Next Leafs Coach..
Posted 11:12 AM ET | Comments 10
As the Toronto Maple Leafs are about to make franchise history by failing to make the playoffs for a third straight year, it's made me ponder something. Why is Paul Maurice getting such an easy ride from the fans and media. Yes there have been a few posts and blogs that stated he wasn't doing the best job but let's take a deeper look at things.
The best way I can do this is by comparing him to the man that coached the Leafs before him. A coach's job is to take the ingredients he is given and somehow be successful. Pat Quinn, who was driven out of Toronto as some kind of villain or the guy who ruined the Leafs, was hired before the 98-99 season. The Leafs record for the 97-98 season was a miserable 30-43-9 for 69 points, and they failed to make the playoffs. After Quinn was hired the Leafs went 45-30-7 for 97 points. You don't have to be a genius to see thats a 28 point improvement. Many people have credited the acquisition of Curtis Joseph as the reason the Leafs turned it around so dramatically. As I researched the numbers I found out that the Leafs in 97-98 with Potvin in net gave up 237 goals. In 98-99 with Joseph in net they gave up 231, so that's pretty well even. What shocked me was the goals for: 97-98 they scored 194 and in 98-99 the scored 268, for a difference of 74 goals. As Leafs coach Quinn's record was 300W-196L-52T-26OT, that's an outstanding .591 record for best all-time as far as Leafs coaches go.
Let's take a look at Paul Maurice, so far his record is 61W-65L-20OTL that .486. Quinn has won 7 playoff round and taken us to the semi finals twice. Paul Maurice has yet to make the playoffs. I can go on for quite a while spouting fact and stats like Toronto PP and PK under Maurice (ouch) not to mention that since he's been here all the Leafs do is choke up third period leads, but that's not what I'm trying to accomplish with this.
With all the talk about what player Fletcher is going to deal and who's going to be the next GM/President, I would like to discuss who will be the coach, which is arguably more vital to the development and success of the future Leafs teams. Now I'm not saying to get Quinn back by any means but I am asking the fans out there what type of person they want to see lead the Leafs in probably the most important couple of years for this franchise in a while.
"They" say that a team takes on the characteristics of the man behind the bench. Under Burns the Leafs were a scrappy team that never gave up. Under Quinn they were also fighters that you couldn't count out until the final buzzer. Under Maurice, well not good, they have lost 17 games this year that they had the lead in. I ask you. What does that say about the coach.
So tell me who's the man to lead this storied franchise to the promise land, personally I like the job Greg Gilbert has done with the Marlies. First of all he's tough as nails. He's won 3 cups (2 with the Islander and 1 with the Rangers) so he's a winner and he's a local boy, being from the Toronto area. You also can't argue the job he has done for the Marlies this season with a weak roster and great work ethic the Marlies are in first place with a 31-10-1 record.
So Leaf fans who is it going to be?
The best way I can do this is by comparing him to the man that coached the Leafs before him. A coach's job is to take the ingredients he is given and somehow be successful. Pat Quinn, who was driven out of Toronto as some kind of villain or the guy who ruined the Leafs, was hired before the 98-99 season. The Leafs record for the 97-98 season was a miserable 30-43-9 for 69 points, and they failed to make the playoffs. After Quinn was hired the Leafs went 45-30-7 for 97 points. You don't have to be a genius to see thats a 28 point improvement. Many people have credited the acquisition of Curtis Joseph as the reason the Leafs turned it around so dramatically. As I researched the numbers I found out that the Leafs in 97-98 with Potvin in net gave up 237 goals. In 98-99 with Joseph in net they gave up 231, so that's pretty well even. What shocked me was the goals for: 97-98 they scored 194 and in 98-99 the scored 268, for a difference of 74 goals. As Leafs coach Quinn's record was 300W-196L-52T-26OT, that's an outstanding .591 record for best all-time as far as Leafs coaches go.
Let's take a look at Paul Maurice, so far his record is 61W-65L-20OTL that .486. Quinn has won 7 playoff round and taken us to the semi finals twice. Paul Maurice has yet to make the playoffs. I can go on for quite a while spouting fact and stats like Toronto PP and PK under Maurice (ouch) not to mention that since he's been here all the Leafs do is choke up third period leads, but that's not what I'm trying to accomplish with this.
With all the talk about what player Fletcher is going to deal and who's going to be the next GM/President, I would like to discuss who will be the coach, which is arguably more vital to the development and success of the future Leafs teams. Now I'm not saying to get Quinn back by any means but I am asking the fans out there what type of person they want to see lead the Leafs in probably the most important couple of years for this franchise in a while.
"They" say that a team takes on the characteristics of the man behind the bench. Under Burns the Leafs were a scrappy team that never gave up. Under Quinn they were also fighters that you couldn't count out until the final buzzer. Under Maurice, well not good, they have lost 17 games this year that they had the lead in. I ask you. What does that say about the coach.
So tell me who's the man to lead this storied franchise to the promise land, personally I like the job Greg Gilbert has done with the Marlies. First of all he's tough as nails. He's won 3 cups (2 with the Islander and 1 with the Rangers) so he's a winner and he's a local boy, being from the Toronto area. You also can't argue the job he has done for the Marlies this season with a weak roster and great work ethic the Marlies are in first place with a 31-10-1 record.
So Leaf fans who is it going to be?
Nice blog and dont disagree with your comments. maurice has not used his assets properly. He inherited one of the best PP's in the game and with the same assets, their PP is amongst the worst in the league now. He also has shown little intuition with penalty shots. Missed the boat completely - didnt practice them and until recently, always used the wrong players for the shootout. I will comment on Quinn though - he was driven out as a villian because of the moves he made as a GM, not as a coach. The main reason Quinn turned that team around is because they were really really young and the added year of NHL experience really helped those kids play - but, no doubt - Quinn is an excellent coach and that certainly helped. Unfortunately, Quinn the GM then traded away all of those kids he inherited and replaced them with aging, expensive veterans. By the time he left, the Leafs were the oldest team in hockey, had very few prospects and were very ill equipped for the salary cap era. End of the day though, I agree with pretty much everything you have posted. Maurice is not the right guy. Really like listening to him speak, I think he understands the game really well - but, his coaching decisions and maybe his coaching style, really leave alot to be desired
I agree with you Quinn the GM, thats why I only commented on his tenure as coach.
If the Leafs do go young, why not try a Doug Gilmour and Wendal Clark coaching combo....
They might, but I guess it matters who the GM is and what type of player personel moves they make. I would prefer somebody in the mold of Ted Nolan or Greg Gilbert because they play an in your face hard forchecking style.
Never watched Ted Nolan or Greg Gilbert play, but I sure can tell you Gilmour and Clark played an in your face brand of hockey!
Its the way there teams play, but like I said a team takes on the coaches personality so Dougy or Wendel's team would probably hit hard
How about Craig Hartsburg or Patrick Roy (Habs fans would love that). I hate to say this, but if you want hard hitting, look to Bob Hartley (BLAH!). I'm sure Burns or Robinson would be willing to leave NJ for a shot at coaching Toronto too.
I think it all depends on what direction the Leafs take. If they decide and can make the trades that would be needed for youth movement then they need someone who is just as much of a teacher as a coach. If they decide to try and make things work as is then someone who has been to the dance would be better. I personally like Maurice I think he has been given a crappy hand to play with and if they can find someone above him that can put the right pieces in place I would like to see him get another chance.
with JFJ there I always wondered if it was him or Maurice behind some of the bone headed moves that where made on the ice. Now that JFj is gone I can see that both of them where a problem. I would like to see a more emotional coach. The team needs some fire. I hate it when I see a player bullied and no one standing up for him. Case in point was the sucker punch to Blake. No one stood up for him. Currently I see the Leafs as a bunch of players and some of them have haev lots of talent. but we need someone to forge them into a team
the Marlies don't have a weak roster. JFJ signed several pros to play in the AHL, Simon Gamache, Scott Clemmensen, Derrick Walser, Bryan Muir and David Ling to name a few. Couple that with the growth of players like Alex Foster, Robbie Earl, Jeremy Williams and Justin Pogge and you start to have a serious AHL contender. Were the big club not decimated by injury and poor play, the Marlies roster would look even better with young guns Tlusty, Stralman and Boyce playing.