What if Muckler says No?

The Leafs are looking for a senior hockey executive to mentor JFJ. It seems after four years of being the GM of a storied franchise in one of hockey's biggest markets, poor JFJ is apparently "still learning" and in need of some senior counsel.

What did the best and brightest have to say so far?

Scotty Bowman - Nope.

Bobby Clarke - Uh uh.

Brian Burke - Forget it.

David Poile - "no thanks"

How many other senior hockey guys have heard from Mr. Peddie and the gang and turned this "opportunity" down?

More importantly - what if Muckler says no?

Think about the roster of hockey talent that will have declined to have anything to do with this allegedly storied franchise.

If Muckler says no, does MLSE figures out that adding another layer to the hockey department isn't the best way forward?

If Muckler says no, does it sink in that publicly emasculating your GM might not be the best way to attract top talent?

If Muckler says no, what does this mean for the divided board and the short-term prospects for JFJ?

And ultimately, if Muckler says no, what does that say for Peddie's ability to leverage and sell the one thing that is most central to the MLSE brand - the Toronto Maple Leafs - to actual hockey men?

I don't know about the rest of Leafs Nation, but here's to hoping Muckler says no.

Mucking Things Up

Apparently Muckler is coming to town for a job interview with Richard Peddie. (What, Thomas Chandler Haliburton isn't available? How about Red Berenson, Jack Butterfield or Milt Schmidt?)

It's like Monty Burns interviewing Grandpa Simpson to be a senior consultant with the Springfield Isotopes (Go 'Topes!).

I guess it's too much to hope that Muckler is in town because he wants to get into the condo business...

Still, it will be entertaining when Peddie asks Muckler about his first job in the NHL (which I believe was with the Detroit Cougars back in 1927). Muckler can talk about how he showed up for work wearing an onion on his belt, which was the style at the time.

Mucks can also provide first-hand insight on how rule changes have affected the game: moving to a round puck, permitting the forward pass and the introduction of the controversial "rover" position.

How much would you pay for a transcript of their interview? Seriously.

Given his great track record in HR (hiring both Babcock and Ferguson) and my unrequited love of the Leafs, it's difficult to articulate how I feel about Peddie leading this process.

But, when I take a step back, I can only think of how great it's going to be when Peddie announces his next big hire - the guy that will help guide my beloved blue and white for the next two years - is none other than the actor that played "Albert" in that infamous Canadian Tire Commercial 20 some odd years ago.

I can hear the chants now...

MLSE has signed Toskala to a new, two year, $8M contract good for an annual cap hit of $4M. (As per a previous entry, "extension" is really the wrong word for the media to be using here as Toskala's current contract will expire in July 2008. At that point a brand new contract, with a brand new cap hit, will kick in. For the current season, Toskala's cap hit remains $1.3M and then jumps to $4M for the 2008-09 season.)

MLSE was in a bit of a bind on this one - if they don't negotiate a new deal, Toskala becomes a UFA at the end of this season and could theoretically hit the open market. Having a player walk after 50+ games isn't a great return on three draft picks...

That said, maybe those big hockey brains down in the executive suites at the ACC could learn something from previous experience (Maybe? Just once? Please?).

Last year after dealing for Raycroft, the MLSE brass signed him to an extension before he played a single game for the blue and white.

That worked out craptacularly well for my beloved Leafs.

So well, in fact, that the club decided to deal away more of the future for another starting goalie.

And about 365 days after signing an untested Raycroft, the same big brains have decided to offer Toskala a two-year deal for $8M - all before Toskala stops a single puck for the big club.

What's the rush? Why not see how the new boy does and negotiate a deal as the season progresses...$4M is quite the payday for a guy who's barely played 100 games.

+++++++

Add my voice to the chorus on the Blake deal - like the rate but not the term. I'm guessing JFJ won't be around when Blake turns 38 and has to be bought out.

The new Plan^TM down at the ACC is clearly all about the short-term.