Brendan Shanahan to be named president of Maple Leafs

[Zee]

I'm not getting excited about any front office / coaching changes anymore.  I used to be like that thinking "person X" can turn this organization around.  Seen failure from the Leafs my entire life so i'll reserve judgement until I see the on-ice product that actually competes in the playoffs.

 

[Highlander]

I think a comment was made by Lewieke or Shanahan at the beginning of the press conference that this would be like Missouri, for those of us who know, Missouri is the "show me" State.  So they already know that they have to "show us"

 

[pnjunction]

It's hard to think, "Yay, they hired a new fella" when year after year of changes to roster and front office produce very little results.

Once an improved product hits the ice then I'll say yay. for now, no yay.

As someone who got caught up in the Burke hype there's no way I'm getting optimistic about anything.

The sad part about that whole adventure was we still don't know for sure if Burke was progressing towards a winner or not since Nonis made alot of questionable moves since taking over (that when balanced with some good moves still leaves a potato as a comparable GM).

 

[Bender]

Generally, I like the move. Even Leiweke has a boss - the MLSE board. All hockey execs do.

A hockey guy, Shanahan, will evaluate the performance of the GM - not a bad thing (think of that compared to Peddie ...) . A hockey guy, Shanahan, can do some of the ribbon cutting/PR stuff/MLSE board stuff letting the GM focus on acquiring the hockey talent.

I liked that Shanahan didn't come with a preset notion on how a team should be built. He sounded like he'll evaluate what they have and be flexible on the best path forward from the talent they have. That is better to me than Burke's approach of "I want this team to reflect my idea of a model - truculence, testosterone, etc" because that takes more work to assemble that from where they were and therefore, it is less likely to be achieved. In other words, there is more than one way of going about it and Shanahan is wisely open to that.

As for Nonis, he's been kind of screwed trying to make Burke's retooling effort work (not that he isn't responsible for a bunch of that). It's a tougher way to try to win as he doesn't have the fruits of a true rebuilt young core to work with. Now he's kind of stuck with all the contracts he's done to tie up a core that struggles to make the playoffs. It's hard for me to imagine how he can ever fully rebound from that. He can get them back to the playoffs but he'll be hard pressed to get them into a parade any time soon.

Shanahan probably realizes that and is going to take his time coming up to speed on what they have and what they lack while Nonis flails away ... and Shanahan lines up his eventual successor.

Good to see you here, CW!

 

[jdh1]

If Shanny can at least stand up and face the media once in a while...to take some of the pressure off the team would be good...Not Burke like where he becomes the face of the team,but every once in a while..I do think that the media is overbearing at times where the players start gripping their sticks too hard and losing streaks begin.

 

[moon111]

Generally, I like the move. Even Leiweke has a boss - the MLSE board. All hockey execs do.

A hockey guy, Shanahan, will evaluate the performance of the GM - not a bad thing (think of that compared to Peddie ...) . A hockey guy, Shanahan, can do some of the ribbon cutting/PR stuff/MLSE board stuff letting the GM focus on acquiring the hockey talent.

I liked that Shanahan didn't come with a preset notion on how a team should be built. He sounded like he'll evaluate what they have and be flexible on the best path forward from the talent they have. That is better to me than Burke's approach of "I want this team to reflect my idea of a model - truculence, testosterone, etc" because that takes more work to assemble that from where they were and therefore, it is less likely to be achieved. In other words, there is more than one way of going about it and Shanahan is wisely open to that.

As for Nonis, he's been kind of screwed trying to make Burke's retooling effort work (not that he isn't responsible for a bunch of that). It's a tougher way to try to win as he doesn't have the fruits of a true rebuilt young core to work with. Now he's kind of stuck with all the contracts he's done to tie up a core that struggles to make the playoffs. It's hard for me to imagine how he can ever fully rebound from that. He can get them back to the playoffs but he'll be hard pressed to get them into a parade any time soon.

Shanahan probably realizes that and is going to take his time coming up to speed on what they have and what they lack while Nonis flails away ... and Shanahan lines up his eventual successor.

I've probably never been made more optimistic from a single thing written about the Leafs.  But it's a dark place these Leafs have left me.  My biggest hope is the whole Burke/Nonis/Carlyle has been trying to get players to do what they're not or restraining them from being what they could be.  If that gives you weaknesses, find the compensation strength to add to the team.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Shanahan already planning the coup with Kessel: https://twitter.com/jon_dwyer/status/456258873788497920

 

[Highlander]

This is the hardest hockey market in the world to play in. We need to find players whom are immune somewhat to the media hordes that harass them day in and day out.  I bet most of the Ducks or Sharks can walk around California without anyone recognizing them.  For the Leafs it must be unbelievalbe the scrutiny of their public as well as professional persona.  Like playing in a fish bowl/pressure cooker and not everyone can handle that. I trust Shanahan understands this and drafts and Free Agents accordingly.

 

[93forever]

This is the hardest hockey market in the world to play in. We need to find players whom are immune somewhat to the media hordes that harass them day in and day out.  I bet most of the Ducks or Sharks can walk around California without anyone recognizing them.  For the Leafs it must be unbelievalbe the scrutiny of their public as well as professional persona.  Like playing in a fish bowl/pressure cooker and not everyone can handle that. I trust Shanahan understands this and drafts and Free Agents accordingly.

But Toronto also has a huge fan base that ownership should truly capitalize on instead of p*ssing off the fans by having a sub par on ice product or a dysfunctional product. 

No other team can say they made a profit during the lockout season.  I also remember the times when other fans would start bashing the Leafs, the Leaf fans would dish it back in bucketfuls, but when we hear other fans say the Leafs suck, how can we argue with them, when the team does suck?

I am hoping Shanahan can create a culture of success that will trickle down to the team. 

 

[Highlander]

There is an old story about the father of modern Psychiatry, Carl Jung, when he would meet someone on the street and ask how they where, if the person responded, "Things are going great"  Jung would say "Well that to bad as things may not continue this way", conversely when Jung met someone with a tale of  woe, would say "Thats great as things can only get better". 

If you create the leadership from above that will build a culture of success then it will filter down for as above, so below.  The problem, since Conn Smythe, is the leadership of this kind of culture has been completely non existent i.e.. Ballard, Ontario Pension Plan, etc.  Now we have Lewieke in charge with Shanahan below, with the mindset of building a winner through the culture of winning.
Oh and by the way, when I spoke (on another thread) of the new coaching candidate having a track record of having a high possession team this is indeed empirical and is evident on the candidates record of previous coaching, the goal being to getting a coach whom has coached at 54% or higher for a number of years.. No more Randy C's or any other retreated garbage with poor possession numbers. 

 

[Redleaf]

Whether you like the guy or not, I always find it interesting to hear an outsiders opinion on what the Leafs are doing. Here's JR's take on Shanahan coming in?.

This is a few day old already, but..

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/jeremy-roenick-toronto-maple-leafs-cody-franson-dion-phaneuf-brendan-shanahan/

 

[hockeyfan1]

Whether you like the guy or not, I always find it interesting to hear an outsiders opinion on what the Leafs are doing. Here's JR's take on Shanahan coming in?.

This is a few day old already, but..

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/jeremy-roenick-toronto-maple-leafs-cody-franson-dion-phaneuf-brendan-shanahan/

Agree with JR 100%.  Also his commenting on the rest of the Canadian-based teams as well.

 

[Scot4bz]

How long is it going to take before he pulls the trigger and starts taking out the trash? Failure to take swift action will just be more of the same lack of urgency that somewhat defines the problem with the MLSE "culture". To heck with respect for the playoffs, league, or players feelings - giddy up Shanny!

 

[Highlander]

Actually its exactly they opposite, every move has to be calculated or seem to be calculated. Any rush will seem like Panic and Shanahan has to press the no panic button in his new position. I don't think Randy C will be jetisoned until right after the playoffs, the Big S will not announce anything to steal playoff thunder.  I would assume that there is a lot of backroom braintrust on whom the new coaching candidate is as well as consultation with Nonis on personal changes and of course a complete observation of our prospects inside the Marlies whilst the AHL playoffs are in session. So don't expect Randy to be giving the golden toaster for the next month of so.

 

[AvroArrow]

How long is it going to take before he pulls the trigger and starts taking out the trash? Failure to take swift action will just be more of the same lack of urgency that somewhat defines the problem with the MLSE "culture". To heck with respect for the playoffs, league, or players feelings - giddy up Shanny!

As long as it takes him to do a thorough review.  He needs to figure out what constitutes trash, and while some of it may be obvious, it's always best to be sure.

For instance, some will tell you Gardiner is trash, but he'd be stupid to just blindly throw him away.

Patience - there's a long offseason ahead.  He has plenty of time.

 

[Scot4bz]

I still have to respectfully disagree. In my opinion there is some low hanging fruit that can taken care of that could send an appropriate message. My frustration has always been the pace at which they make decisions (letting it fester too long sometimes). By no means do I expect the full plan and direction to be carved in stone or executed (sorry Randy - poor choice of words in a couple of days but when things go off the rails they seem to wait far too long before addressing them.

Maybe I just need them to throw me a bone to indicate that they have not just created additional bloat in the front office. I also hope that they let Shanahan do what they have hired him to without too much red tape or interference.

 

[mc]

Whenever I see this thread with new posts, I get all giddy thinking Shanny did something.

 

[pmrules]

I'm guessing things will start to happen once the Raptors are out of the playoffs.

 

[AvroArrow]

but when things go off the rails they seem to wait far too long before addressing them

I agree with this when we're talking about "during the season".  But, when we're just at the start of the offseason, I don't see a need to rush things.

 

[Optimus Reimer]

Whenever I see this thread with new posts, I get all giddy thinking Shanny did something.

You may want to avoid nudist colonies for a while...