I kind of sad to see Pat Quinn
let go as head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. I think back to where the team was before he took over and the playoff runs they had under his leadership. But he did not take the team past the Conference Final and they took a step backwards this year.
The funny thing is that the main problem with Pat Quinn was that as GM he put the Leafs into the position where they could not recover. Too many bad draft picks, too many trades of youth for veterans and too much loyalty to players who do not belong in the NHL.
In his press conference John Ferguson all but confirm that Toronto Marlies coach Paul Maurice is the heir apparent. The seems to be due to his ability to develop younger talent - sounds good to me. Now I am no expert on the Carolina Hurricanes, but didn't they make the Stanley Cup Finals on the strength of their trap? Can Maurice coach in a style that is being promoted in the new NHL? Is he truly the best alternative? I guess we will have to wait and see.
Comments (3)
Does this mean that TO is no longer the Center of the Universe? On the wet coast we get to golf all year long not just when the Canuckl-heads miss the playoffs. Good luck next year and GO FLAMES GO
Posted by Wet Coast Teddi | April 20, 2006 8:19 PM
Posted on April 20, 2006 20:19
That’s a misconception. Sure, there were a couple of bad trades (Nolan for boyes, McCauley and 1st round for example), but he developed a strong drafting system which we’re just now starting to see. Here’s some of the guys who were drafted on his watch:
Carlo Colliacovo, Matt Stajan, Kyle Wellwood, Jeremy Williams, Jay Harrison, Brad Boyes (Now BOS), Tellqvist, Justin Pogge, Brendan Bell, Maxim Kondratjiev (now NYR), Ian White, Jaarko Immonen (now NYR), Staffan Kronvall, and Alex Steen.
Now, pretty much all of those guys are in the NHl right now. He drafted REALLY well. The 2000 draft year was one of the best in Francise history for the leafs. They’ve also been highly successful with later round picks (White [5th], Pogge [3rd], Bell [3rd], Williams [7th], Harrison [4th], Kronvall [9th]).
Quinn inherited a weak system and he beefed it up with strong scouting, and then proceeded to draft quite well.
The leafs have a strong young system, what Quinn has failed on was keeping youngsters stuck in the AHL rather than promoting them above Veterans.
Posted by Paul Morrison | April 21, 2006 1:26 PM
Posted on April 21, 2006 13:26
I would think that given today’s style of hockey that the trap wouldnt be part of Maurice’s coaching.Like you I am not sure that he is the best that will be available
Posted by DanToom | April 21, 2006 1:30 PM
Posted on April 21, 2006 13:30