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http://www.thestar.com/sports/leaves/201 ... schuk.html

In the days after Steve Spott landed a job as a rookie assistant coach for the Toronto Maple leaves in July, he was tasked with a bevy of responsibilities by head coach Randy Carlyle.

Among them, Spott was charged with devising a new breakout play for a team that has long struggled to get the puck out of its own end. Spott thought he’d hit on an effective strategy — until, that is, he shared the plan with leaves leading scorer Phil Kessel. When Kessel voiced displeasure, Spott discovered a harsh reality of life in the NHL. In some corners of the league, and apparently in Leafland, a coach’s learning curve involves bending to the desires of star players.

… “Spott said Carlyle’s attitude was that we’re fired before (Kessel is) out of here, the hierarchy doesn’t want to deal with Phil. He scores 30 (goals) a year and that’s all they want,” said one of the attendees. “(Spott said) Phil hates coaches. He hates Randy. He hates me and I don’t even know him yet.”

… Spott also marvelled at how Kessel — who Spott estimated during the lecture is “15 pounds overweight” — remains an explosive speedster.

Strangelove wrote:http://video.mapleleafs.nhl.com/videoce ... 48&lang=en

"I'm guilty of wearing down... at game 70 you're feeling it".

- Dion Phaneuf

Well then it's a good thing for Dion the Leaves tend to miss the playoffs eh wot!

Strangelove wrote:http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/teamrankings

.... Toronto Maple Leaves DEAD LAST in "bang for buck"!!

Worst run sports franchise in professional sports!!!

http://www.thestar.com/sports/leaves/201 ... eason.html

I’m not making any excuses but things spiralled from the suspension and then the injuries, but I trained all summer and I’m excited for this season to start,” Clarkson said.

“This is the first summer I’ve been healthy. I didn’t take (much) time off, I went back into training right after the season, so I’m ready to hit the reset button and I’m looking forward to the next few weeks (of training camp).”

http://www.thestar.com/sports/leaves/201 ... oster.html

Maple leaves centre Tyler Bozak and winger David Clarkson will not take part in leaves practices and scrimmages when heavy drills and workouts begin Saturday.

The team did not say what injuries they suffered, or when, but the two were considered “day-to-day,” said the team’s media relations staff. Coach Randy Carlyle did not speak to reporters.

Bozak, Clarskon and Sparts did not participate in Friday’s on-ice testing.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/hock ... white-way/

- The (Leaves are) owned and operated by two giant communication companies who are essentially at war. Bell wanted Brian Burke fired, Rogers didn’t, but eventually went along with it. The club was forced to abstain from a league vote approving the new Rogers TV deal last winter because the two sides couldn’t agree.

- The CEO, Tim Leiweke, has announced he wants out. Well, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet announced Leiweke wanted out, and then Leiweke ultimately confirmed it. He’ll be gone by next summer at the latest.

- The president of the team, Brendan Shanahan, was hired by Leiweke, but Shanahan didn’t hire the current general manager, Dave Nonis, who reports directly to him.

- Nonis didn’t have a hand in picking his new assistant GMs after the old ones were fired during the summer, and didn’t know former Soo GM Kyle Dubas at all before Shanahan hired him to work alongside him.

- Several bloggers who were very critical of Nonis and head coach Randy Carlyle last season are now working in the team’s front office.

- Nonis didn’t hire Carlyle, but he inherited him from Burke, who was fired 21 months ago.

- Carlyle saw his coaching staff fired during the summer, and didn’t have any of his preferred choices for new assistants approved. He’s never worked with Steve Spott or Peter Horachek before.

That’s a lot of people who didn’t know each other before they were asked to work together, or didn’t hire the people who are now reporting to them. Shanahan didn’t hire Nonis, who didn’t hire his assistants or Carlyle, who didn’t hire his assistants.

If organizations depend on loyalty, strong connections and trust to succeed, the leaves certainly have some internal challenges ahead of them.

BladesofSteel wrote: Careful what you wish for Doc, this team could very well suck balls so bad they could wind up with an extremely favorable lottery position.

Strangelove wrote:

BladesofSteel wrote: Careful what you wish for Doc, this team could very well suck balls so bad they could wind up with an extremely favorable lottery position.

Yeahno, I've expressed my concerns about that a few times in this forum bro.

They're going into the season with the same loser core, a lame duck GM, and a lame duck coach.

Pretty sure the Shanaplan is to suck elephant balls, fire the GM + coach, and then trade half the core

... and yeah, grab a high draft pick.

I'm hoping Kadri and Bernier both have career years (RFAs) and foil that plan somewhat.

Arachnid wrote:....so speaketh the Universe!

Hockey Widow wrote:You have to think this is the last year for Nonis and Carlye if they miss the playoffs again. Heck even if they make it it might not be enough depending upon how everything else goes.

I would also say if they make those changes they will also begin to clear out the character issues. Isn't Babcock available next season? Maybe that's the real plan, wait for Babcock. Shanny can then also get his own GM.

If Nonis gets canned look for him to go to Calgary as an assistant to the prez!!!

Strangelove wrote:

Arachnid wrote:....so speaketh the Universe!

Is there... anyone... at "the Centre of the Universe" who doesn't suffer with delusions of grandeur?

Ass an asside, may I suggest a Rob Ford avatar?

Strangelove wrote:

BladesofSteel wrote: Careful what you wish for Doc, this team could very well suck balls so bad they could wind up with an extremely favorable lottery position.

Yeahno, I've expressed my concerns about that a few times in this forum bro.

They're going into the season with the same loser core, a lame duck GM, and a lame duck coach.

Pretty sure the Shanaplan is to suck elephant balls, fire the GM + coach, and then trade half the core

... and yeah, grab a high draft pick.