to win. He was right.

We don't have that much talent. We are a one line team, and if that line isn't rolling, we will have lot's of trouble scoring goals. I don't think we can afford to play strictly defense, because our offense isn't deep enough for a coach to trust them to score enough goals to win every night. I know we were 5th in goals for or something like that, but it's similar to our top 5 powerplay...watching our PP lately, does it look like anything resembling top 5?

I still think our players are the main issue. If a coach could come in and play a good defensive system, our players would need to buy into it 100% for it to work. I can't see many of our guys doing that or even being capable of doing that. Once we have those players, playing a good defensive game is a must, and then let the offensive guys work and goals will come.

 

[Morbo]

finally! leafs make a good move. If SHanny is left alone to do his job by his bosses I see a full rebuild in the making. THE RIGHT WAY. The leafs do have at least some good assets to start with. Next comes the gm+coaching staff. Then a REAL assessment of current assets. Some will have to go, some will have to be acquired, some will have to be drafted.
All will have to come together at the same time and all under the cap.
About 3 years it should take. That will give the new coach + GM the time to install a SYSTEM, a winning system starting from goal to dmen to forwards. You need some size, some toughness, some speed, some very good talent. ALL players pulling in the same direction every night under a SOLID hockey system. A totally hard to beat team that comes to play EVERY NIGHT. My Habs are NOT their yet but we are going in the right direction.
GOOD LUCK.

I think you managed to squeeze just about every cliche in there, nice job

 

[HEAVY DUTY]

any chance shanahan can pry hitchcock out of st.louis? his contract is up after this season...

 

[Deebo]

Is this Official? When is the Press Conference?

Yes, Monday at 11am.

Edit: sorry, saw it was answered

 

[HEAVY DUTY]

Yes, Monday at 11am.

so carlyle gets canned on saturday night or sunday morning? most probably.

 

[SprDaVE]

any chance shanahan can pry hitchcock out of st.louis? his contract is up after this season...

I think we have a better chance of winning the draft lottery then for that to happen.

 

[share]

Our players don't do this, and it's why I seriously question anyone who thinks bringing in a new coach will do anything. Our players are the problem, Carlyle's asinine defensive system just amplifies that.

We need to bring in a coach who can employ a strong defensive system, sure, but if the team stayed the same as it is we still wouldn't go anywhere. Up and down our lineup we have a bunch of soft, one dimensional players who have zero compete. When the going gets tough, our team crumbles. This is simply not a team that will ever fight through adversity and scrap their way to wins.

Absolutely 100% spot on with your assessment .Personally I think that Carlyle is a good defensive coach but he needs the players to make his system work. There has to be a complete dismanteling of the team except for 7 core players and build around them. Start with a goaltender, two defensemen and 4 forwards that consist of two centers and go from there. If the Leafs don't have 2 centers that fill the role then go get them. If there are not 2 wingers to fill the role then go get them also. After that all you need are good quality players that will sacrafice whatever to build the team.It is going to take time to truly build the team but it can be done with patience.It will never happen if we hire and fire coaches every second year.

 

[goonx]

I think we have a better chance of winning the draft lottery then for that to happen.

lol so true. STL is a favorite to win the cup despite their recent losing streak. Stanley cup to disaster? no thanks.

by extension, the management is going to throw $$$$$ at this guy for him to stay.

 

[DintedGarageDoor]

Really not sure what this signing is going to do other than muddy the waters of management even further...at least for the short term.

The problem with the Leafs is the the unreal expectations of the fans causes management to panic almost annually.

I've heard this tune before and I guess the jury is out as to whether this organization can actually create a plan and have the balls to stick to it. I have my doubts.

Sometimes I think you could put the Canadian Olympic team in Leaf jerseys and they would figure out a way to miss the playoffs.

 

[egd27]

When you have both, you are usually a top 6 team in your conference, if not a contender.

But if you can only have one as you're putting all the pieces together, offence is not the one to focus on.

 

[TML FTW*]

Absolutely 100% spot on with your assessment .Personally I think that Carlyle is a good defensive coach but he needs the players to make his system work. There has to be a complete dismanteling of the team except for 7 core players and build around them. Start with a goaltender, two defensemen and 4 forwards that consist of two centers and go from there. If the Leafs don't have 2 centers that fill the role then go get them. If there are not 2 wingers to fill the role then go get them also. After that all you need are good quality players that will sacrafice whatever to build the team.It is going to take time to truly build the team but it can be done with patience.It will never happen if we hire and fire coaches every second year.

I hope you're not seriously saying we should keep Carlyle because if you are it's a ridiculous suggestion.

 

[hockeyes]

Really not sure what this signing is going to do other than muddy the waters of management even further...at least for the short term.

The problem with the Leafs is the the unreal expectations of the fans causes management to panic almost annually.

I've heard this tune before and I guess the jury is out as to whether this organization can actually create a plan and have the balls to stick to it. I have my doubts.

Sometimes I think you could put the Canadian Olympic team in Leaf jerseys and they would figure out a way to miss the playoffs.

This is complete BS. The fans have supported a losing team for years now and show little sign of changing. There is practically no pressure from the fans to build a winner properly. Unless they take to heart what a few morons say on call in shows? Give me a break.

The real problem is ownership constantly thinking they can force the team into the playoffs each year and that trickles down to management as it's what they are told to do.

The fans are the absolute last place to place blame for this organization.

 

[Leafspoison*]

Yea, I own a restaurant. I have waitresses....but they don't know crap about running my business.

Shanny is name only. Probably help Nonuts with talent evaluation for potential trades.

 

[Kelly]

Meh.

This team is still ****, 3 epic collapses in a row.

They can sign Jesus as our president for all I care, they need to win, all this Lieweke guy does is talk, well talk is cheap.

One playoff series in the last 9 years isn't going to blind me from seeing how awful this team has been.

 

[sommervr]

I said they should bring in a hockey Czar and they brought in a hockey Czar.

Is my consulting fee in the mail? I'll just wait right here.

 

[paulhiggins]

any chance shanahan can pry hitchcock out of st.louis? his contract is up after this season...

I hope not. Unless Shanahan is also going to be the GM.

What he should do is hire the GM. Then the GM will hire the coach the GM wants. That is one of the problems here. CEOs getting leftover GMs from the old regime. GMs getting leftover coaches from the old regime. Coaches getting leftover players from the old regime.

They need the top guy to clean the mess and let each person do his own job without interference from above or below. Start at the top and work your way down with no shortcuts.