Toronto Maple Leafs’ interim GM Cliff Fletcher chose to handle the Mats Sundin issue passively.
The JFJ era came to an end on January 22 and since then Cliff Fletcher has been responsible for getting this team back on track, in other words, getting something in return for Toronto’s biggest asset, Mats Sundin. Interview after interview the GM held firm in waiting for Mats to waive his no-trade clause, and interview after interview the captain illustrated his intent on remaining a Leaf.
As a GM with an obvious agenda leaving a critical decision such as a trade (even a rental) lacks logic. Sundin’s stance has remained consistent for a number of years. Thus, waiting until two days before the trade deadline; asking Mats (along with the 4 other Leaf players with no-trade clauses) to waive them; and expecting their positions to change was foolish.
It was essentially Fletcher’s job to persuade Mats and company to waive their no-trade clauses, he in turn left it up to his players.
This method is just so opposite of how organizations in all sports operate. At a very young age star athletes are recruited by schools - the decision is the athlete’s, but it’s really up to the school to make their decision easy. They get drafted - a decision made by the organization and not the athlete.
My point is Cliff Fletcher failed to persuade Mats Sundin to allow a trade, and therefore let Mats do what his heart wanted, not what was best for the organization.
And leaving it until the last minute?
What happens if on the Sunday before the trade deadline Mats says ok?
Fletcher, leaving the ball in Mats’ court, hasn’t bothered with scouting to a high degree because he‘s being waiting for a yes from Mats. What if Vancouver offered something like Ryan Kessler, Cory Schneider, and Luc Bourdon on deadline day… has scouting been done on Schneider, or Bourdon?
Cliff Fletcher did not bring a team of scouts with him, and if he’s busy scouting his own team, it’s probable he’s neglecting to scout out of the conference.
I’ve stated before adamantly that the Leafs lack team chemistry, and scouting has a huge part in that.
If teams like Montreal, Boston, and Minnesota can manage to have respectable records why can’t Toronto?
The answer is derived when you look at the countless terrible decisions: trading draft picks and prospects for Wendel Clark, Owen Nolan, Andrew Raycroft, Yanic Perreault… the list goes on. The result is a ‘fix the leak approach’. In the offseason the Leafs bid on free agents which leads to over-paying, and a line-up which lacks chemistry. Take the Jason Blake signing for example, or Mark Bell, or Pavel Kubina… this list, you guessed it, also goes on.
Antropov, Bell, Blake, Kubina, Ponikarovsky, Stajan, Steen, Tucker, and Wellwood are all underperforming because of who they play with - and oh, none would classify as a legitimate top 6 winger to play with Sundin.
If you want something done, you have to be prepared, and as we all learn at a young age, you often have to go and get it yourself. The Cliff Fletcher experiment has been a failure so far. Let’s hope he picks a replacement who has better foresight.
Thanks for reading. TL.
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7 months ago
I can agree that Cliff Fletcher may have been passive, but from what's been said about the situation it doesn't seem like he could have done much else anyways.
He respected the decision Mats had to make and didn't want to put unnecessary pressure on him.
I think that by letting the cookie crumble he avoided an uncomfortable, and potentially negative situation between Mats, the organization, and the media.
7 months ago
Mats deserved to be treated with honnor, and respect. And he still does. Cliff Fletcher should have been more proactive in his approach to trade not just Mats, but the other players with no-trade clauses.
If he had politely presented Mats with a few options, made them seem like a really great opportunity to win, let him know that he will be resigned in the summer by the Leafs for the same amount of money (possible incentives) etc... Mats could have left knowing he'd have his spot saved.
It still might not have worked, BUT the onus was on Cliff Fletcher to make sure he exausted all of the options. He did the opposite.
Thanks for your comment Jackson.
7 months ago
Mats' decision also made it hard for the other players to waive their no-trade clauses. How would a player look if the captain goes down with the ship meanwhile he's got a life-jacket on and an oar in hand?
7 months ago
Well then it's an age thing. Cliff is already at an age I cannot count to, and listening to him talk reminds me of a Great Grandpa on my mother's side. The look in his eyes when he speaks is like he suprising himself he isn't drooling, or falling asleep.
I like the guy, and compared to others his hockey mind is far superior working at 50%. But I think Leaf fans who are upset with this outcome are the ones who were naive - afterall Sundin has always wanted to stay a Leaf.
7 months ago
Hmmm, I'm sorry. Are you saying that, at some point in the last, oh, ten years, the future has looked bright for the Maple Leafs? :)
I belong to the eternal pessimest/cynic camp of Leafs fans (though I haven't purchased a membership in Tank Nation). You make very valid points.
I do, however, think Fletcher did what he could with the little wiggle room he had. It is JFJ's fault for handing out all the no-trade clauses in the first place. And he was just cleaning up the mess he inherited from previous bungling, that was a result of earlier bungling....
Fletcher gave up little to gain better picks in the draft this year to start the rebuild, but also leaving the team intact to succeed or fail as they wish. He's also leaving the main moves to be done by his successor. I think it's rather smart overall.
7 months ago
No I am saying the future looks dark now. I am also saying that I had hoped Cliff Fletcher could have done a little more by this time. In all of his interviews he said that there wasn't a reason to investigate possible trades because Mats hadn't given him a reason to.
I believe that he should have been proactive and brought Mats the offers so Mats at least knew what he was turning down.
Mats turned down the idea of a trade, but not a specific trade, and not a concrete notion that by staying he was in fact preventing the orgaization from benefiting.
Cliff Fletcher did not make enough effort to change his mind.
Thanks Abby.
*And for a member of a pessimest/cynic group should you not be complaining about Cliff Fletcher? It seems more like you are defending the organization...
7 months ago
Ha! Nope, I defend the organization in no way, shape, or form. I don't like Fletcher, and I don't like having him back. However, I think he did what he could. Not that he could have done better. I would like nothing better than to see MLSE gone for good. If the organization wants to rebuild, they need to start with new owners and entirely new management. Until then, the minor goings on involving mediocre players and watered down draft picks are moot.
I do agree that he didn't make much of an effort with Sundin. But I also think it would have been a waste of time, since I'm of the opinion Sundin wasn't moving, no matter what specific or vague options were provided.
It does look dark, but I'm of the opinion that it isn't any darker now then it was at the beginning of the season. I'm satisfied with waiting until the off-season to start with the big build. And, being the pessimistic type, I'm not holding my breath that anything earth shattering will happen.
I will continue to sport my blue maple leaf tattoo with pride, though.
7 months ago
I get it - "he did all he could, but didn't put in much of an effort" - I get it. But it's impossible to say what could happened because no one will ever know.
I think Cliff Fletcher had two choices, and he knowingly chose to handle the situation like an old person: which includes a prompt nap 2 a day.
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