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Leafs Fire Ferguson

Posted by Rick Moldovanyi / January 22, 2008

10 Comments

Toronto Maple LeafsYou knew it was coming. The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired GM John Ferguson Jr.

The Leafs currently sit in 14th place in the Eastern Conference and have a 19-22-5-3 record. They are 4-6 in their last ten games. They've been blown out twice this month, losing 6-2 and 5-0 to Pittsburgh and Anaheim respectively.

How this is expected to help is not known at this time. While Ferguson was far from a great GM, the problem with the Toronto Maple Leafs is deeper than this. Solving the issues with this franchise will take more than one or two personnel changes. The entire organization is in need of a major overhaul.

Could it be the start of this overhaul? Or will it be another band-aid solution from a team that seems to have lost touch with the modern NHL?
Former GM Cliff Fletcher has been named as the interim general manager. Fletcher was GM of the Leafs between 1991 and 1997 when the Leafs underwent a successful resurgence. During his original reign the Leafs made blockbuster trades to acquire names such as Doug Gilmour and Mats Sundin.

"Cliff Fletcher is the ideal person to lay the groundwork of positive change for the Leafs," said Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd. President and CEO Richard Peddie.

Ferguson has not made an official comment on the matter, but stated that he is not interested in taking another position with the Leafs' organization.

Discussion

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Jerrold / January 22, 2008 at 02:23 pm
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They need to get rid of all the suits, bring down pricing so actual fans can afford seats, and develop an entirely new philosophy. This team is run like a business, and not enough like a sports team. Other organizations seem to get it right.
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Ryan L. / January 22, 2008 at 02:38 pm
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Since the GM is responsible for personnel changes, indeed firing Ferguson is the first step to fixing the team.
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Ryan L. / January 22, 2008 at 02:41 pm
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That was one thing Ferguson was certainly good at, running the leafs like a business. Being able to charge that much per seat and still sell out every game? It's no wonder the owners were hesitant about getting rid of him.

I doubt they'd bring seat prices down as long as they keep selling out.
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Chester Pape / January 22, 2008 at 02:57 pm
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Finally at last no more "at this hour, we are able to report that John Ferguson is still the General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs" jokes on the CEEB.

Oh come on, you really believe that there is a single sport out there where any money changes hands above the level of a local curling beerspiel that isn't run as a business first? Man you should bottle that up and sell it. Running a team "like a sports team" is a business decision like any other designed to play on the emotions of the sucke...er...target audience.
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Rick / January 22, 2008 at 03:04 pm
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The difference between the Leafs and most other teams is that, while all NHL teams are run like a business, the Leafs seem content with losing and losing.
The problem is that people keep going to the games despite the losing.
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Dan / January 22, 2008 at 03:32 pm
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This is a great move which may bring the playoffs back (maybe next year)... But I think that until there is one sole owner of the organization we won't see a championship team in this town. The teacher's union seems to be content with the status quo.
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J23 / January 22, 2008 at 03:57 pm
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Let us Pray:

John Ferguson Jr. = Rob Babcock
Cliff Fletcher = Wayne Embry
??? = The Savior, Bryan Colangelo

Amen.

Pitchers / Catchers report in a month!
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Jerrold / January 22, 2008 at 07:04 pm
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Do the Leafs take players Dad's on roadtrips to the west coast? No. But the Red Wings do.
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serotonin / January 23, 2008 at 09:46 am
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Ferguson never had full control. He was a tool to the suits, so he never really had full control to screw things up on his own.

The Leafs will never win a cup not so much because they're owned by a committee rather then a sole owner (though that will always delay things), but more so because of the Teacher's Pension Plan, which entirely the exact wrong type of entity to have ownership in a sports team. It's like putting a racist in charge of immigration.
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Grizzly / January 16, 2012 at 10:08 pm
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Tip top stuff. I\'ll epxcet more now.
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