I'm surprised more hasn't been made about the Leafs lack of thorough process in filling out the GM and coach positions.
Last summer once Dubas was gone, Treliving's name was out there within 24 hours. He was "their guy", they met, came to an agreement, and... that was it. No proper GM search. No exhaustive measures to try and fill the biggest seat in hockey. They talked properly to one guy, and gave him the job.
Fast forward 12 months, and once Keefe was gone, Berube's name was out there very quickly. He was "their guy", they met, came to an agreement, and... that was it. Berube got the job. No exhaustive or thorough coaching search involving discussions & interviews with several different candidates.
I don't necessarily think there's anything wrong with having a specific "profile" of the type of person you want to fill a particular role within an organization, and then going out and hunting for the person you feel is the best or closest fit for that role.
However, for an organization that has made a lot of disappointing decisions lately and suffered from a significant lack of success, it feels hasty and unwise to have gone this route without a proper, exhaustive search for either position, given how important these hires are. Feels like they formulated ideas in their head, and then used the interview process to confirm those ideals, rather than be open minded to new or dynamic ones.
I understand their organizational need to feel like they had to react quickly to grab Berube given the large interest in him league-wide. However, Craig Berube wasn't on anyone's list of top NHL coaches - it's concerning that they acted with such haste, again, just a year after they took on the same exact same steps to get Treliving in.
Time will tell whether these moves are right for the team. If they aren't, you simply have to look at their reluctance in conducting proper searches, and question their openness to new ideas versus simply confirming pre-conceived ones they already formulated.
Well, the Leafs probably do their prep work well before the actual firing. Perhaps even as early as at the end of the season prior when they make contingency plans. Dubas may have been the exception.
Once he is canned the Leafs have inroads to every potential choice, they are the Yankees of the NHL.
So basically they have an idea well before they choose their guy but they have to go through the motions.
It is this way as well in government, corporations, police forces. Mandated to interview at least three candidates? No problem we can do that and waste two candidates time. I have seen interviews conducted a couple of hours before the deadline for the decision, it is comical really.
In reality they alter the requirements in the position so that only one candidate can
really fulfill the job (sorry to get political but our Premier was accused of this when he hired his cop friend for OPP I believe). In this case, they will simply interview as many as possible, have perhaps a distant Plan B in case Berube rolls into the interview on a Harley and curses the team, reignites his glory years and throws a right hook at Shanny. Other than that, he is basically their man well before he is interviewed, it is his job to lose in essence. Leafs have done their homework and the coach
basically knows it.
Before this happens the team creates some intrigue through their media arms. Leaks a few details intentionally to "insiders" who are being used. Well, it's a two way street I suppose. Fans speculate, sports media talks about it constantly and Leafs stay in the sportlight.
They can't go with the new and shiny object because they did that already with president, GM and coach before the latest firings. So they had to revert back to experienced, and being the Leafs they want to avoid controversy so no thoughts of Bergevin or Quinnville really crossed their minds, whether a denial of their services was warranted or not. Both are too controversial.
I would have loved to see Bergevin here, but Brad gets it so as long as he doesn't throw a Hail Mary too early, he is a good choice thus far. I definitely feel that he and Craig are going to collaborate to build the team which is the right way to do these things. The last time Leafs had a long run the coach was also the GM. There is a reason this works so well. Brad isn't arrogant, he wants to win too and getting on the same page with the coach is crucial.
The franchise is what it is. It's a part of many of our lives since we were knee high. People convert to other religions on a higher basis than they do sports teams. My interest has been waning but I contribute when I have time.
Now excuse me as I have to vomit again
