Brendan Shanahan to be named president of Maple Leafs

[Highlander]

They can send Gleason along with Pylon P whenever they move him

 

[Champ Kind]

They can send Gleason along with Pylon P whenever they move him

That alliteration just didn't work for me. 

 

[Highlander]

When I have my sunglasses on I am a dead ringer for Bernie (not Bernier) and after several Bacardi's have that glassy dead stare that the real dead Bernie does so well. Alliteration approved. Lets move Jacky Gleason as well. To the moon or beyond.

 

[freer]

They can send Gleason along with Pylon P whenever they move him

Who do you honestly is coming to help this team out? Whether you like Dion or not, he would be a top four d man on any team in the league. I am not happy with his 7 mil a year contract either, but who do you replace him with?

 

[Leaflifer]

They can send Gleason along with Pylon P whenever they move him

Who do you honestly is coming to help this team out? Whether you like Dion or not, he would be a top four d man on any team in the league. I am not happy with his 7 mil a year contract either, but who do you replace him with?

I don't think the question is (in Shanonis' mind) is if he's a good defenceman or not, I would guess the question is if he is the right guy to lead the team, and help remove the complacency.

My fingers are crossed that at the very least they will address that issue one way or another.

 

[Bullfrog]

I don't think the question is (in Shanonis' mind)

Won't lie, took me a few seconds to figure out who you were talking about.  8)

 

[Redleaf]

James Mirtle ‏@mirtle
Brendan Shanahan basically declared the Leafs defensive system known as The Swarm dead. Lot of interesting comments today.

Kevin McGran ‏@kevin_mcgran  35m
Maple Leafs: Dion Phaneuf will remain captain, says Brendan Shanahan

Dave 'Status Quo' Nonis has taught Brendan 'Status Quo' Shanahan very, very well.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

How is changing their entire defensive system the status quo?

 

[TML fan]

Well, I'll believe it when I see it, but that comment gives me a little bit of hope...

 

[Redleaf]

http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=719348

 

[Redleaf]

How is changing their entire defensive system the status quo?

First of all, I have to agree with TML fan...I'll believe that when I see it too.

Secondly,
How is keeping the same coach and same captain not, when all MLSE has preached about in recent months is culture change?

 

[Strangelove]

So Shanahan is going to tell the Coach what system to play now?  What a farce. In the face of a dearth of leadership down the stretch (two seasons in a row), we get the privilege of watching Randy and Dion lead the way again. Meantime, there's talk of trading the Leafs' best defenceman--Gardiner--away.

Of course, it remains to be seen what'll happen, but the Leafs' management and direction seem so far out of whack it's almost unbelievable.

 

[Tigger]

It's doubtful that Shanahan made mention of the defensive system changes without Carlyle's knowledge/input/decision.

The talk about Gardiner being traded has always been mostly uninformed ballyhoo.

The management of the Leafs under Shanahan can't credibly be determined as 'out of whack' for a good time yet, it's only been a month.

 

[Highlander]

Today I met with an old family friend's son and I did not know he used to manage the Staples Centre in LA and knows Lieweke very well. He said although L is a very good negotiator of Soccer players (Beckham, Dafoe, Bradley, etc.) he is actually more of a hockey fanatic. He said a few years back that LA would win the cup, he was wrong they managed it the next year.
Believe it or not we do have the right management in place. It will get better and I think in very short order.

 

[Zee]

It's doubtful that Shanahan made mention of the defensive system changes without Carlyle's knowledge/input/decision.

The talk about Gardiner being traded has always been mostly uninformed ballyhoo.

The management of the Leafs under Shanahan can't credibly be determined as 'out of whack' for a good time yet, it's only been a month.

With regards to Shanahan and the defensive system, I would assume that part of his interview with Carlyle and Nonis was talking about the defensive system (or lack of one), had Carlyle not been on board with making changes to how they play, he would have been fired as well.

 

[Redleaf]

It's doubtful that Shanahan made mention of the defensive system changes without Carlyle's knowledge/input/decision.

The talk about Gardiner being traded has always been mostly uninformed ballyhoo.

The management of the Leafs under Shanahan can't credibly be determined as 'out of whack' for a good time yet, it's only been a month.

With regards to Shanahan and the defensive system, I would assume that part of his interview with Carlyle and Nonis was talking about the defensive system (or lack of one), had Carlyle not been on board with making changes to how they play, he would have been fired as well.

So, let me get this straight.

Shanahan has agreed with every decision Nonis has ever made, and continues to support his every move.

To keep his job, Carlyle has decided to be a little more flexible next year.

Oh, and Phaneuf promises not to touch the radio in the dressing room for the whole season. Not once.

Wow.... the culture change is really starting to take shape.....

 

[Bullfrog]

Wow.... the culture change is really starting to take shape.....

It's only the middle of May.

 

[Zee]

It's doubtful that Shanahan made mention of the defensive system changes without Carlyle's knowledge/input/decision.

The talk about Gardiner being traded has always been mostly uninformed ballyhoo.

The management of the Leafs under Shanahan can't credibly be determined as 'out of whack' for a good time yet, it's only been a month.

With regards to Shanahan and the defensive system, I would assume that part of his interview with Carlyle and Nonis was talking about the defensive system (or lack of one), had Carlyle not been on board with making changes to how they play, he would have been fired as well.

So, let me get this straight.

Shanahan has agreed with every decision Nonis has ever made, and continues to support his every move.

To keep his job, Carlyle has decided to be a little more flexible next year.

Oh, and Phaneuf promises not to touch the radio in the dressing room for the whole season. Not once.

Wow.... the culture change is really starting to take shape.....

It's at least a new approach for the Leafs.  Ever since I can remember the formula has been:

1. Fire everyone and bring in new guys
2. New guys make changes
3. Fail again
4. Repeat step 1

At least Shanahan is saying he's talked about the issues with the team, made the guys realize what went wrong, and now they're going with a new approach.  If Carlyle realizes his coaching style wasn't working and he actually changes, then maybe it's a positive.

Also, Shanahan's talk about being more mobile on defense gives me some hope that guys like Gardiner and Rielly will be major pieces going forward for the Leafs.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

If you haven't read it, here's Mirtle's piece from Shanahan's media availability yesterday: Shanahan doesn?t intend to tear Leafs down and rebuild

Some of the points I found most interesting:

More than anything, Shanahan said, he was trying to do too much.

A long-time former player and Hall of Famer ? Shanahan was also a captain briefly for the Hartford Whalers midway through his career ? added that he believes he can come in next season and support Phaneuf and help him shoulder that particular load.

Step 1 on that front will be offering some advice on how to handle the leadership role.

Secondarily, he can acquire him some reinforcements ? particularly on the blueline, which Shanahan specifically picked out as an area where the Leafs need to get more mobile.

?No not at all,? Shanahan said when asked about contemplating a change with the Leafs captaincy. ?As a matter of fact, I hope to help Dion be a better captain. He?s got a lot of want and desire.

?[He?s] somebody that I can meet with, consult with, give some of my experience to. I would like to enhance his leadership qualities. And also surround him with more leaders.

?I think it?s an impossible task in any market, especially in Toronto, to put all that responsibility on any one guy.?

...

Shanahan explained that the decision to turf the assistants but not Carlyle was born out of lengthy conversations with both general manager Dave Nonis and the Leafs players, some of whom expressed to him frustration with the system the team was playing ? especially in its own zone.

...

?I agree with many of the fans that? to be outshot that often, there?s something wrong,? Shanahan said of the Leafs terrible defensive track record, which saw them concede a league high 36 shots per game. ?There are some things about the system that were identified where the message wasn?t getting through. That to me will be an important adjustment that needs to be made.

?I think that Randy is a talented coach and I think he ? like a lot of our players ? has to look in the mirror and figure out how they can all come back and be better. I think that?s part of any winning organization. That has to happen from everyone.?

...

Shanahan said, for one, that he expects the organization to find a way to incorporate analytics into what it does, noting that he had already spoken with several other management types around the league about how they use data to make decisions.

That article is good because if you go to page 2 and beyond you can get the full transcript of the conversation, and I found Shanahan's direct quote about the Leafs' defensive play very interesting:

?Yeah. The players supported the coaching staff. I think a lot of them felt confused and not confident with the ? there?s a defensive style they played I guess last year called The Swarm that has been successful with certain other teams and wasn?t successful here. That?s something that the players felt ? I think with five games to go [the coaches] tried to switch to more traditional defensive zone coverage, but it was probably a little bit too late by then.

Worth a read.

 

[Redleaf]

Wow.... the culture change is really starting to take shape.....

It's only the middle of May.

Can't wait to see the sweeping changes between now and next October. 

All kidding aside, I know it's really early to start passing judgement, but I think a lot of people are put out as to what little has transpired so far in the 'changing of culture' movement.