Paul Maurice was the coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs for a few years. He was fired the other day by interim GM Cliff Fletcher. However, he went out the same way he came in: with class.
Maurice answered questions at a press conference yesterday after the media was informed of the decision to terminate Maurice's contract with one year remaining.
“I can’t say I was surprised, disappointed clearly,” Maurice said. “You want to be part of that change and I think that’s the allure of the Toronto Maple Leafs. When it happens, and it’s going to happen, this is going to be an exceptional place.”
Maurice was not the only person in the coaching staff to be let go, however. Goaltending coach Steve McKichan and assistant coach Randy Ladouceur were let go. Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Personnel Mike Penny has moved to a scouting job with the team.
“I have one regret. That was John [Ferguson],” Maurice said. “I look at that as under my watch and it was under my control of the players that led to that firing. I watched in complete admiration of how he handled himself in a very, very difficult situation."
“There is some very good leadership in that locker room, some really good pieces," Maurice said of the Leafs. "I know that operation is painted with a negative when coaches get fired, GMs get fired, players get moved, but there are some good people in that room and some good solid leadership."
Maurice concluded the press conference by saying that he will not rule out any coaching job, whether AHL or NHL. Now that's commitment and passion for the game.
The future for the coaching position of the Toronto Maple Leafs organization is uncertain. There is one rumor that Dave Nonis, who was fired from the Vancouver Canucks' GM position a few weeks ago, will be asked to replace either Cliff Fletcher as the GM or Paul Maurice as the coach. However, that is the only rumor, and no one is sure whether it has truth to it, or if it is only a rumor.
Either way, though, we know that Maurice is going to head out with a bang.
"My teams never quit," he finished with.
Neither does Paul Maurice.
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