Proposal: Is there room for Ron Francis and/or Joe Nieuwendyk with our Leafs

Cor

I am a bot
Jun 24, 2012
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Francis not really.

Nieuwendyk could come back in the open AGM role or even a scouting role.
 

Kiwi

Registered User
Mar 5, 2016
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The Naki
Those two no

The scouts that are helping them pick the defensemen in there organization I'd be happy to bring on board
 

Al14

Registered User
Jul 13, 2007
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Nieuwy to run the Marlies after Dubas replaces Lou?
This is an option I was thinking of for Joe Nieuwendyk.

I also thought that Ron Francis might be an excellent advance pro scout for Mike Babcock.

Not sure if either would be willing to take lesser roles with our Leafs.
 

Warden of the North

Ned Stark's head
Apr 28, 2006
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Niewendyk was already here before Carolina. My timeline is fuzzy, was it Shanny who let him go?

Edit - no, he was gone long before Shanny
 

JEI

Jericho
Jun 7, 2004
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I could be wrong (just going off memory) but I believe Francis has a connection with Dubas. Wonder if he's brought in at all in regards to that - if Lou, for example, ends up going elsewhere.
 

SprDaVE

Moderator
Sep 20, 2008
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Not sure either of them really fit unless they take specialised roles.

Their track record in management has been rather bad, although I liked what Francis did in Carolina in terms of drafting and his built team. He just never was able to find a goaltender.
 

Trapper

Registered User
Nov 21, 2013
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If you are going outside of the organization to give the job to someone besides Dubas/Hunter, it better be someone on a very rare level of building/managing. It won't justify possibly losing both to just anybody.
 

TheTotalPackage

Registered User
Sep 14, 2006
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Don't have too much of a sense if Francis would be worthwhile or not.

Nieuwendyk -- been there, done that. I think they could not even be bothered and just skip him.
 

Man Bear Pig

Registered User
Aug 10, 2008
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Maybe in a scouting role, I'm not sure either would be looking at a demotion like that though just yet.
 

diceman934

Help is on the way.
Jul 31, 2010
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Looking at Francis and how he learned from Rutherford and his unwillingness to trade young prospects and building through the drafts sounds like he took the words from his Friend's mouth....right Shanny?

I say he is high on the List to be our Next GM has experience in building a team the right way and not getting sucked into resigning aging vets.

The fact that his coach quit as well as his pro scout when he was removed speaks highly of him and how valued the personal relationships he fostered with his management group was, speaks volumes.
 

SprDaVE

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Sep 20, 2008
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Francis did well in Carolina, at least on paper. He just couldn't find a goaltender to save his life and didn't make any big moves to bolster their team quality.

He'd probably be someone to look at if Shanahan wasn't going to promote from within.
 

diceman934

Help is on the way.
Jul 31, 2010
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NHL player factory
During rebuilding you do not make big moves and trade away prospects and young players to make your team better in the short term exactly why Francis fits within the Shanny Plan.

If Shanny was going to promote from within the only reason I can understand as to why he has not announced a person is that he wants to be sure that he is not losing both Lou and the unsuccessful candidate as otherwise Shanny has not struck me as a person who is afraid to make a decision. The longer it goes the less likely that Dubas and or Hunter gets the job.
 

LeafGrief

Shambles in my brain
Apr 10, 2015
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Ottawa
What have either of them done as managers that make them ideal candidates for positions within the Toronto Maple Leafs organization? Scouts, sure. Managers, no.
 

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