Trust me, I'm not Crazy!

The Caption Under this photo should read "I'm Coo Coo for Cocoa Puffs" Or, "He's Hibbity with the Flip Flop" Yes, Leaf Fans, This Derranged looking Geriatric is the Interim GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Who'd have thunk that 4.5 years of me complaining about JFJ would yield this. Dr. Demento is the GM for the remainder of the season. I suspect that upon season completion, the Leafs will sign Scotty Bowman as their Director of Hockey operations with a Colangelo-esque deal, while maintaining Fletch as a consultant for an additional year or so.

Hopefully, Fletch here produces some action instead of sitting on his hands and watching the trade deadline pass us by as his predecessor did. Don't get me wrong. JFJ tried to wheel some deals but instead he landed Yawning Yannick Perrault, The Fruitless Ronny Francis and the Lowly Brian Leetch at the trade deadlines at the cost of draft picks. Each of his acquisitions did nothing to add to the current talent pool. Fletcher is known for his high risk trades and big player moves. I'd like Fletch to work some magic and trade Blake & Raycroft for a gallon of Thoroughbred stud juice. Even that might be a long shot. In all honesty, Fletcher is here to try and trade out some role players, veterans and some of their 3rd line players for useable draft picks or up and comers. Aside from that, he's just going to tread water. I can only assume that the Leafs will have a new GM in place well before the draft to ensure that the team pick based on direction and need.

If I were Cliff Fletcher, I'd pull the tank Job a-la Senators/Capitals/Penguins & try and secure myself a 25% chance in the Stamkos lottery. Look where the Sens are. They tanked for 6 straight years (Ultimately leading to a lottery draft system), and now they have 6 Top 5 drafts on their roster, and are competing for 2nd place overall. The Penguins have two of the bet players in the league, and the Caps are putting together a pretty impressive offense around Ovechkin.

On that Note, Enjoy this and many more blog entries.

Feel free to add your own captions to Fletcher's deranged googlie eyes photo.

John Ferguson Jr. Must be released for the Leafs to have a chance at success.

I seriously doubt that MLSE brass would actually read my blog, but in the rare hope that they do, please take my advice, and fire JFJ. Before you go ahead and dismiss my request, please read on and you’ll soon discover that although the current GM has made some wise decisions, they are far overshadowed by his gaffs and misses. Nevertheless, I do believe that maybe one day, JFJ will be a great GM, the Leafs fan base cannot sit idly by and support a developing GM.

It has been close to four years since JFJ was hired as GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs on Aug 29, 2003. During that 4 years, the Leafs have fallen from a playoff favourite to a post-season phantom. JFJ’s tenure and timing could not have been set-up any better. With the aid of a lockout, JFJ had the opportunity to mould the roster into anything he wanted. The Lock-out afforded him the time to wait out any heavy contracts signed by the previous GM as well as pick from a two year pool of unrestricted free agents. His actions and decisions did little to improve the organization. A list of noteworthy signings and gaffs would include the overpayment and signing of Pavel Kubina, Bryan McCabe, Jason Allison, Jeff O’Neil and Aki Berg. Although I do believe that both McCabe and Kubina are assets to the team, the price paid and sacrifice of money in a salary capped league restricts the potential signing of other players. Signing Tough guy Tie Domi to a 2.5 Million contract was quite the head scratcher. With the likes of Ben Ondrus and Wade Belak to take the reins as the team’s heavy fists, what would be the use in re-signing Tie Domi, only to have him retire the following year?

One of the most frustrating inactions of JFJ is his inability to make a marquee decision or trade. Two trade deadlines have come and gone during his tenure and he has failed to make a significant move at either season-changing point. His ability to straddle the fence and not make a season altering decision is only overshadowed by his signing of former Toronto Maple Leafs (al la Luke Richardson, Drake Berehowsky, Travis Green, Yannic Perrault). Two straight trade deadlines and twice, JFJ was faced with the decision to improve the team and make a legitimate run at the playoffs, or to give up on the season and deal out the that summer’s free agents for draft picks or future talent. The repercussions of throwing in a season at the February trade-deadline would normally be a possible dip in ticket sales or season ticket holders however, the ACC is sold out every game, and season tickets will still sell no matter how poorly the team does, as proven by the Harold Ballard years.

MLSE, please take my advice, pick up a “Byan Colangelo” for the Toronto Maple leafs. As you did with the Raptors, drop the Rookie GM, and pick someone with experience who can turn the team around.

Please! Bring us a team that will not only beat the Senators in the Playoffs, but also in the Regular Season.

Until then.... Go Sens Go??