Whitey Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 I would put Peddie in the same sinking boat that JFJ is on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badams Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 I would put Peddie in the same sinking boat that JFJ is on.I'm not too sure of that. Peddie is doing what the ownership wants most... making money"A graduate in business from the University of Windsor, Peddie spent 19 years in the packaged goods industry managing products like Pillsbury's Green Giant line and Hostess Potato Chips. He became chief of newly organized Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment in 1998 and oversaw the development of a $200 million arena (not a cent of that from taxpayers) that opened a year later. Peddie sold the naming rights to the nation's biggest airline--it's the Air Canada Centre--and fitted it with the kind of amenities that have since become commonplace in big-time sports, from a restaurant with a view of the ice to an on-site microbrewery. The Maple Leafs sell out every home game, and with the basketball team playing out of the same arena, Peddie easily keeps the place in business 300 days a year by adding concerts and other events.He has also deftly managed the team's television rights, exploiting the fact that the Leafs are the NHL's most valuable media property. The league shares some, but not all, broadcast revenue, and the Leafs, in order to help maximize the overall pot, give up 30 of their 82 regular season games to the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., which pulls in as many as 1.4 million hockey fans. Peddie makes the most of the games he can sell regionally--money he doesn't have to divvy up. The regional business is a little tricky. Because Canadian regulators wouldn't let him start an analog station, Peddie launched a regional digital television broadcaster, Leafs TV, in 2001. Though the channel is still a moneyloser, airing 20 games, it serves a valuable function, sparking demand from rival broadcasters to carry the games on terms very favorable to the Leafs. Rogers Sportsnet, for example, recently agreed to a rich deal, reportedly worth $115 million over eight years, for regional rights of up to 22 games a year. As part of the deal Peddie persuaded Rogers Sportsnet's parent, cable company Rogers Communications, to move Leafs TV into a basic digital tier from its premium slot, more than doubling the number of households it reaches to 850,000." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubberdinghy Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 TORONTO -- Richard Peddie now admits he may have goofed in hiring John Ferguson four years ago.In retrospect, putting a first-time NHL GM into the hockey-crazed fishbowl of Toronto, where every minor move is dissected on a daily basis, probably was not fair, the president of Maple Leafs Sports &Entertainment Ltd., said yesterday."To be honest, it was a mistake on my part for not fully understanding at the time what the job of being (the Leafs GM) in this market fully entailed," Peddie said."Let's face it. It probably was the wrong place for a rookie general manager to start. I mean, all GMs make mistakes, but they are not under the constant microscope and scrutiny that you have in Toronto, which is, in our opinion, the top hockey market there is."That is all hindsight now. John has had time to learn a lot since then."Keep in mind that Peddie's stance had nothing to do with Ferguson's hockey background and knowledge. The son of late Canadiens tough guy and former NHL GM John Ferguson Sr., comes from strong bloodlines and was well respected throughout the NHL for his previous roles as both the assistant GM and director of hockey operations with the Blues.There's the rub.Operating in a smaller, non-traditional hockey market like St. Louis is an entirely different animal than working in Toronto, where fans lose sleep if they don't agree with that night's line combinations.As a result, nothing in St. Louis could have prepared Ferguson for the pressure cooker that goes with running the Maple Leafs.Ferguson got his baptism by fire on his first day on the job when he told reporters at his introductory news conference that healing forward Doug Gilmour likely was not in the Leafs' future plans.RIPPED BY REPORTERSHaving shredded his knee against Calgary earlier that year, Gilmour's aspiration of reviving his career was a long shot, at best.That didn't stop those supporters in Toronto who regularly drink the blue-and-white Kool-Aid from immediately ripping the new GM for bashing their beloved "Dougie," who to this day remains one of the marquee sporting figures in this city.It was the first of many valuable lessons learned by Ferguson about hockey life in Toronto, where he is now being crucified by fans and media alike.Labelling the Leafs' underachieving performance this season as "unacceptable," Peddie denied reports that the Leafs actively have been kicking tires for candidates to replace Ferguson and/or coach Paul Maurice."We have not had talks along those lines with anyone since the summer," Peddie said, referring to the off-season hunt for a senior adviser for Ferguson, a process that included interviews with John Muckler and Scotty Bowman.With suggestions circulating around the city that Ferguson might not survive the week, Peddie said management will not make any knee-jerk moves, but, at the same time, is closely monitoring the team's woes."We're not reactionary in this tough time, but we feel (the fans' anger)," he said. "We read the papers. We listen to the talk shows. We know, believe me."John and Paul are still under contract. Their focus is on winning games. We have a clear understanding of what is expected of them. They know where they stand."The team stands 14th in the Eastern Conference at 8-11-5."We are disappointed in our start," Peddie said. "Expectations were higher out there this year, and were boosted when John and Paul stated in training camp that we would make the playoffs and compete for a Stanley Cup.UNTESTED AS GMS"I continuously review the situation. Losing six of seven is a concern, sure. But it's all a part of the methodical process we are taking."Interestingly, if Peddie does pull the plug, many of the names being bandied about as possible front office hires -- Glenn Healy, Mark Messier, Ron Francis, Joe Nieuwendyk and Steve Yzerman -- have never held the post of NHL GM before.According to Peddie's criteria, does that automatically take them out of the mix?Stay tuned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badams Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 It appears something is going to happen. Maybe they will get rid of Peddie, Tanenbaum, JFJ and Maurice. They could be replaced with Messier, Francis, Gilmour and Yzerman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booche Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 This just gets better and better and better and......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanada Kev Posted November 27, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 still waiting .... still waiting ....I want a couple of quick goals right from the start tonight. Get the crowd going COMPLETELY INSANE boo 'em outta the building.I'll be pleasantly distracted at Massey Hall where the talent SHOWS UP and gives you your MONEY'S WORTH!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave-O Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 HEALY! HEALY! HEALY! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hal Johnson Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 No,no,no,no. They should re-elect Furgeson for another four years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave-O Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 HAL! HAL! HAL!Seriously, it would the best if Pat Quinn was hired as President and Director of Hockey Operations. Haven’t they been paying his salary (to do nothing) for the past two years? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanada Kev Posted November 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2007 Hahaha ... very funny. You're telling me that the Leafs won tonight? And that Wozniewski got a goal? JFJ is a genius! I gotta get some sleep ... you're cracking me up ;P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanada Kev Posted November 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2007 go leafs go?!anyone want to plan a parade route? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Posted November 30, 2007 Report Share Posted November 30, 2007 Solid win last night. Also, the Belak fight was very entertaining. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanada Kev Posted November 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2007 Gotta check out the highlights. Some guys at work here said it really was a solid effort by the team and a lot of hustle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AD Posted December 1, 2007 Report Share Posted December 1, 2007 Fake 'Crosby' thrills at Penguins practiceSome 14,000 fans attending the Leafs-Penguins open practice this morning were so excited to see the number 87 on the ice at the Air Canada Centre, they didn't realize it was someone else in the famous Sidney Crosby jersey other than Crosby himself.The fans cheered wildly and hundreds of cameras flashed, but it was really Pittsburgh's playful centre Maxime Talbot doing a pretty good Crosby imitation."It was Fleury's idea," Talbot said, referring to goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. "He said, 'C'mon, it would be a great idea. Do it, do it'– so the pressure was on."Talbot and Fleury were among only four Penguins who skated during the team's session at the open practice. The club had played the night before at home, and after arriving in Toronto after 1 a.m. this morning, the team gave the players the practice off today.But Fleury and Talbot decided to have a little fun and lend some entertainment for the huge gathering of Leaf fans, most of them kids anxious for an up-close glimpse of their hockey heroes.Talbot did the impersonation to perfection. He donned Crosby's jersey, tossed on his helmet, and even took Crosby's stick out of the stick rack, before entering the ice surface at the Air Canada Centre.The second he touched the ice, a huge ovation rose from the fans, while hundreds of cellphone and digital cameras flashed."Fleury is the prankster, the jokester, but it was kinda fun ... after I took the jersey off, they (fans) were wondering, who is that guy," Talbot said smiling.It was hard, afterwards, to tell who got the bigger thrill, the fans, or Talbot."It felt awesome to be the best player in the world for two minutes," Talbot said.The rest of the Penguins bring in a two-game winning streak against the Leafs tonight. For the Leafs, the game marks a sound test for a troubled club that demonstrated better play of late by taking three of four possible points in its last two games."Nothing against Atlanta, but that was a game we should have won," winger Jason Blake said about the Leafs' 4-2 win Thursday, which broke a four-game losing streak."But Pittsburgh is completely different team. They play a wide-open style, and it's not a question of if they score, it's a question of how many. We have to be ready to play them, and we have to be smart ... we have to stay out of the penalty box and take the ice away from their top players."The Leafs got a scare during the practice this morning when Darcy Tucker caught a rut on the ice and flew feet first into the end boards. Tucker left the ice in pain, but coach Paul Maurice said the incident "didn't appear to be anything serious."As of now, we expect him to play tonight," Maurice said.Alex Ponikarovsky, who missed the past two games with an ankle injury, will also return to the lineup tonight.Maurice said he will not immediately restore Ponikarovsky to the top line with Mats Sundin and Nik Antropov. Mark Bell has performed well in on that line the past two games, and will definitely start the game alongside Sundin."At some point in the game, we might alternate between Bell and Pony (Ponikarovsky), but not at the beginning," Maurice said. "I like the way Mark Bell played on that line; he has good hands and I think he deserves to be there." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanada Kev Posted December 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2007 AFter getting beat tonight the way they did do you think they'll be trying that one again??? Nice work shutting down a hot Penguins team tonight. Still, they let their guard down late in the third, which doesn't help. I'll take a couple of wins in a row for a change Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djmelbatoast Posted December 2, 2007 Report Share Posted December 2, 2007 I personaly hate it when they string a couple of wins together. They still suck and will continue to suck for a long, long time. The only way for change to happen in this organization is for a prolonged streak of horrible play and ugly losses.GO LEAFS GO! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AD Posted December 2, 2007 Report Share Posted December 2, 2007 The only way for change to happen in this organization is for a prolonged streak of horrible play and ugly losses. well, the past 40 years haven't been all that pretty, from what i hear... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanada Kev Posted December 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 Right the fuck on! What a fun game to watch. The speed throughout the game was frantic. Belak scores for the first time in 143 games (and the year 2003) Toskala was kickass in net too. Damn shame that Kaberle had to score on him to ruin the shutout Three in a row now ... and they are wins! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanada Kev Posted December 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 Oh yea, I also LOVED the fact that the first two goals were scored right at the beginnings of periods so that the mucks in the platinum seats didn't get to see them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 Toskala looked great last night. Solid effort against a much improved Nashville team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave-O Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 BELAK! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanada Kev Posted December 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 pinch me ... 4 in a row??? wins??? Nik Nik Nik Nik Nik Nik Nik Nik I still want JFJ fired Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 4 in a row. There were some great goals in last night's game. Man, Antro is good at batting the puck out of the air, great job on the 3rd goal. Gotta beat the Bruins on Saturday night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaimoe Posted December 9, 2007 Report Share Posted December 9, 2007 Another reason why the Leafs will never win the Cup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubberdinghy Posted December 10, 2007 Report Share Posted December 10, 2007 Is that Sundin or MattyC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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