When will it ever end?????

[Rusty]

Quinn and Dryden staying?

Our worst fears as Leaf fans maybe coming to fruition....

Richard Peddie expects both to return. But hints of new role for Leaf president

The president of the Maple Leafs' empire said yesterday that the status of everyone in the hockey office would be cleared up long before the new board of directors takes over July 1 — and he doesn't expect anyone to be cleaning out their desks over the summer.

Some observers say that either GM-coach Pat Quinn or team president Ken Dryden, or perhaps both, will leave the organization. But Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment president Richard Peddie said he expects both will stay. He was, however, guarded in his words about each man's role in the organization.

"I would bet money that Pat Quinn will be behind the bench and Ken Dryden will be with Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment," Peddie said yesterday.

But Peddie did hint that there's a chance that Quinn will still hold both the GM and coach roles and Dryden's status would change. And therein lies the key to ending the paralysis in which the hockey department finds itself. Both of them have a veto concerning Quinn's dual role and neither agrees on how the job should be divided.

Quinn made it clear after the season that he wants to keep both jobs and would prefer to bring in a young executive (read, Vancouver Canucks' vice-president Steve Tambellini) into the organization to be groomed as the team's next GM. Dryden would prefer Quinn relinquish the GM's job and have Bob Gainey fill that role.

Peddie said there is a chance that Quinn will keep both jobs for the foreseeable future, perhaps through his current contract.

"I can see us splitting the duties, but it might not be this summer," Peddie said. "Pat has two years left on his deal and that is not a long time. He may have both roles right through to that time. That will be for Ken, Pat and myself to decide and it will be done in a collegial way."

Quinn's contract states that he has both roles, so if MLSE were to force him to choose one, he could effectively resign and be paid $2 million (U.S.) for each of the next two years on his contract.

Peddie maintained that, unlike Quinn, Dryden does not have a formal contract with the team, but said all vice-presidents with MLSE have what he called "an employment letter. What the deal is, is we keep our jobs if we do a good job."

"I would be very surprised if Ken was not with us. It is definitely our intent to have him back," Peddie said.

When asked whether would be back as team president, Peddie said, "We're talking about what that role might be. I, for one, would like to see him stay with us."

From waymoresports.com

Why do we as Leaf fans have to be subjected to this type of soap opera day after day. Man I only wish that the Bigheads (or is it Meatheads) in MLSE would just click on a few hyperlinks and surf around on a few of the message boards out there and get the true understanding and full fury of the "real" Leaf fan!!!! It is becoming painfully obvious that Peter has no idea what the hell Paul is doing in the ACC!

[lapniappe]

Earn hold it, and breathe.

lol

it's not that bad if they stay; it's bad if they stay where they are right now.

Now, Dryden I don't have a problem with because he does NOTHING. so if he does nothing he can't ruin anything, right? Exactly.

Quinn can stay too; just as long as he's not coaching and GMing the team, the team being the Big Leafs. now the Baby leafs, that's a different horse of another colour. I can deal with him on the rock. that team needs help toute de suite.

and we can't really ingore what they've done for us the past 5 years. they made us from Atlanta-esque to where we are. Now we just need to get from where we are now to Colorado/Detroit/New Jersey-esque as in: the teams that actually win the cup.

and Peddie could just be blowing smoke up people's bottoms. I think at the end of the day it's Tannenbaum's decision.

Watters I know for a fact is leaving this year.
so sayth the FAN590.

[Rusty]

I heard yesterday where Watters was trying to move back into broadcasting, but his main focus is to stick with the Leafs.

I truly hope that LT looks at this and makes the decision that is right for the team and it's massive fan base, the moves he and the board make in the next little while are going to have a huge long term impact on the team.

Rusty

[thinkblue]

If anything, I like the option (at the absolute minimum) of Quinn staying and hiring Steve Tambellini has his "heir apparent" as GM. I think that would help us out long term. Although the question remains if Tambelllini would have enoug incentive to leave Vancouver to do the same job in Toronto (asst. GM)??

To be honest, if it isnt gainey, Id be happy with a young mind (instead of an old-school mentality).

[CL]

I refuse to watch another year of Pat Quinn in any capacity with the Leafs. He is a team killer. If he is still here in the Fall, I will take my sports interests elsewhere.

[Leafs_Pam]

Rusty, remember when Richard Peddie opened his mouth last year after the Leafs lost? He opened mouth, inserted foot. All of them did. LT is pretty dumb if he's going to allow Peddie to have his way and keep Quinn. Yuk!! I'm hoping Peddie is just opening mouth and inserting foot like he did last year.

[stugats1]

Although i could never give up on the Leafs I would be real disapointed to say the least if Quinn is back behind the bench. As Lap said I could care less about Dryden, but even I who was probably in Quinns corner more than anyone on this board has had it. He must go. The team has probably stopped listening. We need new blood with fresh ideas.

[CL]

I didn't say I was giving up on the Leafs. Just a Pat Quinn led Leaf team. Like a bad case of diarrhea, Quinn can't last forever and just because one gets a case of the trots doesn't mean one stops eating.

[freshwind]

This was the most depressing thing I've read in weeks. It kind of was the article that got me thinking and writing that blurb about Bettman. This whole league seems to have some sort of "collusion like" feel to it with this cba coming up. IF, the Leafs really felt they were close, it seems like it is so straightforward, as us fans think that the weak links are obvious. Now, these people running the show, while we may call them idiots, truly are not. If they cannot see what appears to be apparent, it must be they have a different agenda.
I truly am confused. I am definitely going to email the Leafs a strong message on my feelings.

[CL]

As someone mentioned, Richard Peddie has a reputation for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time and often his comments turn out to lack complete accuracy. That being said, I find it rather strange that a managment arrangement that is supposedly staying in place, has elements out trying to secure other employment. If there was not a high degree of uncertainly amongst the various members of this staff, why would Bill Watters even think of looking at other possibilities? After all, he is an integral part of Pat Quinn's contract team.

It strikes me that Peddie was offering a personal opinion on the subject and not only does it not have the weight of a Board of Directors vote behind it, it does not even have the strength of the Board's preliminary perspective. The board has yet to meet and until such time as it does, I don't think any one director really knows the feelings of all the other directors. Pat Quinn has certainly cost this team a lot more this season than the four million dollars it would take to buy him out of his contract.

If ordinary Leaf fans were left to wonder about Quinn's abilities as both a coach and general manager, would it not be right to believe that the owners of this team are even more concerned? While the CBA situation should have some import, it cannot be allowed to control the normal course of events on this or any other team. It is my opinion that Pat Quinn and most, if not all of the inner circle of this management team are in trouble. When someone like Bill Watters, who is the quintessential survivor and Leaf insider, starts looking for work something is afoot.

[freshwind]

Ah, but my question is, how reliable is Bill Houston? He is the one who has floated the idea that Watters will take over from Damien Cox as McCowan's co host on PrimeTime Sports?
As for the Board, when do they meet? Any idea?
I would hope soon, a course of action needs to be decided. Whether that course can be made public or not is another matter. There are guys still in the playoffs that can't be approached.
I read somewhere that Leafs TV aired 2 specials, 2 or 3 days in a row about Gainey and Robinson. Now, this little media exercise may be a chance to assess all 12 subscribers response to the idea.
The only thing that I hold any hope on is the fact that the org. did not come out and UNEQUIVICALLY endorse Q. Peddie seems to be, or at least appears to be a wishy washy kind of guy, but supposedly is an LT guy, moved up substantially in the revamping, and now has a board vote.
What does all this mean? If they can Q, who makes the decision on who to bring in? Will it be Dryden, will it be Peddie, neither of these guys give me any confidence.
Does LT have anyone he can trust with this decision? It will have huge ramifications. Remember last time we were looking like we were becoming a contender and they brought back Punch, it took us 10 years to recover.

[CL]

While I do not remember which papers had a Watters quote regarding his apparent job search, I do remember reading a couple of sources that featured a typically politically correct Watters response to that very question. From this I would ascertain that there might be an element of truth in the matter. As to the Gainey "sightings", I find it interesting that they have appeared on a regular basis and yet there has been absolutely no response of any kind from the other sides of this issue.

Now, we will see a lot of manouvering in the coming days but until such time as the Board of Directors announces it's intentions, the matter is open to speculation. The board will be meeting some time this month and hopefully, that will mark the end of all the suspence. Another take on some of what Peddie had to say could be that Quinn was basically given a warning and that the Board expects both he and Dryden to act responsibly here and do the right thing. Exactly what is the "right thing"? It is ludricrous to think that Pat Quinn could be able to survive completely intact after such a season. The question then becomes one of whether or not Quinn is capable of reinventing himself into a less prominent and controlling creature. The answer to that question will determine the outcome of this little power struggle.

[freshwind]

I am fed up.
I have sent the following email to the Leafs, do you think I'll get a response?

Good day,
I have been an avid fan for 40 years but have to tell you that I am very discouraged right now. I have supported this management team pretty much its entire tenure here.
This playoffs has shown me exactly where we are. If not for Eddie's Vezina type season we would have possibly missed the playoffs. We have some horses here, and a nucleus that has underachieved greatly this season. The poor start, the mediocre ending hurt this team going into the playoffs greatly. I would consider this a potential blip if there was anything occurring in Leafland that could give a slight bit of optimism. Reading that Jyrke Lumme's contract will be honoured and that there has not been a decision on Jonus Hoglund yet makes me wonder if we are ateam about to self destruct when you add in the Corson debacle in the playoffs.
It certainly appears to most fans I speak to that the concensus is that either Pat has lost this team, or he hasn't got the ability to bring us to that next step.
Our powerplay has not been a threat consistently during Pat's tenure, yet we don't shake it up very often. Having Mats in front of the net and Roberts handling the puck kind of makes me wonder what they do at practice.
Our defence seems to be running around a great deal of the time, and burned out of position. It is daunting to pay the prices required to attend a game, only to watch Lumme go on safari.
Now, many times we have heard the defensive shortcomings blamed on the forwards, and the lack of cohesiveness between the two groups.
Is this not what Quinn and Ley are paid for? To coach.
The coaching technique used by Ken Hitchco*k in the series glaringly left our inadequacies out there for everyone to see.
Mr Dryden's 5 year plan appears to be over, we have one crack with this lineup before Mr. Bettman and Mr. Goodenow remake this game in the image of Mario and Wayne's pocketbook. Quinn's loyalty to mediocrity cannot be allowed to ruin this chance.
How many players, given today's salaries have to publicly leave hints they don't want to play for this team before someone realizes it's time for a change?
I have supported this team through game attendance, jersey purchases etc through the years, but I can assure you of one thing, and I hope you let the new Board know this. I WILL NOT SPEND ONE CENT on this team if it stays status quo. If Lumme is not bought out and sent packing this franchise is on a slippery slope.
We endured the circus of the Ballard years, even the Imlach purging of a good up and coming team, but you know what, we are not a group of deep pocketed knit wits.
This group (management) has made great strides in bringing pride and hope back to this franchise, but you now have to take that next step. The core is not getting any younger, and the time is now.
I talk to many, many Leaf fans, and I can assure you, the talk shows on the radio do not tell you any where the level of distrust that is growing among the fans.
Who is in charge? Who speaks for this team?
Mr Peddie, Mr Dryden or Mr Quinn, cause they're not all saying the same thing. I have taken the Leaf flag off of my van, and it doesn't go back on until this team gives us, the fans some answers!
The playoffs were, and should be considered an absolute failure and yet no one in this organization seems to think so.
The fans certainly do, and we want answers, not we'll re evaluate at some point in the future.
I realize that emails like this are never seen by anyone in authority but you may want to pass it on the marketing people, because I don't believe my sentiments are the minority.

I don't know if they care or not, but if enough people make them nervous over the revenues, then maybe they will listen?
Who knows, I certainly don't.

[Rusty]

Good e-mail FW, but as you stated "I realize that emails like this are never seen by anyone in authority" much like when I was a kid when my parents had "company" over us kids were sheepherded into the basement or the backyard, e-mails like this are treated the same way.

The only way the bigheads are going to listen is if we as the Leaf nation stand up as one, I know it sounds corny, but that is the only way they are going to sit up and take notice. I don't mean we have anti-Quinn rally's like they did for the Iraqi skirmish, I mean if we actually do what you just done, if we were to mobilize the entire Leaf legions of fans and have a mass e-mail campaign of some sort.

I cannot express how disappointed I am with the board and the old world mentatlity of it's members. Smileys just cannot display how pissed I am at the recent rumblings coming out of the ACC and off of the message boards. Why these guys continue to blindly navigate in the manner that they do is short of astonishing, it pains me to see that they hang onto Quinn who has shown how blantantly prehistoric of a game plan he has, wait a minute I don't think he has a game plan.

It is time that we as Leaf fans stood up and sent the bigheads a clear cut message that we are tired of this unending soap opera, we have some of us lived through those years that are commonly refered to as "The Ballard Years" and we deserve a much better fate and reward then to be subjected to another Punch type era.

Rusty

[TOMGUNNER]

Hum Rusty, I think I read this B-4 ;D ;D ;D