The Maple Laughs!

IT WAS THE WORST KEPT SECRET IN SPORTS…
NOW IT’S OFFICIAL…
THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS HAVE FIRED GENERAL MANAGER JOHN FERGUSON JR…
THE JOB NOW BELONGS TO CLIFF FLETCHER…BUT NOT FOR LONG…
FLETCHER HAS THE LABLE OF INTERIM IN FRONT OF HIS TITLE…AND THE DEAL IS ONLY FOR 19 MONTHS…
THE LENGTH OF FLETCHER’S CONTRACT GIVES US A CLUE INTO THE TIMETABLE THE LEAFS HAVE IN FINDING A PERMANENT REPLACEMENT…
THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF MAPLE LEAF SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT RICHARD PEDDIE UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING THE RIGHT MAN FOR THE JOB…
THE LEAFS ARE AN EMBARSSMENT TO THEMSELVES AND THE CITY…
YES THEY STILL MAKE A LOT OF MONEY…
BUT DO NOT KID YOURSELF…THE RESPONSIBLITY OF THIS FRANCHISE FALLS DIRECTLY ON THE SHOULDERS OF PEDDIE…
IT HELPS TO EXPLAIN THE QUALIFICATIONS PEDDIE LAID OUT AT TODAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE…
“A LONG TERM BUILDER”…SHORT TERM FIXER”…AND…ESTABLISHED TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESS ON THE ICE”…
TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH IT MEANS…
THE LEAFS ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY WHO HAS WON A STANLEY CUP…
SO IT REALLY GETS DOWN TO TWO CHOICES…
SCOTTY BOWMAN IN DETROIT AND BRIAN BURKE IN ANAHEIM…
LAST SUMMER THE LEAFS TALKED TO BOWMAN ABOUT THE JOB…BUT BOWMAN DEMANDED FULL CONTROL OF THE TEAM…THAT WAS A DEAL BREAKER…
IT’S DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT’S STILL A PROBLEM…
THE QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT BOWMAN IS STILL INTERESTED…
AND THEN THERE’S BURKE…
HE STILL HAS ANOTHER YEAR LEFT ON HIS CONTRACT…BUT EVEN IF THE DUCKS REFUSE TO LET BURKE OUT OF IT…
THANKS TO LENGTH OF FLETCHER’S DEAL…IT WOULD ONLY DELAY THE INEVITABLE…
IN THE MEANTIME…THE LEAFS NUMBER PRIORITY IS TO MOVE MATS SUNDIN BEFORE THE TRADING DEADLINE…
THANKS TO A “NO TRADE CLAUSE” THAT’S NOT GOING TO BE EASY…
BUT AS OF TODAY…THAT’S NO LONGER JOHN FERGUSON’S PROBLEM…