All I Want for Christmas Is..... - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

silent_jay · 11-26-2007, 01:18 PM

John Ferguson Jr. to be fired. The guy is a joke of a GM, a 10 year old could do a better job. Signing players to contracts they don't deserve, trading good players for drift, he's ruining the Leafs and should be canned before he does any more damage, although the worst of the damage is done.

If Maurice isn't careful he could be on the chopping block too, but he can only do so much with the players JFJ gives him. Give Maurice a chance, but bring in someone else as GM.

Give Gilmour, Muckler, Bowman a chance, hell I'd love to see Wendel in the GM or coaches spot, maybe even Glenn Healy any one of them would do a better job than JFJ.

I just hope to get an early Christmas present and turn on Sportscenter and hear the words, "the axe has fallen and JFJ is no more"

pan6467 · 11-26-2007, 01:41 PM

is a West Virginia or Missouri loss or both to lose.

is the Indians to trade for a strong 3B or LF.

is for the REDS to get pitching pitching pitching.

is the Cavs to get someone to help Lebron.

djtestudo · 11-26-2007, 02:28 PM

Three top prospects for Erik Bedard, two for Miguel Tejada, and a new offense for the Ravens.

And a

Kindle

munchen · 11-26-2007, 05:40 PM

I don't care who does it. Fergeson, Gilmour, Muckler or Bowman but someone please for the love of god get us a defenseman

silent_jay · 11-26-2007, 05:49 PM

A defenseman would be great to get, and maybe a consistent goalie, they have to either go with Toskla or Raycroft, or maybe call up Scott Clemmensen from the Marlies and let him run with the team for a few games, he can't do any worse that's for sure. They better Leave Pogge where he is though, he doesn't need to be around with all the shit slinging that the Leafs are doing, it'll ruin the poor kid.

They need a shakeup and fast, that's all I know, it's starting to look like the 80's again when I was embarrassed to be a Leafs fan, oh the Ballard days were interesting.

pan6467 · 11-26-2007, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djtestudo

And a Kindle

I'll get right on that for ya DJ, course LS would have to approve the purchase.

What are friends for?

Wait a minute...... If I get ya one will ya have the O's trade Bedard for Lee and a half drank liter of Diet Pepsi?

tecoyah · 11-26-2007, 06:04 PM

My Monkie.......

masfina · 11-26-2007, 06:27 PM

To not spend the day alone. My family is elsewhere. I hope to be with folks I care about, to be a part of one or more celebrations.... Not on the outside looking in, but really enfolded by good people and good vibes.

Bear Cub · 11-26-2007, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pan6467

is a West Virginia or Missouri loss or both to lose.

djtestudo · 11-26-2007, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pan6467

I'll get right on that for ya DJ, course LS would have to approve the purchase.

What are friends for?

Wait a minute...... If I get ya one will ya have the O's trade Bedard for Lee and a half drank liter of Diet Pepsi?

If by "half-drank liter of Diet Pepsi" you mean "Grady Sizemore" then sure

Martian · 11-26-2007, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silent_jay

A defenseman would be great to get, and maybe a consistent goalie, they have to either go with Toskla or Raycroft, or maybe call up Scott Clemmensen from the Marlies and let him run with the team for a few games, he can't do any worse that's for sure. They better Leave Pogge where he is though, he doesn't need to be around with all the shit slinging that the Leafs are doing, it'll ruin the poor kid.

They need a shakeup and fast, that's all I know, it's starting to look like the 80's again when I was embarrassed to be a Leafs fan, oh the Ballard days were interesting.

I'd actually like to see Toskala take the top spot in net. Raycroft when he's good is great, but when he's not... well. It's almost like Joseph all over again. I think Toskala has demonstrated a more consistent performance overall. Of course, goaltending only goes so far, the boys in blue still seem to be suffering from that chronic defence problem.

I definitely agree that Ferguson has to go. We finally managed to ditch Quinn and I think that if Maurice is willing to do what Quinn wouldn't and give some of the young talent more ice time he could build a solid team. Without a good GM to work with, though, there's only so much he can do.

And I hear ya on the embarrassment thing. That clobbering handed out by Phoenix was just painful to watch.

pan6467 · 11-27-2007, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djtestudo

If by "half-drank liter of Diet Pepsi" you mean "Grady Sizemore" then sure

Actually I was thinking Casey Blake......

he has .... um more growth potential....yeah yeah that's the ticket.

djtestudo · 11-27-2007, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pan6467

Actually I was thinking Casey Blake......

he has .... um more growth potential....yeah yeah that's the ticket.

Been there, done that...

highthief · 11-27-2007, 09:29 AM

Nah, Toronto should stick with Richard Petty, Larry Tanenbaum, John Ferguson and Paul Maurice (and McCabe, Raycroft, Sundin, and all the other losers.)

Missing the play-offs is about where Toronto and its fans deserve to be.

Seriously - you guys have to stop supporting this jackass team. Haven't won a thing in 40 years yet you all still buy truckloads of merchandise and sell out even pre-season games.

Just what impetus is there for the owners to try and improve the team? They don't have to do a thing and they continue to rake the cash in.

Vote with your wallets or continue being sheep. Lobby hard for another team in Southern Ontario - I bet a team located in Mississauga or Waterloo would win something before the Leafs ever did.

silent_jay · 11-27-2007, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martian

I'd actually like to see Toskala take the top spot in net. Raycroft when he's good is great, but when he's not... well. It's almost like Joseph all over again. I think Toskala has demonstrated a more consistent performance overall. Of course, goaltending only goes so far, the boys in blue still seem to be suffering from that chronic defence problem.

I'd like to see Toskala take the top spot as well, I totally agree he's been more consistent than Raycroft. I'd like to see them possibly get rid of Raycroft and his $2 million a year contract, oh why couldn't they have just kept Rask instead of trading him for Raycroft?

Quote:

And I hear ya on the embarrassment thing. That clobbering handed out by Phoenix was just painful to watch.

That was so painful to watch, my poor neighbours must have thought I was nuts all the swearing that was going on at the telly that night.

Did you happen to read this story today Martian?
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=223757&hubname=

Quote:

A day after Toronto Maple Leafs general manager John Ferguson Jr. denied reports that he tried to fire coach Paul Maurice, Ferguson himself might be looking over his shoulder.

Richard Peddie, the President of Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment, told the Toronto Sun that hiring Ferguson, who had no prior experience as a general manager, was a mistake.

"To be honest, it was a mistake on my part for not fully understanding at the time what the job of being (the Leafs GM) in this market fully entailed," Peddie told the Sun. "Let's face it. It probably was the wrong place for a rookie general manager to start. I mean, all GMs make mistakes, but they are not under the constant microscope and scrutiny that you have in Toronto, which is, in our opinion, the top hockey market there is.

"That is all hindsight now. John has had time to learn a lot since then."

Under Ferguson, the Leafs have a 134-99-34 record and have made the playoffs just once in three NHL seasons.

The 40-year-old executive was a dark horse hire in August of 2003, beating out high-profile candidates like Neil Smith and Steve Tambellini for the position. Ferguson came on board with no previous GM experience, but worked as assistant general manager and vice-president and director of hockey operations for the St. Louis Blues. He was also a member of the Ottawa Senators' scouting staff from 1993 to 1996.

Peddie also denied reports that the Leafs have been looking for candidates to replace either Ferguson or Maurice.

"We have not had talks along those lines with anyone since the summer," Peddie said to the Sun, referring to the off-season hunt for a senior adviser to help Ferguson.

Despite the fan and media outcry for the team the make changes, he told the paper that they won't make any hasty decisions.

"We're not reactionary in this tough time but we feel (the fans' anger)," he told the Sun. "We read the papers. We listen to the talk shows. We know, believe me."

Highthief, I'm guessing you're a Sens fan, I may be wrong but you have that hatred toward the Leafs I saw when I lived in Ottawa.

Martian · 11-27-2007, 12:37 PM

Interesting article, I hadn't seen it. While I'm not particularly hopeful for a mid-season replacement, that could be hinting that Ferguson's days are numbered. The way I figure it, if the Leafs fail to make the playoffs (yet again) it's time for him to go. I mean, it's time for him to go anyway, but if this season continues in the way it's begun I don't see that anyone will be able to argue the point anymore. He's running the franchise into the ground.

As to goaltenders, I actually figure Raycroft would do well in the second slot, although I doubt that his ego would allow him to do that (taking the attendant pay cut, of course; that man is not worth $2m). Continuing the Joseph comparisons, I could see him throwing a hissy fit on par with the one Cujo threw when Mats got more than him.

Hell, let's be honest here, the entire club needs to be overhauled. They need new leadership (Mats was and is a talented player, but he's never been very effective as captain), they need tighter defence, they need just about everything. I honestly think that Maurice may be the man to do it, although it's hard to be definitive on that count; until he gets better support from the other side of the glass, there's no way of knowing for sure what he's capable of.

I'd actually like to see Dougie step up, although I don't recall hearing that he's ever expressed interest in the job. Him coming on-board as an advisor does put him in position to potentially be promoted to the job in the future and I could see him doing well in the role. 'Course, I'm biased, since some of my fondest memories are of the early 90's Leafs when Gilmour and Clark were at the top of their game; also, I felt generally bad for Gilmour after he came back and didn't even get a full game in.

On a semi-related note, didja hear that Cujo wants to come back now? I guess playing second fiddle to Hasek isn't sitting well with him, although I can't imagine even JFJ is dumb enough to think that it'd be a good idea to bring him back.

Leto · 11-27-2007, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by highthief

Missing the play-offs is about where Toronto and its fans deserve to be.

Seriously - you guys have to stop supporting this jackass team. Haven't won a thing in 40 years yet you all still buy truckloads of merchandise and sell out even pre-season games.

don't blame us for being homers. We don't deserve this type of behaviour. Really, the seats are sold to corporations. I haven't been to a single game in the ACC.

Where else are we going to go to watch a game? I vote for a second Southern Ontario team. Hamilton, Mississauga, London. Doesn't matter to me. Put another one back in Toronto and call it the Toros again. It would be sold out on day one, and the Leafs would sit up and take notice immediately.

Quote:

Originally Posted by silent_jay

Highthief, I'm guessing you're a Sens fan, I may be wrong but you have that hatred toward the Leafs I saw when I lived in Ottawa.

oh really? Now (no offense meant but)those Ottawa fans are pretty well the most arrogant in the nation or the NHL.

silent_jay · 11-27-2007, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leto

oh really? Now (no offense meant but)those Ottawa fans are pretty well the most arrogant in the nation or the NHL.

Oh I know that, and arrogant for what, I'm not too sure. Guess they're still bitter about making it to the finals and losing, or that those trips tothe finals were 80 years apart or getting knocked out of the playoffs by the Leafs back in the early 2000's, yep they don't have much to be arrogant about that's for sure.

Quote:

Really, the seats are sold to corporations. I haven't been to a single game in the ACC.

Nor have I, haven't bought any Leafs merchandise since I was about 13 or 14 either, when my parents bought me my Clark jersey for Christmas. Just because people cheer for a team doesn't mean they spend money on said team, but some people figure the two go hand in hand I guess.

munchen · 12-01-2007, 11:01 PM

I don't think the leafs are that bad off. They have a bunch of reallly good young players that will be good in a year or two. Of course Sundin will be done by then so we it'll be interesting to see who fills in(or steps up). Toskala seems to be stepping it up now it's good to see him doing well. I think if we just get one solid defenseman to anchor the team most of our problems will melt away.

pan6467 · 12-02-2007, 12:43 AM

Fucking Merry Early Christmas

OSU OSU OSU

Quote:

Originally Posted by pan6467

is a West Virginia or Missouri loss or both to lose.

Bear Cub · 12-02-2007, 09:04 AM

The Buckeyes are going to New Orleans!

But... who else? My $.02, the #2 teams are too close to pick right now. I don't feel LSU deserves to go at this point, and while USC is good, I don't think they should leap frog that many teams. Let the computers do the picking this year, not the media. OSU/Georgia is what I'd like to see.

Bear Cub · 12-02-2007, 04:15 PM

*sigh*

Despite LSU's 2 losses and miriad of last second bullshit wins, they have been voted #2. So realistically, we're probably going to see OSU and LSU in the title game, in FUCKING LOUISIANA. Last year's game was a bad enough "neutral field" advantage for Florida, but this is going to be asinine.

djtestudo · 12-02-2007, 07:16 PM

And LSU is going to beat OSU, too.

I have another one: all I want for Christmas is a NCAA FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SYSTEM GODDAMMIT!

Bear Cub · 12-02-2007, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djtestudo

And LSU is going to beat OSU, too.

I have another one: all I want for Christmas is a NCAA FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SYSTEM GODDAMMIT!

Not unless Boeckman chokes. They wouldn't have even beaten Tennessee if their QB hadn't choked horribly. OSU is too good a team for LSU to squeak by like they did so many times this year.

I do think that all the 10-2 teams should be in a playoff right now though.

djtestudo · 12-02-2007, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChassisWelder

Not unless Boeckman chokes. They wouldn't have even beaten Tennessee if their QB hadn't choked horribly. OSU is too good a team for LSU to squeak by like they did so many times this year.

I do think that all the 10-2 teams should be in a playoff right now though.

And I think that if we were going to do THIS system right then Hawaii should be playing in the "national championship" game.

And I mean the quotes, because if we're talking about the real national championship game it will be played on December 14th in Chattanooga between the winners of Delaware/Southern Illinois and Appalachian State/Richmond.

P.S. Fuck the NCAA.

highthief · 12-03-2007, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silent_jay

Highthief, I'm guessing you're a Sens fan, I may be wrong but you have that hatred toward the Leafs I saw when I lived in Ottawa.

Montreal, amigo. Lived there for a long time during the hey day.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pan6467

Fucking Merry Early Christmas

OSU OSU OSU

Yeah!!!!

Playing in Louisiane isn't the problem, however - it's the 2 month lay off between games!

silent_jay · 12-05-2007, 11:05 PM

I like the Habs a little I guess, back when I was younger I hated them, but that was also the 80's and the Leafs blew. Can't really dislike a team that has that many Cup wins.

silent_jay · 01-12-2008, 07:06 AM

Ferguson simply a lame duck, JFJ has no power to fire Maurice (who should be fired by the way, the players are done playing for him and he has no system for the team, he's done like dinner.
http://www.thestar.com/Sports/Hockey/article/293401

Quote:

SAN JOSE, Calif.-John Ferguson still has a job. But he has no real power left.

That was made abundantly clear yesterday when Maple Leafs president Richard Peddie – the same man who called the hiring of Ferguson a "mistake" earlier this season – said that the team's general manager does not have the authority to fire head coach Paul Maurice.

"No," Peddie said firmly before boarding a bus with the team outside a downtown Los Angeles hotel. "Major, major changes (Ferguson) would have to bring to the (MLSE) board."

Peddie also made it clear that permission to make a coaching change could not be acquired by Ferguson through an emergency conference call involving board members or some other form of electronic discussion. "It would be encompassed by a full review at the board," Peddie said.

So Ferguson can tinker with his floundering team, such as picking up winger Dominic Moore on waivers yesterday and summoning blue-chip goaltending prospect Justin Pogge from the minors.

But, just as he was hired four years ago and told Pat Quinn was his coach, Ferguson can't choose his coach now.

The absurd part, of course, is that there is no hockey expertise above Ferguson, yet the board, essentially, has put itself in the position of deciding who coaches the team.

If this sounds somewhat Ballardian in nature, there is certainly an unhappy parallel to the years when Harold Ballard was in charge of the once-proud franchise.

Back in the summer of 1989, GM Gord Stellick wanted to replace head coach George Armstrong, convenient given that Armstrong didn't want to be the head coach.

But Ballard wouldn't give Stellick the authority to fire Armstrong, so Stellick quit. Now, there's a lot of people out there who might gain a new level of admiration for JFJ if he did the same thing.

"Our results lately speak for themselves," said Ferguson, whose team has lost 10 of 12 games and sits 28th overall in the NHL. "I'm accountable."

Well, not really. How can Ferguson be held "accountable" for this growing disaster when he has no authority to make key decisions, such as a coaching change?

Obviously, he also wouldn't have the authority to pull the trigger on a blockbuster deal for Mats Sundin before the trade deadline. It's unclear what kind of trade he can make on his own, although it's known he was furiously shopping winger Jason Blake around the league yesterday with no takers.

But we know he can't hire or fire the coach to try and turn around a losing team. That's problematic, since multiple sources suggest Maurice has already lost the dressing room. Two weeks ago, Ferguson stormed down from the press box to lambast the team during an embarrassing home-ice loss and, after a dreadful first period against the Kings on Thursday, it's believed Sundin berated his teammates for their shoddy efforts.

"I can't comment on things that go on inside our dressing room," Sundin said.

Still, it was strange that practice was cancelled yesterday morning without the knowledge of the captain. Moreover, the players surely noticed that after a terrible first period against the Kings on Thursday, no players were benched but instead No.1 goalie Vesa Toskala, just back from the injured list with groin problems, was thrust into the game cold with no warmup.

After the game, Toskala was so sore Pogge had to be recalled. So the starting goalie was put at risk in a game that was already lost. Players notice that stuff.

Clearly, if the board and Peddie won't give Ferguson the basic authority to run his team, they should bring in somebody now to evaluate the club, the coaching staff and all possible deals before the Feb.26 trading deadline.

"John's our GM and the trade deadline is still about five weeks away," Peddie said.

And so, a team run by a doomed manager and a doomed coach limps on through a bloody California road trip.

HeyAgain · 01-12-2008, 08:17 AM

Can't the Toronto Maple Leafs just bring back Pat Quinn to takeover both the GM and coaching position on an interim basis until the real replacements arrive. i.e. Jim Nill from Red Wings for the GM job and Glenn Healy for the coaching job.

Fotzlid · 01-12-2008, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silent_jay

Ferguson simply a lame duck, JFJ has no power to fire Maurice (who should be fired by the way, the players are done playing for him and he has no system for the team, he's done like dinner.
http://www.thestar.com/Sports/Hockey/article/293401

I feel for you but it could be worse. I follow the Bruins.
Your team could have Jeremy Jacobs as owner. He of the tight wallet and never ending merry-go-round of coaches and GMs. i dont even bother remembering half the team any more as they will in all likelyhood be gone in a season or two, not that many of them are even worth watching play.

silent_jay · 01-22-2008, 11:01 AM

It's a little late for Christmas, but it'll do, no more JFJ

Quote:

The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired general manager John Ferguson Jr. The team informed Ferguson of his fate earlier early Tuesday morning. Cliff Fletcher has been made the club's interim general manager.

When contacted by TSN, Ferguson said he would not be commenting at this time but when asked if he was offered, or considered, the option of staying on in a different capacity, he bluntly said, "no."

"After full consideration of the Leafs' situation, it has become clear that change and a new direction is needed,'' stated MLSE President and CEO Richard Peddie at a press conference held at the Air Canada Centre Tuesday. "Regrettably, we did not win enough games to reach our goal, winning the Stanley Cup.

"Our team performance has fallen short of what is to be expected. Today, we need to forge the start of a new beginning for (the) Toronto Maple Leafs. And we begin with the man seated next to me, a man with Hall of Fame credentials, who is highly regarded by Leafs fans and by hockey people around the globe. We have reached out to Cliff Fletcher and his 50-plus years of hockey management experience to serve as general manager of the Leafs on an interim basis."

Fletcher had been linked to much of the speculation regarding the team. He had been one of several hockey management types contacted last week to gauge their interest in the job, he was then offered the position for the remainder of the season serving as interim GM until a new general manager can be found. He will then serve as a consultant for the remainder of his 19 month contract.

"I know here in Toronto the expectations are high," Fletcher said at the press conference. "I look forward to the challenge and a few tough months ahead.

"The key here is to initially start the process to move the club ahead to the next level so that it can compete with all the top teams in the league, which will eventually lead to the playoff success."

During the Press conference Fletcher stated that he has no interest in becoming the Leafs full-time general manager.

"It is a job for a much younger man," said Fletcher.

Peddie believes that Fletcher's experience will give the team plenty of time to find the ideal candidate for the position.

"It gives us the luxury of conducting an absolutely thorough search," said Peddie.

Toronto currently sits in 14th place in the Eastern Conference with a 19-22-5-3 record. They have missed the playoffs for the last two seasons.

The Maple Leafs also announced that Toronto sports lawyer Gord Kirke has been retained to assist Peddie in the search for the team's new GM. The search team has specific qualities in mind for the next full-time GM of the club.

"Our ideal candidate will be a long-term builder and a short-term fixer who has an established track record of success on the ice," explained Peddie. "Along with experience and extensive knowledge in the areas of drafting and identifying talent in the professional, amateur and international ranks, this individual will be comfortable with the intense scrutiny within the Toronto hockey market and will work effectively with the media.

"He will have the full autonomy to lead this hockey club in the manner he feels is best," added Peddie.

The fate of head coach Paul Maurice is unknown at this time, however Maurice left the ice at one point during the team's morning practice. He re-emerged from the dressing room with MLSE President and CEO Richard Peddie.

Fletcher, a Montreal native and Hockey Hall of Famer, was GM of the Leafs from 1991 to 1997. His NHL career spans more than 50 years, starting as GM of the Verdun Blues in 1956. Verdun was a junior team operated by the Montreal Canadiens and Fletcher ran the club for 10 years with Sam Pollack never very far away.

Ten years later, the Habs hired him as a scout.

When St. Louis joined the NHL, Fletcher was hired by the Blues to head up the scouting department and later became their assistant general manager.

He got his first GM job with the Atlanta Flames in 1972. He was general manager of the Calgary Flames from 1980-1991. In that time, the Flames won two President's Trophy's and a Stanley Cup.

In 1991, he joined the Toronto Maple Leafs as president, GM and COO. He stayed with Toronto through 1997, after helping to turn the team into a contender again.

He joined the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1999 as a senior advisor, before taking over as GM of the Phoenix Coyotes in 2001.

Fletcher was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder in 2004

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=227906&hubname=

11-26-2007, 01:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
silent_jay Her Jay Location: Ontario for now....	All I Want for Christmas Is..... John Ferguson Jr. to be fired. The guy is a joke of a GM, a 10 year old could do a better job. Signing players to contracts they don't deserve, trading good players for drift, he's ruining the Leafs and should be canned before he does any more damage, although the worst of the damage is done. If Maurice isn't careful he could be on the chopping block too, but he can only do so much with the players JFJ gives him. Give Maurice a chance, but bring in someone else as GM. Give Gilmour, Muckler, Bowman a chance, hell I'd love to see Wendel in the GM or coaches spot, maybe even Glenn Healy any one of them would do a better job than JFJ. I just hope to get an early Christmas present and turn on Sportscenter and hear the words, "the axe has fallen and JFJ is no more" __________________ Absence makes the heart grow fonder

11-26-2007, 01:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
pan6467 Lennonite Priest Location: Mansfield, Ohio USA	is a West Virginia or Missouri loss or both to lose. is the Indians to trade for a strong 3B or LF. is for the REDS to get pitching pitching pitching. is the Cavs to get someone to help Lebron. __________________ I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?"

11-26-2007, 02:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
djtestudo Baltimoron Location: Beeeeeautiful Bel Air, MD	Three top prospects for Erik Bedard, two for Miguel Tejada, and a new offense for the Ravens. And a Kindle Kindle __________________ "Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen." --Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun

11-26-2007, 05:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
munchen Crazy Location: Sudbury, Ontario	I don't care who does it. Fergeson, Gilmour, Muckler or Bowman but someone please for the love of god get us a defenseman __________________ "Love is a perky elf dancing a merry little jig and then suddenly he turns on you with a miniature machine gun" -Matt Groening

11-26-2007, 05:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
silent_jay Her Jay Location: Ontario for now....	A defenseman would be great to get, and maybe a consistent goalie, they have to either go with Toskla or Raycroft, or maybe call up Scott Clemmensen from the Marlies and let him run with the team for a few games, he can't do any worse that's for sure. They better Leave Pogge where he is though, he doesn't need to be around with all the shit slinging that the Leafs are doing, it'll ruin the poor kid. They need a shakeup and fast, that's all I know, it's starting to look like the 80's again when I was embarrassed to be a Leafs fan, oh the Ballard days were interesting. __________________ Absence makes the heart grow fonder

11-26-2007, 06:04 PM	#7 (permalink)
tecoyah Illusionary	My Monkie....... __________________ Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. - Buddha

11-26-2007, 06:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
masfina Upright Location: Louisville, KY... Via Boston, New Orleans, Chapel Hill, Kenya, seattle, and.. California cities.	To not spend the day alone. My family is elsewhere. I hope to be with folks I care about, to be a part of one or more celebrations.... Not on the outside looking in, but really enfolded by good people and good vibes. __________________ If you love someone... Set them free. - Sting

11-27-2007, 09:29 AM	#14 (permalink)
highthief Junkie Location: Ontario, Canada	Nah, Toronto should stick with Richard Petty, Larry Tanenbaum, John Ferguson and Paul Maurice (and McCabe, Raycroft, Sundin, and all the other losers.) Missing the play-offs is about where Toronto and its fans deserve to be. Seriously - you guys have to stop supporting this jackass team. Haven't won a thing in 40 years yet you all still buy truckloads of merchandise and sell out even pre-season games. Just what impetus is there for the owners to try and improve the team? They don't have to do a thing and they continue to rake the cash in. Vote with your wallets or continue being sheep. Lobby hard for another team in Southern Ontario - I bet a team located in Mississauga or Waterloo would win something before the Leafs ever did. __________________ Si vis pacem parabellum.

11-27-2007, 12:37 PM	#16 (permalink)
Martian Young Crumudgeon Location: Canada	Interesting article, I hadn't seen it. While I'm not particularly hopeful for a mid-season replacement, that could be hinting that Ferguson's days are numbered. The way I figure it, if the Leafs fail to make the playoffs (yet again) it's time for him to go. I mean, it's time for him to go anyway, but if this season continues in the way it's begun I don't see that anyone will be able to argue the point anymore. He's running the franchise into the ground. As to goaltenders, I actually figure Raycroft would do well in the second slot, although I doubt that his ego would allow him to do that (taking the attendant pay cut, of course; that man is not worth $2m). Continuing the Joseph comparisons, I could see him throwing a hissy fit on par with the one Cujo threw when Mats got more than him. Hell, let's be honest here, the entire club needs to be overhauled. They need new leadership (Mats was and is a talented player, but he's never been very effective as captain), they need tighter defence, they need just about everything. I honestly think that Maurice may be the man to do it, although it's hard to be definitive on that count; until he gets better support from the other side of the glass, there's no way of knowing for sure what he's capable of. I'd actually like to see Dougie step up, although I don't recall hearing that he's ever expressed interest in the job. Him coming on-board as an advisor does put him in position to potentially be promoted to the job in the future and I could see him doing well in the role. 'Course, I'm biased, since some of my fondest memories are of the early 90's Leafs when Gilmour and Clark were at the top of their game; also, I felt generally bad for Gilmour after he came back and didn't even get a full game in. On a semi-related note, didja hear that Cujo wants to come back now? I guess playing second fiddle to Hasek isn't sitting well with him, although I can't imagine even JFJ is dumb enough to think that it'd be a good idea to bring him back. __________________ I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said - Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

12-01-2007, 11:01 PM	#19 (permalink)
munchen Crazy Location: Sudbury, Ontario	I don't think the leafs are that bad off. They have a bunch of reallly good young players that will be good in a year or two. Of course Sundin will be done by then so we it'll be interesting to see who fills in(or steps up). Toskala seems to be stepping it up now it's good to see him doing well. I think if we just get one solid defenseman to anchor the team most of our problems will melt away. __________________ "Love is a perky elf dancing a merry little jig and then suddenly he turns on you with a miniature machine gun" -Matt Groening

12-02-2007, 09:04 AM	#21 (permalink)
Bear Cub The Reverend Side Boob Location: Nofe Curolina	The Buckeyes are going to New Orleans! But... who else? My $.02, the #2 teams are too close to pick right now. I don't feel LSU deserves to go at this point, and while USC is good, I don't think they should leap frog that many teams. Let the computers do the picking this year, not the media. OSU/Georgia is what I'd like to see.

12-02-2007, 04:15 PM	#22 (permalink)
Bear Cub The Reverend Side Boob Location: Nofe Curolina	sigh Despite LSU's 2 losses and miriad of last second bullshit wins, they have been voted #2. So realistically, we're probably going to see OSU and LSU in the title game, in FUCKING LOUISIANA. Last year's game was a bad enough "neutral field" advantage for Florida, but this is going to be asinine.

12-02-2007, 07:16 PM	#23 (permalink)
djtestudo Baltimoron Location: Beeeeeautiful Bel Air, MD	And LSU is going to beat OSU, too. I have another one: all I want for Christmas is a NCAA FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SYSTEM GODDAMMIT! __________________ "Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen." --Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun

12-05-2007, 11:05 PM	#27 (permalink)
silent_jay Her Jay Location: Ontario for now....	I like the Habs a little I guess, back when I was younger I hated them, but that was also the 80's and the Leafs blew. Can't really dislike a team that has that many Cup wins. __________________ Absence makes the heart grow fonder

01-12-2008, 08:17 AM	#29 (permalink)
HeyAgain Psycho	Can't the Toronto Maple Leafs just bring back Pat Quinn to takeover both the GM and coaching position on an interim basis until the real replacements arrive. i.e. Jim Nill from Red Wings for the GM job and Glenn Healy for the coaching job.