2024 Offseason Thread: Changes

[cw]

https://twitter.com/friedgehnic/status/1787607991740456996

Guessing coaching change this summer and Shanahan out in 12 months if that doesn't fix things.

Friedman reported that there have been discussions/debates about the Leafs GM reporting directly to Pelley - potentially eliminating Shanahan's role. They did not get consensus on it that and may be leaving it to Pelley to decide.

For Shanahan to be appearing, that suggests it isn't as likely to happen very soon - it would already be done.

Pelley just joined MLSE officially in April so he probably would like some time to get his head around what is going on.

Friedman also reported that there are a few teams interested in Berube - specifically the Devils were one he named. If the Leafs are interested, they will have to move quickly.

To me, that sort of thing has to happen first: the GM decision making has to be settled.
It may be best to consider the available coaching talent now before the best ones get hired.

It looks like the writing is on the wall for Keefe. I'm not a gigantic fan of his but didn't mind him either. He's capable. He got the forwards to play defense (like few Leafs coaches ever have). Did he underachieve this season? I don't think so. The talent on that roster finished about where they should with a weak D and goaltending issues.

Did Keefe underachieve in his time here? Given the talent and resources he had to work with, I'd say winning only 1 playoff round in the wake of the regular seasons during his time was underachievement - some of that on Dubas. Keefe was unable to improve the PK this season - even with the addition of Lyubushkin & Edmundson (in part, due to Samsonov's PK goaltending). Keefe was unable to adjust/fix the PP against Boston in the playoffs. Year after year, his teams get offensively stifled in the playoffs but his regular season efforts do not seem to prepare the players with emphasis on the type/style of scoring needed in the tighter playoffs. The Leafs players need a new voice and even Keefe seems to sense that.

 

[mr grieves]

If Marner goes to Treliving on July 1st and says he's willing to sign an identical extension to Nylander's (8 years, $11.5mil), do you do it?

I would.

Tavares's contract comes off the books, and whatever follows (if here) will likely be deeply discounted (can't see higher than $6M). That's $17.5 where once it was $22, and under a much different cap.

Would insist on a 10-team list every year tho

 

[Guru Tugginmypuddah]

I like Sheldon Keefe.  I think coaches can get stale.  As the saying goes, coaches are hired to be fired.  I'm sure he will land on his feet with another team in short order, if that's what ultimately happens here with the Leafs. 

 

[Guru Tugginmypuddah]

If Marner goes to Treliving on July 1st and says he's willing to sign an identical extension to Nylander's (8 years, $11.5mil), do you do it?

I would.

Tavares's contract comes off the books, and whatever follows (if here) will likely be deeply discounted (can't see higher than $6M). That's $17.5 where once it was $22, and under a much different cap.

Would insist on a 10-team list every year tho

Absolutely.  After having a couple days to calm down, I think getting rid of Marner would be a huge mistake. 

 

[Bender]

https://twitter.com/friedgehnic/status/1787607991740456996

Guessing coaching change this summer and Shanahan out in 12 months if that doesn't fix things.

Wake me up when Shanny's fired. I still have some interest but this is about entertainment and the Leafs under Shanahan as of right now are not entertaining.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Shanahan's contract runs until the end of next season. I suspect if anything Pelley and MLSE will let the contract play out and reconsider the entire President role once that happens.

 

[Bender]

Shanahan's contract runs until the end of next season. I suspect if anything Pelley and MLSE will let the contract play out and reconsider the entire President role once that happens.

Right, same idea. Prove that were going to try something different.

 

[ZBBM]

https://twitter.com/friedgehnic/status/1787607991740456996

Guessing coaching change this summer and Shanahan out in 12 months if that doesn't fix things.

Wake me up when Shanny's fired. I still have some interest but this is about entertainment and the Leafs under Shanahan as of right now are not entertaining.

I have to disagree there.  The Leafs play really entertaining hi-offense hockey ... until mid-April.  In fact they are super-fun to watch.  They just do a 180 once the playoff puck drops.

 

[Bender]

https://twitter.com/friedgehnic/status/1787607991740456996

Guessing coaching change this summer and Shanahan out in 12 months if that doesn't fix things.

Wake me up when Shanny's fired. I still have some interest but this is about entertainment and the Leafs under Shanahan as of right now are not entertaining.

I have to disagree there.  The Leafs play really entertaining hi-offense hockey ... until mid-April.  In fact they are super-fun to watch.  They just do a 180 once the playoff puck drops.

The run by Matthews was special but the goal scoring run is over and unlikely to repeat, that was the main point of interest through the whole season. This team is unlikable and when you know you're going to lose in the playoffs it's not an entertaining watch. This is the first time in a long time that I actually missed the majority of three playoff games and I literally missed nothing.

 

[Peter D.]

I like Sheldon Keefe.  I think coaches can get stale.  As the saying goes, coaches are hired to be fired.  I'm sure he will land on his feet with another team in short order, if that's what ultimately happens here with the Leafs.

I could totally see Dubas firing Sullivan and bringing in Keefe if and when he is fired by the Leafs.

Keefe seems like a good guy.  The players obviously like and respect him.  But he's been unable to bring the potential out of this team.  He hasn't lived up to expectations, and he'll take the fall for it.  At this point, I'd say rightfully so.

 

[Guru Tugginmypuddah]

I like Sheldon Keefe.  I think coaches can get stale.  As the saying goes, coaches are hired to be fired.  I'm sure he will land on his feet with another team in short order, if that's what ultimately happens here with the Leafs.

I could totally see Dubas firing Sullivan and bringing in Keefe if and when he is fired by the Leafs.

Keefe seems like a good guy.  The players obviously like and respect him.  But he's been unable to bring the potential out of this team.  He hasn't lived up to expectations, and he'll take the fall for it.  At this point, I'd say rightfully so.

I think he may be a little too much of a "player's coach"  and is a little too lenient, particularly with the stars.  Look what the Boston coach did, calling out Pastrnak prior to game 7. 

Also, his stubbornness in making any sort of adjustments in game.  He seems to be a the "this is the system, play it no matter what" type of coach. 

 

[cabber24]

If Marner goes to Treliving on July 1st and says he's willing to sign an identical extension to Nylander's (8 years, $11.5mil), do you do it?

I would.

Tavares's contract comes off the books, and whatever follows (if here) will likely be deeply discounted (can't see higher than $6M). That's $17.5 where once it was $22, and under a much different cap.

Would insist on a 10-team list every year tho

Absolutely.  After having a couple days to calm down, I think getting rid of Marner would be a huge mistake.

Why don?t you guys just rewatch the last 8 playoffs and let the rest of the crowd base see something new.

 

[Guru Tugginmypuddah]

If Marner goes to Treliving on July 1st and says he's willing to sign an identical extension to Nylander's (8 years, $11.5mil), do you do it?

I would.

Tavares's contract comes off the books, and whatever follows (if here) will likely be deeply discounted (can't see higher than $6M). That's $17.5 where once it was $22, and under a much different cap.

Would insist on a 10-team list every year tho

Absolutely.  After having a couple days to calm down, I think getting rid of Marner would be a huge mistake.

Why don?t you guys just rewatch the last 8 playoffs and let the rest of the crowd base see something new.

I don't know, Steve Yzerman was almost traded out of Detroit too. 

I'd first like to see what another coach could do.

 

[Kaberle15]

I'd first like to see what another coach could do.

Isn't Keefe the other coach ? As Marner hit another level after Babcock.

Maybe that is it.

 

[bustaheims]

Absolutely.  After having a couple days to calm down, I think getting rid of Marner would be a huge mistake. 

While I don't think there's an absolute need to move Marner, I'm not convinced moving him would necessarily be a mistake, either. Obviously, that would depend on the return, but, regardless, the team needs a change in approach/philosophy, and if it takes moving out a significant piece, Marner feels like the most logical candidate.

 

[Zee]

I know Marner has said all along he wants to remain a Leaf (but really ALL players say they want to remain with their teams), but his body language and total lack of patience with the media just screams to me that he's checked out mentally.  I think the insiders might be right and he is open to moving on, every time he speaks it seems like he's just completely fed up with this market.

 

[Arn]

I know Marner has said all along he wants to remain a Leaf (but really ALL players say they want to remain with their teams), but his body language and total lack of patience with the media just screams to me that he's checked out mentally.  I think the insiders might be right and he is open to moving on, every time he speaks it seems like he's just completely fed up with this market.

And, outside of the relatively reasoned discussion of this forum, I don't blame him for being fed up of it

The Athletic alone currently has about 16 articles published in the last 2 days rehashing the same stuff over and over just with different words.

 

[herman]

I know Marner has said all along he wants to remain a Leaf (but really ALL players say they want to remain with their teams), but his body language and total lack of patience with the media just screams to me that he's checked out mentally.  I think the insiders might be right and he is open to moving on, every time he speaks it seems like he's just completely fed up with this market.

Per Luke Fox (I know, I know), Marner was given a reprieve from media duties midway through the year for a stretch.

We know he was granted a mid-season "break" from the media, whom he has often referred to as "you guys" in the tone of the picked upon.

I generally understand what Marner means when he speaks in public, but the guy seems to find a worst way to phrase things when he speaks his mind, and this market just loves to jump on those little details. Not every player needs to be an erudite scholar or professional public speaker, and I get that hockey life often shortchanges people on normal education and social experience, but there's time-tested training for keeping things easy, breezy, boring when you have to say stuff on the record. The Toronto media isn't even particularly harsh to its players, it's just an overwhelming volume of the same questions and the occasional bash-a-teammate-bait.

Every player has his own style and comfort level:
Tavares: media trained since he was like 12, so he gives extremely stoic, coporate-friendly, and near-robotic responses (even though I know, to great delight, he's got a Happy Gilmore streak)
https://x.com/itsmitchmarney/status/1587574286847561728
Rielly: forthright, jocular, chummy even, but switches between serious and playful with aplomb. Doesn't sugarcoat or evade, and knows media relations isn't personal and they just want coherent, short thoughts.
https://x.com/TSN_Sports/status/1786461248609013843
Matthews: very media trained as well, but as someone who welcomes the spotlight, he now uses it for sassy purposes.
https://x.com/ken___64/status/1763416949470486562
Nylander: grew up under the spotlight with the likes of Ovechkin/Backstrom, on top of being a rockstar back home on the international stage, so no stranger to media; media pressure is like water off a duck's back. Refused to say anything of consequence or interest until a year or two ago, and now it's mostly: I hate losing; embrace the moment; just play hockey.
https://x.com/interesting_aIl/status/1786898370256162886

 

[Frank E]

I know Marner has said all along he wants to remain a Leaf (but really ALL players say they want to remain with their teams), but his body language and total lack of patience with the media just screams to me that he's checked out mentally.  I think the insiders might be right and he is open to moving on, every time he speaks it seems like he's just completely fed up with this market.

And, outside of the relatively reasoned discussion of this forum, I don't blame him for being fed up of it

The Athletic alone currently has about 16 articles published in the last 2 days rehashing the same stuff over and over just with different words.

I don't think Marner takes criticism well...Takes it personally, and goes on the offensive as a response.

It's not unusual for high performers.

 

[Frank E]

Has the voting been completed for the awards? 

It would sure be nice if they got Bowness the Jack Adams.