if leafs can't sign a legit top GM (ie Poile) I would not be surprised if they went completely out of the box and get a GM in place like Theo Epstein or Billy Beane.
- MaximusAurelius

or Mark Hunter

And Fabien Brunnstrom

just messing with you...no risk, sure why not. but chances of him working out are slim. no risk though again, so sure
- clark_griswold

Let's not forget next year's Russian dynamo, Nikita Soshnikov!

And our new college savior, Casey Bailey!

Ummmm, I would accept that if the contract was more in line with other coach’s salary around the league. Is he endorsing the big pay cheques or is he endorsing the team?

If you don't come out ahead in any competition against Buffalo then you've hit rock bottom.
- bloatedmosquito

I for one am very upset that you are not happy with his salary. I'm going to try to see what I can do about it right away!

Did you see the American Sniper movie ?
- bixll

I saw it recently and was unimpressed. You?

I can't be the only one who thinks hiring a coach before hiring his boss is weird and probably means the man who gets the job won't be a top dog in the buisness?

No?

I mean if things start going badly, Babcock isn't getting canned, Shanahan will turn around and fire the GM/sacrificial lamb.
- Scabeh

I don't think there is a single potential GM out there that wouldn't have tried to hire Babcock. If this was Guy Boucher, then I'd see your point but this is Mike Babcock.

I know, but why does this site use teh square brackets in the first place? Why not just go all HTML?

Seems like an added layer of complexity.
- Feeling Glucky?

Asking the wrong dude. You should ask Ek.

He's got nothing on Simo Häyhä.
- JohnFergusonJr

Well if he has hockey playing descendents then I think we should sign them too.

Let's not forget next year's Russian dynamo, Nikita Soshnikov!

And our new college savior, Casey Bailey!
- TheThrill

jonas gustavsson
christian hanson
matt gilroy

and on and on and on

jonas gustavsson
christian hanson
matt gilroy

and on and on and on
- clark_griswold

Tyler Bozak!

I don't think there is a single potential GM out there that wouldn't have tried to hire Babcock. If this was Guy Boucher, then I'd see your point but this is Mike Babcock.
- JohnFergusonJr

Sure, you dont want to miss out on the guy you think is the best out there.

But it's a very, very unusual situation where the coach will probably have more autority/influence on the organization than his boss....

i never said it's a sure formula, but rushing IS a sure failure. i also don't want to tank on purpose. it's going to happen naturally. we have stunk when we tried to win; now we are fine with losing - how do you think it's going to go?

if turning around a franchise was that easy, no GM would ever be fired
- clark_griswold

They have to tank at least a couple of times. The odds of getting the best players always favors the teams that tank. It just has to happen. Will it actually happen under Babcock? I doubt it. If they keep the core players or even if they don't, he still coaches his way out of that wet paper bag every time.

Burning desire to win.

jonas gustavsson
christian hanson
matt gilroy

and on and on and on
- clark_griswold

Eventually, one of these days, we may hit on a MSL, Giordano, Johnson, etc

They have to tank at least a couple of times. The odds of getting the best players always favors the teams that tank. It just has to happen. Will it actually happen under Babcock? I doubt it. If they keep the core players or even if they don't, he still coaches his way out of that wet paper bag every time.

Burning desire to win.
- JohnFergusonJr

Intentionally losing is (frank)ing stupid. Let's not start this bullpoop again

Edit: Tank 1 just happened. Next year will be bad too. There's your "couple of times"

Sure, you dont want to miss out on the guy you think is the best out there.

But it's a very, very unusual situation where the coach will probably have more autority/influence on the organization than his boss....
- Scabeh

He won't have more authority than the GM and any GM with half a brain would consult Babcock anyway, regardless of order of hiring.

That's the day I look for a new job. I hear Buffalo has an opening at head coach...
- 1979AD

Are you going to agree to take the head coaching job in Buffalo, and then turn around and sign somewhere else?

Because I'd love to see that Buffalo reporter crap his pants again.

Intentionally losing is (frank)ing stupid. Let's not start this bullpoop again
- TheThrill

Beats the hell out of unintentionally losing for five decades.

Tyler Bozak!
- TheThrill

bozak is actually a great player for nothing. say what you want, if a college player was to turn into a bozak, that's a huge home run.

Well if he has hockey playing descendents then I think we should sign them too.
- 1979AD

Too late, that guy already retired. He was an odd sniper though, instead of shooting Ducks, he became one.

There's a place outside of ATL called "Growlers" that has a 12 foot blackboard wall where they chalk in names descriptions and prices for the local crafts they have that week. You can request unlimited samples of anything before you buy it, which consists of getting a growler filled from a tap. It's (frank)ing awesome.
- 1979AD

Before you went into this place, did you see a bright white light and have a feeling of peacefulness?

I like Belgian beer

I haven't met too many beers I didn't like. Some 17% Czech stuff that tasted like molasses and horse piss was one of them.
- Aetherial

So you know what horse piss tastes like.

Beats the hell out of unintentionally losing for five decades.
- JohnFergusonJr

I'll take option C

Get good management and coaching in place. (DONE)

Draft and develop your players, and build a winning culture in the "prawcess" (few years away)

Awwww man, you mean I'm going to have to do more road trips to Buffalo with the homies instead of seeing games with the stuffy corporate crowd at the ACC?
- 1979AD

It is heartbreaking, I know.

He won't have more authority than the GM and any GM with half a brain would consult Babcock anyway, regardless of order of hiring.
- JohnFergusonJr

I just can't see a GM who would have the sufficent autority to fire Babcock while I could clearly see Babcock getting his GM fired if their relationship isn't what was expected/wanted.

Unless that GM ends up being Shanaham himself.

I just can't see a GM who would have the sufficent autority to fire Babcock while I could clearly see Babcock getting his GM fired if their relationship isn't what was expected/wanted.

Unless that GM ends up being Shanaham himself.
- Scabeh

Or Hunter.

I can't be the only one who thinks hiring a coach before hiring his boss is weird and probably means the man who gets the job won't be a top dog in the buisness?

No?

I mean if things start going badly, Babcock isn't getting canned, Shanahan will turn around and fire the GM/sacrificial lamb.
- Scabeh

that's a GM job in name only. Brendan Shanahan is the GM in Toronto. he hasn't even tried to pretend he's not. whoever they bring in will have no authority over the coach or the assistant GMs. that's not a GM.