Garf - I have no idea. I can't think of a single one and no one around here has leaked any names yet. Tune in tomorrow for another exciting episode of "As the Leaf(s) BLOWS". (I think Toronto can offer Elias more than Jersey. I think they will. I think the Leafs are desperate to get someone to play with Sundin.)
One thing this isn't is a quick fix. This is part of what's looking like a much larger plan by Ferguson to get the Leafs away from overpaying old farts every year, and starting to take advantage of the homegrown talent (much of it currently being coached by Paul Maurice, coincidentally) which is much cheaper, longer-lasting and (not least importanly) way better from a PR standpoint. Ferguson was the one that brought in O'Neill, Allison and Lindros, and re-signed Domi, and traded for Leetch. I agree that it looks like the leafs *may* head in that direction, but with millions to spend, I'll bet that you see more veterans replace departing players than the injury replacements we've seen at the end of this year. I know Quinn and JFJ have never gotten along, but why fire Quinn now? If they didn't get along and it was such an issue, why not fire him in January, mid-slump when his firing could have changed things? Firing Quinn and bringing in someone who isn't an obvious improvment is a bad move in my books, and looks like a quick fix to appease the media and the fans, creating the illusion that something is happening. Why couldn't JFJ get rid of the players that he thought contributed to the lack of success this season and let Quinn coach the personnel the GM thinks is appropriate. Because if Quinn was fired because JFJ didn't like the players Quinn was playing, well, who's fault is it that Domi, Berg, Khavanov and the rest of them were sitting on the bench and avaialble? I don't hate Maurice, just don't see why he's viewed as a better option than Quinn. He's coached about 600 games in the NHL with a record below .500 with some crappy teams and made the playoffs three times. Their cup run was a fluke, and it showed when they were clobbered 4-0 by the Wings. I think it's fair to see what Maurice can do with another year with Marlies before making him the coach of the big club. Honestly, there's a host of guys I'd rather see come in, including Andy Murray and Marc Crawford (assuming he gets fired).
Well, I guess this marks the new Leafs heading forward into the new NHL. a year late I guess I don't think it was necessarily a bad a thing to wait a year. Now they have a better understanding of the new NHL, and they know which players have adapted and which can't hack it. Elias ain't going anywhere, this is his team now. But just in case, stay the hell away from him! You guys already ruined Mogilny dammit. Who you guys should go after is Jeff Freisen.
Elias and Chara will be fielded offers from almost every team in the league. No one team should get their hopes up.
No they won't. Cap space is a huge issue for a ton of teams. If NJ signs Elias, they're going to have a hard time hanging onto Gionta, Madden and Gomez. Elias is older and more of the injured variety - out of the four, I think they let Elias walk. I think Ottawa will be able to resign both Chara and Redden. They're looking for a goalie just like the Leafs. Nabokov will be available in a trade.
I really don't see Elias going anywhere, he doesn't seem to me to be a show me the money kind of guy, or Madden for that matter. I don't think Gionta is going to give NJ any problems in resigning. And just to make sure they don't have another Scott Neidermeyer incident, they already have the younger Gionta in the system. I can see Gomez going for the money though.
I really didn't want Quinn to get fired. I wanted him to retire/resign on his own terms. As it is, he was probably too stubborn to let go.
I think the Leafs are desperate to get someone to play with Sundin Are you sure about that Smokey? They haven't exactly come across that way in the past eight or nine years... (And their big idea had better not be the return of Modin.)
...and it showed when they were clobbered 4-0 by the Wings. How quickly we forget game 1 of that series. And game 3 wasn't exactly a walk in the park for either team.
Hey fabby - I think that the fact they fired Quinn so fast is indicative of some degree of decisiveness. The Leafs I knew would have waited until all the prime free agents were signed and no alternative coaches available. I also think that they are aware that they have maybe two years before they have to go out and get another franchise centre. And this is the year with the cap space - so odds are that are in the market for a winger who can play now. Incredibly, the Leafs could turn this whole thing around by September and be back in contention. They have the money, now let's see if they can get the talent.
I saw that, njsk8r.
Cap space is a huge issue for a ton of teams Not if that cap goes up and aren't they expecting the cap to up good chunk this year?
I just hope the next Leafs coach brings up Johnny Pohl. How many goals does a guy have to score to get a chance. That's why they should get Maurice. He knows those young guys better than Quinn -- and would likely give them a chance. Maybe. Quinn relied on his old guys too much, and that's not necessarily a good thing on an increasingly younger team. Also didn't give Sundin the proper ice time. He's a great coach, no doubt, but this was inevitable. Also, The Star had an almost hilarious speculation team roster for next year, taking into account who resigns, free-agents, and who they let go. Wishful thinking at its finest.
>Also, The Star had an almost hilarious speculation team roster for next year... That article was wishful thinking. I liked Pat Quinn as a character. But he had way too much patience with some players and too much anti-patience with others. I think part of it was that Canada did not win at Turin: Ferguson couldn't fire the gold medal winning coach.
As a die-hard leafs fan I have to say Ferguson is a bum and Quinn is a great man and coach. Wish Ferguson got canned instead.
Is this Star speculation article online? I couldn't find it.
The first thing the new coach needs to do is lock up Lindros with a long-term deal... Ow! Pucks really do hurt! A lot!
