From the Pressbox

The problem with the Leafs?! Who knows? How can something like "not being able to get the puck across your own blueline" be an organizational issue that goes on for decades? How can allowing key goals against in the last seconds of about ten games in a single season be JFJ's fault? Is it the air in the rink? The shade of blue in the uniforms? Who knows? Cliff Fletcher - for all his suaveness and experience - is unlikely to turn this around. I say let's get NASA to send instructions to the Mars landers - "Leafs Cup Parade expected 2200AD - Please Prepare Route!"

All this news about the Leafs is just plain old sickening. Who really cares? Leaf nation needs to wake up and realize what the rest of Canada already knows... The Leafs are terrible. We know they are going to rebuild. Am I going to read in next weeks paper the psychological trauma Ferguson is going to experience by being fired? Take a lesson from the Sens on how to build a good team, how to become a good team and how to stay as a good team.

Watched an interview with some MLSE functionary before this season, and all he could talk about was what good shape the leafs were in...financially.

40 years on, no cups, not even a final.

Consistent sell-outs, and consistent profits.

What do they care if the team wins or not?

I've given up on my Leafs, and on hockey.

It's just a business, and not a sport.

They think only with their heads.

They have no heart. And one thing is for sure, you don't win Stanley's Cup without an excess of heart.

Ferguson he has proven to be able to take an incredible amount of flack in the past eight months. I am impressed at his poised and I am not surprised to be hearing that he has already had some phone calls from around the league. Give him the right environment to learn from his mistakes and the right people around him to point him in the right direction leaf fans may be wondering why we ever let him go.

The point has already been made above though... for now this really does not solve anything. If the Leafs record turns around it is not because Ferguson is gone. I hope for all fans (including myself) that some one will wake up tomorrow with a good idea on how to turn it around because it is about time that something happens.

You have to ask the question though, do we love them because they give us something to complain about. How many blogs do you see with this much attention writing about how great Detroit is playing?

Keep your stick on the ice Leaf fans, it doesn't look good. :0)

Do not forget the fact this is only a game and not the cure for cancer.true hockey is big business in this country but keep things in perspective

To those who pine for the days of Harold Ballard, GIVE YOUR HEADS A SHAKE! You'll be able to hear your brains rattle like a can of spray paint.

Have you idiots forgotten what it was like under that fat old buffoon? How he said and did things just to get attention and public reaction? He did it BECAUSE HE COULD! Because people were stupid enough to take him seriously. If he were still owning the Leafs today he'd be in nirvana because of all the different outlets of media attention given to his hockey club.

Say what you want about the way MLSE runs its business, but I'd wager they care a lot more about on-ice success than Harold Ballard ever did. Ballard never cared about the Maple Leafs, the fans, or anyone except for himself. And it showed in the way the club deteriorated in his last days.

I say we all get out our shovels and dig up ol' Harold and install him as president of MLSE. At least with Harold at the helm, when the Leafs were losing (which was always) we knew who to blame. Nowadays there's a bunch of nameless, faceless clowns running the show who know more about ROI than they do about hockey pucks.

And really, who was the idiot who hired Ferguson in the first place? Would Teachers hire a street cleaner to run their pension fund? What a collection of donkeys!

Fans of no other team in any sport sit back and take the disrespect and utter humiliation of the kind shown to leaf fans from Richard Peddie and the scum at MLSE. Even a storied franchise such as montreal doesn't get support when they're not playing well. Toronto has to stop priding itself in the fact that we have the most "loyal" fans and that we've been sold out for 40 years straight, as this is the reason we are so shamelessly exploited.

Peddie has run this team into the ground, and to add insult to injury has slapped the leaf fans in the face by refusing to hire the most qualified winner in hockey history. I take it personally, as should every other leafs fan because for better or for worse hockey is a tradition and part of our culture, not just a game to us.

I live in BC now and a friend just explained to me that while people out here have always hated the Leafs, it's now that they pity this team and their fans more than anything.

Fans: stop buying the lip-service, the propaganda, and more importantly the merchandise that lets this nonsense go on! Change the channel when the Leafs are on and cancel your must-see-Leafs TV subscription! Don't go to the games, even if someone gives you a ticket! If money talks, that would speak volumes

Hiring Cliff Fletcher is not a bad thing at all; although the wisdom of interim attachment is not necessarily clear. Any search for a permanent GM seems to come down to the same 3 people with Scotty Bowman as an option as well.

If Fletcher truly does have Autonomy to gut the team which is a likely scenario,then get some good players that play a team game and see what can be done.

Mats deserves the option for a Stanley Cup contender and if he agrees to a trade then good; maybe keep Toskala, Ian White and dump the rest. Kaberle is skilled but soft. Coliacovo is skilled but he's a professional injury. Interesting times ahead indeed.

I dont see why Peddie takes so much heat over this.. I'm not defending him or anything but..
He represents the OTPF and is there to make sure that they get the best return for their investment. Saying they 'dont care' about the team is ridiculous. Say you have an investment in Microsoft, do you really care who they hire or fire? Or are you just looking in the paper to see how your investment is doing?? I blame the Toronto media for twisting this whole thing on the management board. Lets stick to the hockey aspect.. Ferguson had almost 5 years, he failed, hes fired. Fletcher comes in and now they're looking for a new GM. It sounds like good news to me!! Any change with the leafs is good news.
So instead of saying: "Get rid of Peddie, OTPF etc etc.." Why not say-- "Get rid of Blake, McCabe, Kubina, Tucker" and any other overpaid hack who underachieves on a nightly basis. They are the ones affecting the outcome of the games, people!! They play the game, not Peddie or any of the rest of the 'evil' board members.

I don't think the Laffs will be any good till they re-sign
the BIG M......

In watching the corporate manipulation going on, I can't help but wade in.

Look fans, business and passion have never mixed. We fans look at the leafs as "our" team fighting it on the ice for our collective pride. You simply can't bridge that to the Techo-Barons and Super-Socialists that run the team. To them, the Leafs are simply a vehicle for wealth creation.

And wealth is certainly created. Look at the economic spinoffs related to hockey and don't forget the increased revenues increase the valuation with every new venture created. You see, the owners always get paid twice creating, guess what,..wealth.

So, we need to either accept the hyper-ecomonics around sports or stop purchasing the products they are selling. It's that simple. The consumers are, after all is said, the ulimate drivers of this crazy notion of capitalistic sports.

Sadly, you can't get a ticket to a leaf game and so it will go on and on fueled by....us !

j man stated:

"i grew up with 2 teachers and they are now retired. i and my sisters will never have to worry about a financial burden down the road thanks to the otpf. first and foremost its a business. sorry leaf fans!!"

That's the whole issue in a nutshell. OTPF doesn't give a darn about the sport or the fans. "The Leaf Nation" should seriously consider jumping into the lifeboats and fleeing for their lives before the Titanic of NHL teams finally goes down below the cold icy waters of Lake Ontario. Don't support this joke organization!

Harold Ballard and Stafford Smythe look like dynasty builders compared to this group of owners.....and come to think of it....wasn't it a Ballard that eventually found the Titanic on the ocean floor. Ironic! Don't you think?

I love this s**t...you know why? It takes my mind of MY loser team on the left coast. You "Leafers" got nothing to complain about...your team has won at least ONE cup.This bunch of overpaid/underacheivers would make Mother Theresa want to punch them out.( anyone got Fergies # ?)

I wish that the media would stop talking about the Leaf's ownership and management and of all Friedman's friends on the board. How can a city like Toronto have so many morons running the show.

Teachers out, Peddie out, Tanenbaum (stilll) in, Ted Rogers in, Bowman in. Tanenbaum didn't want JFJ - he was right - nice guy - terrible job as GM in Toronto

Let the madness begin. I am a die-hard HABS fan and take much "heat" from my Leaf-loving co-workers, so every opportunity I have, I take my shots at them, believe me, I've had a lot of shots at them lately. Only in Leafland would they come up with a title like "search committee". In the case of the Leafs, it should be "search & rescue". Who have they got in Toronto qualified enough for this committee? They should first form a group to find a search committee. Is it me, or was old Cliffy dozing-off during the press conference? He has that look about him, the same as a deer caught in the headlights, or maybe it's the shock that they actually made him the GM, he thought all along that the Leafs were kidding about the job offer. If you think he looks old now, wait a couple of weeks. He told the press that his first act as the new GM is to trade anyone in the Leafs room who has a "C" on their sweater. I understand that he carries a picture of the late, great Sam Pollock in his wallet, he says it's for divine inspiration (which he sure will need now).

Want to make a statement Leaf fans? We all know no one is going to give up their season's tickets or stop going to games, or stop buying merchandise.

So what to do? Here's a thought...

The day the season ends for the Leafs, all Leafs fans should be calling the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan. Everyone make two calls a day for a week. Tie up all their lines. Affect the operations of the Leaf's largest stakeholder. It's the only way they will take notice.

Maybe then MSLE will get the message.

Pass it on.

Given the Leafs recent trade record I have to ask - is Fletcher coming back on management or as a player? If they can get him for less than 2M a year (player) that would be an improvement on some of the other deals they have locked up.

Restructure? Change? Good idea. In fact, change it all. Even the little things. Send out a message to the players and the fans: new team crest (come on you know you want to see something better than a crappy, boring leaf), new thermablades for the team, new horn for home scoring (is it the bluejackets that have the cannon shot!?). The little things matter- just ask any sports psychologist. Trust me, it will be like a second honeymoon for the players and the fans.

Its best that Leaf fans stay home and not sit in their seats at Air Canada Center. Leave the seats empty and lets see if they can win some games... Chances of Toronto of winning a Stanley Cup has the same odds as the Vancouver Canucks winning their first Stanley Cup.. I think a beached whale in Stanley Park would have a better chance...

Unless the Teacher's sell, there's no skirmish whatsoever. They own majority control and they exercise majority control. End of that story period. As we’ve seen since they took control and we saw again yesterday, their boy, Peddie, ruled the day and got what he wanted. Fletcher was his only candidate. Ferguson was his previous candidate.

Tanenbaum with 13% ownership can’t fight that. He’s beat before he’s started. He always has been. And he knows it. Tanenbaum was out of the country last week. Just exactly how did all this supposed infighting take place with him when he wasn’t around and busy doing other things? An email fight that he knew he couldn’t possibly win? C’mon. I don’t know where you guys get this stuff.

The first board meeting on the issue was Monday and they approved Peddie’s solution. Not a lot of time for much infighting. How come there wasn’t an alternative candidate to fight over? Bowman’s candidacy was dead long ago because they didn’t want the team run 24/7 from Tampa. Think about it. Fletcher and Peddie had discussions last summer. That provided Peddie with insurance for transition should the need arise. So the die was cast if things turned out as they have.

Once again we have a mess. As long as people who don't inderstand hockey make decisions, we'll always have a mess. JFJ was the wrong choice but for TPF, Peddie, and Tanenbaum, they didn't care as long as they had control. As long as these people have their hands in the pot, the Leafs are going no where.And now Cliff Fletcher. Give me a break. The guy is retired in Mexico. As least JFJ wanted to win. CF wants sun, sand, and a sombrero! Jim Rutherford would have been am excellent choice. He's from the area, and just look at his record in Carolina with a hand full of money.

I didn't know the Ontario Teachers Pensions Fund had control of the Leafs. It's no wonder the team is pitiful. With my experience dealing with unions and educrats, if I may term that utterance for common-senseless fools wrought by what's owed them, a sense of entitlement with regard to messing into hockey affairs from the boardroom must emanate from that union. I support www.someonebuytheleafs.com. What's Jim Basille doing these days? Please!

I thought Pat Quinn was a madman for some of his trades/deals, and the only reason he lasted was because in the pre cap era, Toronto could just buy their way out of trouble..

And not to beat a dead horse, but Fergie, what were you thinking on some of these deals?! I almost choked when I read your comment on there being 11 GM's hired since your tenure began, and you insinuated that
you would find employment soon enough..
Based on your deals made here, I wouldn't trust your negotiating skills against a kid trading hockey cards, and I'm sure the rest of the league is thinking the same thing.
No offence, and I wish you the best.

I think part of the problem is this sense of urgency to win a cup here in Toronto, rather than to patiently build a winner. This team's been spinning it's wheels for as long as I can remember, and ever since " the cap", it seems that they are finally about to fall off.

Fortunately for MLSE, with the tradition, and the size of their fan base, it will take many more years of this before their customers finally realize that all this really is, is a stupid tradition.

I am surprised that so many leafs fans are jumping at the prospect of securing Scotty Bowman as the next leaf GM. Don't get me wrong, I love Scotty Bowman who is a true hall of famer, but his time is over. With all due respect, I would hate to see the leafs put an old timer like Bowman in this position who may only have 2 - 3 years to dedicate to the position. We need YOUNG BLOOD in the organization, unlike Pat Quin who never did give new young prospects a chance. I say, the leafs should go out and get STEVIE YZERMAN. Now that's a true hockey man with class that can serve in the position for a decade. I can't believe anyone would object to this. (OK, maybe the Red Wings)

Well, it's a step in the right direction. The comment made of "president" is interesting; could there be any, even if remote, that Scotty will take pitty if offered full reins? Can't blame the guy for wanting that... i'd want the same if i was going to take the position with that team.
Whatever happens, we're still looking at a long,long while before anything is hanging from the rafters. But the boys at the top still believe what they have known from the beginning.. win or lose, bad media or good, the place will still sell out. And i don't think anything good will come about until that changes.

Let's stop making excuses and win the Stanley cup.

Harold Ballard: 0 cups
MLSEL: 0 cups
since expansion:0 cups

Enough said!

Gotta get some of those sugar crisps!

I see the usual "we should have kept Wendel Clark & I'm sure they'll get rid of Darcy Tucker" posts have made it here.
The Leafs need to get rid of All players over 32. Period. Time to throw out all those old clothes and the people in them, no more pack-ratting. This year is a write-off. Our Gold medal winning Jr's could be a contending .500 team in this watered down version of the NHL. The "Command by Committee" MLSE uses in it's buisness plan model for everything hockey is what really needs to be let go. Generals don't share Command and the buck stops at their desks. The Leafs need a General, not a Private. (with appologies to all our proud serving Privates)1 Man with the ability through his mandate to effect any change needed to retool and reinvigerate this franchise who doesn't have to ask permission to affect that change.
Until MLSE changes it's Leadership by Committee design, I wouldn't be planning any parade routes down Young Street anytime soon. The Leafs will remain the franchise that long in the tooth, over-the-hill players flock to in the waning years of their careers to extend that career and their paycheques because the "still have a name". Toronto fans have to share the blame for that because these players have been flocking there for decades, and no one has screamed. I'd hire every member of our Jr. team for a tenth of what the current payroll is and get better results in the standings. Young, hungry, up-and-comers will excite the fans, speed up the game and bring pride back into the Leafs dressing room. Complacency has entrentched itself into this organization and change, radical change is required to correct it. This of course will only work if MSLE lets the man in charge, be the man in charge.

Typical TO move that will change nothing. Time to really start over. Time is passing this team by.

I read on the mapleleafs.com website that when they bring in a full-time GM after Fletcher, Peddie will step down as president of the Leafs. About time, as long as they bring in some one with experience. Bowman isn't a bad idea, nor is luring Burke from Anaheim for some cash. Either way, they're only hiring Fletcher for cleaning house, trading Sundin (if it happens), and the draft. Nothing more. This is a good day for the ML.

Michael in Hamilton - "Wow..you gotta wonder who's goofier...Leaf Corporate or Leaf Nation. "

Lucky in Toronto we aren't as narrow minded as this. Look at the Raps just a year and a bit ago - they had one of the worst GMs in the league, made idiotic signings and trades, and were at the bottom of the standings, oh and were owned by MLSE and controlled by Peddie. Sound like any other pro sports team?

Then in just 1 offseason, they win the division, and have the GM and coach of the year... only after Peddie leaves the picture and lets someone who knows the game make all the decisions.

Now gosh... i wonder why us Leafers would be using this as a model... this is sure a tough one.

As long suffering Leafs fan, this hiring will not bring change. The Leaf's entire house needs to be cleaned out and Richard Peddie should be next person thrown out. Peddie admitted that Furguson was way over his head as a GM. The constant power struggles within have made the Leafs a laughing stock in the NHL.

Somewhere in hell, Harold Ballard is laughing....

Sweet!! We be back in the saddle fans. Leaf Nation rejoice cause Cliffy gonna take us all the way!! Wish Domi was back to rock with the boys in blue. Watch your back Les Hab duh Taunts. Leaf Nation going Old Skool bro and this time it's personal. If Cliffy can swing a deal and bring in Cujo.. the Cup's a lock, for sure.

Anybody know where Mogilny is?

Fans should stop going to the Leave games
until there is improvement. Disgusting how
Ferguson was treated. Just blow-up the team
and in 2 years maybe a worthy playoff bound
team. In the meantime, as someone already
alluded to, show less of Toronto on HNIC
national coverage.

Geez what the heck is going on? Isn't Cliff Fletcher comming back a little like asking Dougie to lace up? If I had a nickle for everytime the fans hopes were played with I'd have a lot of nickles.

Fletcher is not the savior. Ferguson has made too much of a big mess with excessively long and high paid contracts to Mccabe, Kaberle, Kubina, and Blake. These guys are not the nucleus of any team. Other stupid contract to Raycroft(who they gave up at the time the number 1 prospect) and Gill....and all these no trade clauses doesn't help. Its going to be a long 4-5 years for leaf fans. Fletcher will help but the pain will still be there. People are saying we should feel bad for the way Ferguson was treated by Peddie in the media. Then why didn't this guy just quit? He knew he had a great job that he had no right being in and getting top dollars. Peddie wishes him luck in the NHL...Who for god sakes will even pick this guy up? Hockey was not his forte! Try Bowling Ferguson.

Richard Peddie is the symptom--although he is a rotten and detestable one. The problem is the ownership structure of MLSE. The board knows nothing of hockey. Sooner or later they will realize that the more they tarnish their core brand, the less value-added there will be for their real-estate development project.
The Leafs are a disgraceful organization. I have never held them in more contempt, and my earliest years as a fan were during the Ballard years. Honestly, my love for this team fades by the day.

I think the bigger issue here is looking at how the Leafs treated Ferguson. For weeks, they have been actively shopping around for another GM. Hopefully, they told Ferguson before they started their search.
Still, why keep him in place if you knew you were going to replace him?
What does that say about the organization? About the respect they have for their employees, their co-workers?
I think Ferguson is a class act for sticking with it so long. Many others would have resigned when the search started, or worse, had a fire sale, trading the Leafs' most valuable assets... just because. For revenge, maybe.
Instead, he diligently stayed at his job, trying to make the team better. Still, he probably wasn't very effective. He knew he couldn't really plan any deals, start any discussions with other GMs, because he might not to there to finish the trade.
This move by MLSE shows exactly how it feels about its teams: it's not personal, it's just business.
On the other hand, Ferguson truly cares for the team, and no matter how the team was doing under his leadership, he deserved better.
Hopefully, his next team will treat him with respect.

I agree with a lot of the comments above.I think it is disgracful the way they treated JFG.Fletcher he was fired years ago and they bring him back duh.I read a comment about the Raptors that they are doing ok finally.How long has T.O had a basketball team compared to the Leafs they haven't won a cup in 40 years and still haveing problems.I think they the owners don't care much about hockey it sounds like they only care about the Raptors and how they can make money.For sure they don't care about the fans!!It is no wonder they are not winning hockey games they are all depressed not knowing what is going to happen from one day to the next with MLSEL.It sounds like Mr Gary Bettman he was a basketball man before he got involved in hockey,lucky us hockey fans!!! Look at the damage he has done to the NHL.I too never thought I would say this but I will.Good luck.

Does anyone out there wish we could resurrect Con Smythe, Punch or even Hal?
Fletcher may know hockey but he hs not really done much since his Calgary days.
His tenure with the Leafs in the 90's yielded no cups and his winning average was barely over 50%. In his last year the Leafs were 23rd in a league of 26 teams.
The Leafs'issue is organizational. There is too much dilution of power at the top, too much politicing going on and MLSE is not focused on winning hockey.
Until they get a single voice ownership situation with someone with the smarts and pockets to match, this team will continue to be also rans and Cliff Fletcher is not going to change that.

Who cares. Maybe if the CBC spent more time covering Canada's real teams, it get better ratings in the playoffs when the Leafs are gone (again!). Toronto may be the single most popular club, but they are collectively hated by the majority of hockey fans in this country. As much fun as it can be watching this circus, it's really getting old.

Well as being a Leafs fan, I am thinking that it might be time to looks towards a new team. I am so annoyed with the way things are being handeled that I can no longer justify watching them.

The treatment of JFJ was not fair. Maybe he did make mistakes and cost the team dearly. The season is over, they might as well let him ride it out, with him having full knowledge that he was being replaced, but not leaking it to the media. In the off season replace him if they feel that is best, then get on with things. By the way they treated him, I wonder what management thinks of us, the fans. Yup, thinking it is time to support a new team.

Thanks, Elliotte for a concise summary of the situation.

I agree with some others that the real issue is the board and Peddie. The "money first" argument doesn't really hold water with me, though, as every round of the playoffs generates a lot more revenue and net income than not making the playoffs. I personally feel that the real issue is the hubris of Peddie and board members. They somehow think they are hockey minds and insist on meddling in hockey decisions.

In the Star's article, they state

"Peddie said at a news conference today Fletcher's role would be to establish a foundation from which the next general manager can build, and a search for a permanent president and GM would begin immediately."

Am I reading this right? Is the President's job up for replacement as a part of Fletcher's mandate? Somehow I think that's a typo, maybe they meant "vice president".

I think I'll start a website called "someonebuytheLeafs.com"

WAKE UP!!!! Silly Leaf fans, This is really getting old! Want a better team? Stop going to the games!! Stop buying the t shirts, hats, & $12 light beer! Stop feeding the corprate monster that is the TPF! Hit them in the only place they understand.Its really simple buisiness 101...why change if you dont have to? otherwise, you'll never have a team. Sorry Baun,Apps,and the legends of the past, You must be so proud of these clowns.At least Harold Ballard never disguised his greed.

When McLean interview Bowman he hinted he would still love the opportunity.

Let's take the reigns out of the hands of people that can't figure out what it takes to win and put them in the hands of someone that has proven he can win.....not too difficult.

I'm surprised our teachers couldn't figure out that one...they should have consulted their students!!

'Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, lord, by and by
Theres a better home a-waiting
In the sky, lord, in the sky'.........

Why not just add a new show to Leaf TV: "who wants to to be Leafs GM" and at least get ratings out of this soap opera. Here's where the everyday fan gets a chance to go before the board of MLSE for the chance to be the figure-head/puppet/gm for Canada's premier sports franchise in an "Apprentice" style no-holds barred competition open to all members of Leafs Nation. It's must-see TV!

Hmmmm I always wondered back in the Fletcher/Burns era if it was a case of a brilliant GM custom fitting a team around the style and strengths of his head coach, or a brilliant coach custom fitting his coaching style around the assorted flotsam and jetsam that the GM managed to salvage. I guess I'll finally find out. No one tell Cliff Johnny Bower and Eddy Shack are still free agents.

Richard Peddy's head should be the next one on the chopping block. His treatment of John Ferguson Jr. was a disgrace. Wasn't it he who hired John Ferguson Jr. in the first place?

Remember last summer's fiasco of Peddy's search for a "Mentor" to assist Ferguson? How about his public humiliation of Ferguson by venting to the media about how it was a "mistake" to have hired Ferguson in the first place? Nice. And of course his latest classless act of leaving his GM to twist in the wind for weeks while he publically sought to hire Cliff Fletcher.

The blame for the failure of this team should not be laid at the feet of John Ferguson Jr. The blame should be laid where it belongs...on board room table of those who have no hockey background or understanding of how to run a hockey operation - Richard Peddy, Larry Tanenbaum, and the Teachers Pension Fund.

Whatever your opinions of John Ferguson Jr.'s GM abilities, he was not the devil-incarnate. He didn't deserve the shoddy treatment he received from his employer. He is a decent man with a family. John is the only one in this sad affair that has shown any class and dignity. And he is the only one in this organization that can make that claim.

Good luck to him.

WAY too little... WAY WAY too late! What a mess.

Let's face it, JFJ didn't exactly make the best moves while GM... but hindsight is always 20/20! There is NO excuse for the way ownership treated him and that will make it hard to find a full-time successor.

Also, given all that's happened, I wonder how much leeway JFJ actually had to do his job. How many of those signings had the board's stamp on them? I guess we'll find out. Is there anything worse than a hockey team run by a committee of businessmen?

Remember, those who hired Fergie in the begining are still there.. The fish rots from the head down folks.

There is no magic cure. Fergies moves as a GM have this club committed to a few more sub par seasons. At least Bowman would have brought instant credibility to the beleaguered franchise. Who in their right mind would report to the Leafs? More of the same and the billionaire$ are still cashing in.

i grew up with 2 teachers and they are now retired. i and my sisters will never have to worry about a financial burden down the road thanks to the otpf. first and foremost its a business. sorry leaf fans!!

"...to follow the Toronto Raptors model.."

So having decided that there were no good examples of successful corporate ownership in the hockey ranks, (with apologies to Detroit, Dallas, New York and a half dozen others) the corporate geniuses reach out to basketball, and instead of Chicago, LA, Houston and the other winning teams, Toronto will model and emulate ....the Raptors. Wow..you gotta wonder who's goofier...Leaf Corporate or Leaf Nation.

If they can do what was done with the Raptors, then it is a good plan. However, who will take the GM job as it stands today? The board seems to let the Raptors alone and the club is doing well. But the Leafs can't seem to work the same way. So, who will come in with ownership interfering in the day-to-day management? It's got to be more hands-off.

What incentive is there for the OTPF or other owners to do anything? The team is on the last step down to the basement, with the light from above firmly at their back - but the organization is making money hand over fist. The OTPF could care less about the fans, or the team for that matter. Want to help the Leafs? Don't buy tickets to the games. Stop watching the games on TV. Make a conscious decision not to support/buy from any of their corporate sponsors. Otherwise we continue on in the long tradition of Harold Ballard.

MMMMMMMMMM Kool-Aid.

There is nothing more amusing for non-Leaf fans than to watch the annual crash and burn. Without fail the corporate geniuses decide to look back at what failed horribly in the past, and just like lemmings looking for the wading pool, go crashing over the cliff(or in this case Cliff) to their pre-destined demise. Vive les Canadiens et bonne chance Toronto. "Wait'll next year...."

"The War is Over"

I thought Toronto was turning into Philadelphia.

I started my search for the Liberty Bell, Benjamin Franklin, and lightning, keys,and electricity, and kites.

It's no wonder that Sports Affairs are coming from the Banks.

That's all these players and these owners seem to understand is money.

Like a stranger in a crowd.
They bite the hands that feed them.

"The War is Over"

I thought Toronto was turning into Philadelphia.

I started my search for the Liberty Bell, Benjamin Franklin, and lightning, keys,and electricity, and kites.

It's no wonder that Sports Affairs are coming from the Banks.

That's all these players and these owners seem to understand is money.

Like a stranger in a crowd.
They bite the hands that feeds them.

Ok, I really feel for John Ferguson and I would also say that seemed to handle this situation with his head above his shoulders so all the best to him. They ought to bring in someone with the power and skill as a Colangelo, however, as said in the previous comment, there has to be a conection between revenue and performance on the ice, which is non-existent now simply because this is Toronto. Hopefully for the fans sake and that of hockey in Toronto good things will come to the Leafs

" Its a start " i dont know if it's going to make much of a difference in regards to the rest of the season, but the real problem with the leafs is all about money, MLSE wont make any changes or purchase anybody untill people STOP going to the games!!!! Toronto is a hockey city everyones knows that, but its all about money, at the end of the day as long as we support the leafs even if they are the last team in the league, even with sell outs seat at the ACC, the only way they bring some changes to the team is if there is a threat to ticket sales and loss of interest.

"Tanenbaum, who is declining all requests for interviews, did not want Ferguson hired in the first place and tried to bring aboard Scotty Bowman in the summer. That move was blocked by Richard Peddie, who controls the teachers' votes on the board."

It's time for the OTPF to sell! The people of Toronto have had enough with their terrible decisions and losing teams. They couldn't care less about putting together a winning team (i.e. Blocking Scotty Bowman from coming and hiring something that has been proven to not work in the past.)

All Publicity. Tie Domi could be GM, its a figure head position (in TO at least). Until Tannenbaum flys right and tightens the ship in the front office first and sells off the ridiculous teachers stakes and gets a competint partner, one who sees the value of a winning franchise rather than a quick and dirty doller, the team will continue to go nowhere very fast. Because of the MLSE, Toronto will be a loser for at least 2 to 3 years to come, and thats if they're smart. OK Mr. Figurehead Fletcher, are you smart enough to make the one and only move it takes to get the team moving towards the future by trading Mats ??????

Whatever happened to the good old days when life was much simpler? So here we go again. The Leafs are still following the same old pattern, picking up old retreads to try and bolster the club. If not over-the-hill players, it's over-the-hill management types.
The Leafs fired Fletcher once before for not "taking care of business", what's changed?
I don't believe he is the messiah that they need right now, oh, sure he's from the "old boys club", but just how many doors are going to open up for him to make some decent deals.
I can see it now; he'll move Sundin to a contender, fire Maurice, trade a bunch of the high-dollar deadwood for a few veterans and a couple of kids (Leafs usual pattern), the team will win a few games right off the bat, the fans will be happy for a while, the ding-bats at MLSE pat themselves on the back at how smart they are and be thankful that they shut the media up for the time being. But then the house of cards will come falling down because, AGAIN, the Leafs will not make the playoffs. The best part of the whole soap opera is that everyone concerned will have one hell of an excuse.

The line reads they prefer "do it Thursday", as in fire John Ferguson Thursday. This seems to indicate to this reader that some smuck like myself in nowhere Ontario gets to hear about John Fergusons firing before he does.

Until the economic health of the MLSE is tied to the quality of product put on the ice there will not be real hope for the Maple Leafs future.

you should be a shame for what you did to John Fergusson putting him out on a line so long you theat a dog better then that hope you will pay for that wait and see

We all know whats going to happen.The team will probably trade Tucker,who,like Wendall Clark,has more heart than probably most of the team combined.He doesn't score 50 goals,but shows up evert night 100% ready to play.Then the team will get 2 or 3 ready-to-retire players(who want to play a few more years)by trading away some good draft picks.Same old story that's been going on for the last 20+ years.The ownership knows the games will allways make money for them,so why spend big dollars on getting good players(like Wayne),when you can get cheaper ones.
When the Leafs get an owner who thinks winning is as important as making money then things will change.

OK, so when will it be Richard Peddie's and Paul Maurice's turn to go.

They are next in a crucial puzzle.

TRUE. The change of GM is only the opening salvo, and I HOPE there is change beyond the GM. You cannot run a profitable and competing team with this much bickering at the top. What ruined the Leafs the past 5 years ? I call it "Death by Concensus"..

Maybe the Laffs should also bring back Gilmour, Clark (and perhaps Ballard), Salming to name a few.

After the axe has fell and the hush has lifted I think we are finally going to see some changes happen to the Maple Leafs.
John Fergusan Jr. did a great job for most of his tenure and should be looked at as someone with deep respect and love for the game. He didn't do anything worse than wat "Stand Pat" did before him so we should all be sighing with releif that we aren't as bad as we could be.

I think the move to start from the top and work there way down in changes is a good one.
Will this mean we see Sundin or Tucker leave? Maybe so, since the market would love to have Sundin, and in all reality, its time he was given the chance to win a cup soon. Why not let him leave now, and get him back this summer when the team is sure to be headed into a rebuilding stage. Find someone who Sundin can build into the next franchise man and grow.

Thats why I agree with the move to bring in Fletcher and go the same way of the Rapters.
Yes it took them some time to get going, but look at them now, very good and very promising.
Maybe this committee should be searching in the area of Scotty Bowman, if we didn't screw that relationship up too much. He would be a great fit, and he has the one thing we havent had in a GM in a long time. Stanley Cup winnings, many of them. All you have to do is look at the Detroit Red Wings to have an example. Why shouldn't toronto be the powerhouse that they could be.

Way to go Leafs, finally a move in the right direction.
My Prediction, leafs turn a leaf and have a cup in 3 years.
Go leafs go

Hopefully this leads to wholesale changes throughout the organization, top to bottom. Fletcher is a great hockey mind, but without full autonomy to make the necessary decisions (i.e. buyout the overpaid underachievers, trade Sundin) to facilitate a complete blow-up and rebuild of the team, this move will be useless.

Until MLSE is committed to actually building a winner, a dynasty that would bring some pride back to the blue and white, all of this is just smoke and mirrors.

Wake up and rebuild. Look at Ottawa, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Phoenix etc. Each team was at the bottom for several years, but at least there is a glimmer of hope for the future in each case. It's much better to finish dead last and get a high draft pick (unless the pick has already been traded for retreads) than to finish 9th in the conference and miss the playoffs by a couple of points.

Wake up MLSEL! There is no excuse for the current state of the Maple Leafs franchise.

And Fletcher is going to help how?

This solves What!!!!

seems like a circus to me

After reading this, I am very glad I'm a Flames fan. I'm sure my beloved Flames have had similar problems, as no organization is perfect, but this is outrageous. It is certainly no way to treat someone who is still in your employ. How is it that the media can know someone is fired before the person themselves know? MLSE and those associated with the team should be ashamed of themselves for letting the situation turn into something like this. I never thought I'd say it, but today I feel sorry Maple Leaf fans.

Dreams of Scotty Bowman just went "POOF". Here we go again!