Nik the Trik said:
Significantly Insignificant said:
Nik the Trik said:
LuncheonMeat said:
Hunter and Dubas have done nothing at the NHL level, but at least they usher in a new perspective and effectively end the reign of the Old Boys' Club, whatever that's worth.
Yes. Brendan Shanahan's hiring of one of the Hunter brothers really is the long awaited victory for radical, unconnected hockey outsiders we've all been waiting for.
So I am confused, are you for or against Shanahan? Or is this just a case of you pointing out something that is inaccurate that a group of fans seems to be running with.
I'm not for or against Shanahan. Overall, I generally like what he's done. I think he's been very slow on the draw on a number of things but, and I acknowledge this a low bar, he certainly hasn't done anything that I can't see the wisdom in. I've advocated for a rebuild for years and I'm happy that he seems to be following that path.
But I do think that, as a fan group, Leafs fans can get awful caught up in sales jobs and slogans. When JFJ was brought in it was "Finally, someone who isn't a dinosaur" and with Burke it was "Finally, someone with a history of success". If they hire a tough coach it's "Finally, some accountability" and if they hire a player's coach next it'll be "Finally, someone who trusts the players" or something.
But ultimately all of that is nonsense. Teams can win with a non-traditional organizational chart and they can win with one guy running the show. They can win with someone who's been running teams for 30 years and someone in their first job. Player's coach, tough coach...whatever. Even if "Finally, no more Old Boys Network" were true, it doesn't mean anything. It's just the latest slogan the team is selling.
In my post I noted that:
1. Hunter and Dubas have done nothing at the NHL level
2. They've ushered in a new perspective
- they're taking an analytical approach to the game, and plan to build the team through a draft and develop philosophy, which is basically uncharted territory for this organization. Perhaps perspective was a bad choice of words?
3. They've effectively ended the reign of the Old Boys's Club.
- Burke's influence in the management structure of this team has effectively been wiped out. All of the guys who weren't on board with the use of analytics in evaluating players, whether scouts, AGMs, coaches, etc. have been removed from the team, and they're being replaced by people who are. That seems to be the direction the successful franchises in this league are moving, and I'm happy to see the Leafs moving that way.
And I qualified it all with 'whatever that's worth'.
For this I'm being pegged a Leafs fan getting caught up in sales jobs and slogans. A brain-washed lemming who can't seemingly think for himself. Being hopeful as a fan and objectively analyzing what the team is doing aren't mutually exclusive. And not everything has to be an argument for you to win.