Horachek's impact on the team

[Highlander]

Blues coach Ken Hitchcock.
"Everything I see is Nashville. That's the way Nashville played for years. You can see the implementation of it. You could show Nashville clips from five years ago. That's the way they're going to play. There's going to be a tight gap. You have to have great patience, and great puck support. It's a tight gap game. It's the way you have to play to win.
Hitchcock on the Leafs scoring woes
"You get mis-read on the scoring. The hockey gods make you earn it. Everything has to work in sequence. Always the last part is scoring. Play the right way. Check the right way. Act the right way. Then you get to score goals."
Eric Staal on losing while learning a new coach and new system.
"It's definitely an adjustment. It was definitely a tough start. Credit (coach) Bill (Peters) for continuing on with the process. And instilling what he wants. Now it's just about taking steps, and building blocks to where we want to be."
Eric Staal on how long it takes for players to "get" the new coach.
"Sometimes you see it right away when they make a change in the middle of the year. A lot of times, it takes about 10 games I think. Sometimes it happens real quick, you get that turnaround and a a change. Usually, a lot of times, about 10 games I would say before you really start feeling comfortable and confident and the coach gets used to the personnel and who he can use in different situations, and gaining confidence that way."
Carolina coach Bill Peters on how long it takes to instil new systems.
"It's all 23 guys on the same page, right? That's the problem that you get sometimes, and that's the problem we had is we weren't getting any positive results earlier in the year, so it makes it harder for the buy-in. But either you cave and change or you stay with it because you know it works and you believe in it and then they start having success individually and collectively, then it's a lot easier to sell. I stayed with it."

 

[herman]

Thanks for pulling those quotes, Highlander.

The Leafs played shorthanded under a new system against the top teams in the league that are rounding into playoff form, so of course we're going to get run over a bit. What's great this year is that Nonis will have no delusions of grandeur this year and we'll be sellers at the deadline and in the off-season; reset some of the personnel for the template management wants going forward. It's not about a wholesale blow-up of the roster, but about making moves for long-term gain.

 

[LuncheonMeat]

Thanks for pulling those quotes, Highlander.

The Leafs played shorthanded under a new system against the top teams in the league that are rounding into playoff form, so of course we're going to get run over a bit. What's great this year is that Nonis will have no delusions of grandeur this year and we'll be sellers at the deadline and in the off-season; reset some of the personnel for the template management wants going forward. It's not about a wholesale blow-up of the roster, but about making moves for long-term gain.

I would be surprised if Nonis' hands aren't tied for the rest of the season.  This is his core/group of players, so I can't imagine he'll be the one trying to move guys out.  As far as the draft goes, I sort of hope that Hunter is fully in charge of drafting, with Shanahan's input of course.  I just can't imagine Nonis will be around for too much longer, other than to sit quietly and address the media here and there.

 

[rdowdall]

Thanks for pulling those quotes, Highlander.

The Leafs played shorthanded under a new system against the top teams in the league that are rounding into playoff form, so of course we're going to get run over a bit. What's great this year is that Nonis will have no delusions of grandeur this year and we'll be sellers at the deadline and in the off-season; reset some of the personnel for the template management wants going forward. It's not about a wholesale blow-up of the roster, but about making moves for long-term gain.

I would be surprised if Nonis' hands aren't tied for the rest of the season.  This is his core/group of players, so I can't imagine he'll be the one trying to move guys out.  As far as the draft goes, I sort of hope that Hunter is fully in charge of drafting, with Shanahan's input of course.  I just can't imagine Nonis will be around for too much longer, other than to sit quietly and address the media here and there.

Their first pick should be easy to make.

 

[bustaheims]

I would be surprised if Nonis' hands aren't tied for the rest of the season.  This is his core/group of players, so I can't imagine he'll be the one trying to move guys out.  As far as the draft goes, I sort of hope that Hunter is fully in charge of drafting, with Shanahan's input of course.  I just can't imagine Nonis will be around for too much longer, other than to sit quietly and address the media here and there.

The deadline will be about moving out guys on expiring contracts more than anything else. Anyone who expects any sort of significant roster upheaval over the next fews week is going to be disappointed. I don't think Shanahan and Co. are going to stop Nonis from making moves, they're just going to all be made with Shanahan's approval as opposed to Nonis having carte blanche. Nonis won't have his hands tied, but he won't really be making his own moves, either.

 

[LuncheonMeat]

I would be surprised if Nonis' hands aren't tied for the rest of the season.  This is his core/group of players, so I can't imagine he'll be the one trying to move guys out.  As far as the draft goes, I sort of hope that Hunter is fully in charge of drafting, with Shanahan's input of course.  I just can't imagine Nonis will be around for too much longer, other than to sit quietly and address the media here and there.

The deadline will be about moving out guys on expiring contracts more than anything else. Anyone who expects any sort of significant roster upheaval over the next fews week is going to be disappointed. I don't think Shanahan and Co. are going to stop Nonis from making moves, they're just going to all be made with Shanahan's approval as opposed to Nonis having carte blanche. Nonis won't have his hands tied, but he won't really be making his own moves, either.

Good point.  My hope is just that Nonis is gone by the draft, which is where big, long-term contracts will move out (hopefully), and that Hunter is in the driver's seat for the draft.

 

[sickbeast]

So do you guys still think this is bad luck? 2 goals in 5 games? LOL

 

[CarltonTheBear]

So do you guys still think this is bad luck? 2 goals in 5 games? LOL

Do you think that they'll continue to score 2 goals every 5 games for the rest of the season?

 

[ZBBM]

Anyone who expects any sort of significant roster upheaval over the next fews week is going to be disappointed. I don't think Shanahan and Co. are going to stop Nonis from making moves, they're just going to all be made with Shanahan's approval as opposed to Nonis having carte blanche. Nonis won't have his hands tied, but he won't really be making his own moves, either.

Quit raining on my depth charge.  You're getting the gunpowder all wet.

 

[bustaheims]

Quit raining on my depth charge.  You're getting the gunpowder all wet.

Well, the good news is that, according to MythBusters, gunpowder can still burn underwater. The bad news is that you're going to have to wait to ignite it.

 

[hockeyfan1]

So do you guys still think this is bad luck? 2 goals in 5 games? LOL

Do you think that they'll continue to score 2 goals every 5 games for the rest of the season?

Absolutely not.  At some point, the (scoring) tide will turn.  Many things are cyclical -- what goes up, eventually has a downturn, and what is down, eventually will have an upturn. 

I'm a firm believer that the Leafs will not only find their scoring groove but start winning again.  May be too late for the playoffs, but it's never to late to improve.

 

[sickbeast]

So do you guys still think this is bad luck? 2 goals in 5 games? LOL

Do you think that they'll continue to score 2 goals every 5 games for the rest of the season?

Yes I do. I have joined the tank nation. I want them to blow up this team.

 

[Bill_Berg]

Blues coach Ken Hitchcock.
"Everything I see is Nashville. That's the way Nashville played for years. You can see the implementation of it. You could show Nashville clips from five years ago. That's the way they're going to play. There's going to be a tight gap. You have to have great patience, and great puck support. It's a tight gap game. It's the way you have to play to win.
Hitchcock on the Leafs scoring woes
"You get mis-read on the scoring. The hockey gods make you earn it. Everything has to work in sequence. Always the last part is scoring. Play the right way. Check the right way. Act the right way. Then you get to score goals."
Eric Staal on losing while learning a new coach and new system.
"It's definitely an adjustment. It was definitely a tough start. Credit (coach) Bill (Peters) for continuing on with the process. And instilling what he wants. Now it's just about taking steps, and building blocks to where we want to be."
Eric Staal on how long it takes for players to "get" the new coach.
"Sometimes you see it right away when they make a change in the middle of the year. A lot of times, it takes about 10 games I think. Sometimes it happens real quick, you get that turnaround and a a change. Usually, a lot of times, about 10 games I would say before you really start feeling comfortable and confident and the coach gets used to the personnel and who he can use in different situations, and gaining confidence that way."
Carolina coach Bill Peters on how long it takes to instil new systems.
"It's all 23 guys on the same page, right? That's the problem that you get sometimes, and that's the problem we had is we weren't getting any positive results earlier in the year, so it makes it harder for the buy-in. But either you cave and change or you stay with it because you know it works and you believe in it and then they start having success individually and collectively, then it's a lot easier to sell. I stayed with it."

These quotes make me think that they'll suck for a bit longer before improving and start winning at some regular type pace. Unfortunately that likely means no playoffs and a 1st round pick out of the top ten.

 

[herman]

I would be surprised if Nonis' hands aren't tied for the rest of the season.  This is his core/group of players, so I can't imagine he'll be the one trying to move guys out.  As far as the draft goes, I sort of hope that Hunter is fully in charge of drafting, with Shanahan's input of course.  I just can't imagine Nonis will be around for too much longer, other than to sit quietly and address the media here and there.

The deadline will be about moving out guys on expiring contracts more than anything else. Anyone who expects any sort of significant roster upheaval over the next fews week is going to be disappointed. I don't think Shanahan and Co. are going to stop Nonis from making moves, they're just going to all be made with Shanahan's approval as opposed to Nonis having carte blanche. Nonis won't have his hands tied, but he won't really be making his own moves, either.

Good point.  My hope is just that Nonis is gone by the draft, which is where big, long-term contracts will move out (hopefully), and that Hunter is in the driver's seat for the draft.

Shanahan kept Nonis on for his familiarity with the team mess he made and his inter-league connections. Nonis has been a good corporate guy and has bought into what Shanahan's new management team is striving for. I don't see Nonis being fired yet because,
a) as Busta mentioned, it's all pending Shanahan's approval (per his own remarks) anyway;
b) Shanahan likes having differing opinions in the room (productive tension), and
c) Nonis has been a manager in the league for years, whereas Dubas, Pridham, and Hunter haven't built that cachet yet.

 

[sickbeast]

Nonis should be fired. Maybe make shanahan the gm.

 

[Redleaf]

Nonis should be fired. Maybe make shanahan the gm.

Fired at, or just fired? 

 

[sickbeast]

Fired.

 

[Highlander]

Shanaplan will not be GM, he is team Prez.  If Babock comes look for him to have some executive power or Hunter/Dubos tandem.

 

[L K]

Shanaplan will not be GM, he is team Prez.  If Babock comes look for him to have some executive power or Hunter/Dubos tandem.

As much as Dubas and Hunter are nice additions to the front office, that's far too much inexperience if the Leafs are going to run with them + Babcock running the show.  Being a good coach doesn't make you a good GM and running a junior hockey team is about short term development and isn't necessarily about projecting long-term NHL productivity.  I think you need to see them actually accomplish something at the NHL level before they get annointed.

That being said, there is no way that Nonis survives this disaster.

 

[Deebo]

Old Cliffy is still around.