Toronto Maple Leafs Need to Cut From the Top

The frustration from Leafs Nation has grown to an all-time high after the team's dreadful western conference road trip in which they went 0-3-0 with 13 goals against and another blown third period lead.

The team's lackluster play as of late has prompted management to begin looking for an intern at the GM position to relieve John Ferguson. This idea, however, will only be a bandaid for a bullet wound as no other GM available will be able to properly settle in and fix up this organization.

In order for big changes to occur around the team, cuts need to be made right from the top of management. Richard Peddie, president of the team, should be the first to go. Peddie's involvement in hockey operations has turned what was a promising franchise into the laughing stock that it is today. How might you ask?

Peddie's lack of hockey sense is what has caused the Leafs to tumble in the National Hockey League rankings. 

The downfall of the Leafs began with the demotion of Pat Quinn from the GM position prior to the 2003/04 season. This was the opportunity that the organization had to bring in an individual who had a true sense of winning. Pat Quinn had this individual lined up; Steve Tambellini. He was, however, overridden by Peddie and instead John Ferguson Jr. was brought in as general manager. John Ferguson had no experience with the GM role; which was something Peddie and the board preferred. This essentially meant that the board was looking for an individual who can be a puppet as opposed to an individual committed to winning.

After missing the playoffs for the first time under Pat Quinn’s period as head coach, John Ferguson and the board decided to relieve Pat Quinn of his duties and bring in Paul Maurice; the head coach of the Toronto Marlies. The coaching change had little effect on the team as they finished in the exact same position in the standings the next season. For two straight seasons the team sat in limbo, not entering the Stanley Cup playoffs and not obtaining a respectable top 5 draft pick. Currently, the Leafs sit 28^th out of 30 teams in the NHL, in line to get a top 5 pick in the draft and potentially be a contender to land coveted youngster Steve Stamkos.

Due to the Leaf’s horrid season thus far, rumblings of possible GM and coaching changes have once again surfaced with names such as Cliff Fletcher and Pat Burns being thrown around as possible candidates for replacements. A simple GM or coaching change will book this team another five years of mediocrity; meaning no deep playoff run and no top 5 draft pick. It is time to remove Peddie from all hockey operations and bring in a true hockey mind to run the team; similar to what the Raptors did when they brought in Bryan Colangelo. Once the new president is set in place, let him choose the GM and the head coach as an individual with a hockey mind should be the one making this decision.

So who is worthy of becoming president of the Toronto Maple Leafs? Names such as  Scotty Bowman and Colin Campbell have been mentioned on numerous occasions throughout various news stories in the Toronto area.  Both individuals maintain great hockey senses and both know what it takes to win in the National Hockey League. It has become clear, however, that Bowman has no interest in leaving the Red Wings organization; but a simple offering of the position can never hurt considering Bowman’s track record.

In order for real changes to be made; Peddie will have to be replaced as a simple coaching change or GM change will not be the answer for an organization that has not won the Stanley Cup for 40 years.