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Lou Lamoriello named Leaf GM

I just think Lou is not a pussy that's willing to take a backseat, like Nonis. The dude has a very very big ego. There is no doubt that he's in charge. Now if he's willing to listen to and respect his staff, that's another story. I think that's a possibility, or like you said, he wouldn't have taken the job and the Leafs wouldn't have hired him. So I'm not overly concerned or anything. I just think it's a step back.
 
Preston_Mizzi said:
I just think Lou is not a pussy that's willing to take a backseat, like Nonis. The dude has a very very big ego. There is no doubt that he's in charge. Now if he's willing to listen to and respect his staff, that's another story. I think that's a possibility, or like you said, he wouldn't have taken the job and the Leafs wouldn't have hired him. So I'm not overly concerned or anything. I just think it's a step back.
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This is more or less completely contrary to what Shanahan has said. This is actually somewhat contrary to what Lou himself has said. Shanahan has been very clear about the fact that he's still in charge and that Lou bought into his plan, not that Shanny was handing the reigns over the Lou for him to put his stamp on the philosophy of the organization. They were actually pretty quick to point out that Lou is more of a progressive thinker than people were giving him credit for and that he knew how to do things more than one way (his?).

This is the same type of talk that occurred after Babcock signed on (clearly Babcock signing was a sign that they were accelerating the rebuild and abandoning the Shanaplan!!), and that turned out to be bullshit as well.
 
MindzEye said:
This is more or less completely contrary to what Shanahan has said. This is actually somewhat contrary to what Lou himself has said. Shanahan has been very clear about the fact that he's still in charge and that Lou bought into his plan, not that Shanny was handing the reigns over the Lou for him to put his stamp on the philosophy of the organization. They were actually pretty quick to point out that Lou is more of a progressive thinker than people were giving him credit for and that he knew how to do things more than one way (his?).

This is the same type of talk that occurred after Babcock signed on (clearly Babcock signing was a sign that they were accelerating the rebuild and abandoning the Shanaplan!!), and that turned out to be bullshit as well.
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Well I don't expect them to say that this changes their plans. And no, I don't think it does. And I don't expect them to say that Lou is old school and not a progressive thinker. His recent GMing certainly doesn't support that opinion. Lou will have different opinions than some of the other staff, he is stubborn and will stick to his guns. That is his personality, it's in his DNA. Ultimately it's Shanahan's decision but I don't want any altering voices in that war room to be honest. That's how much faith I have in Dubas and Hunter. Again, I don't see this as doom and gloom like some of you are saying.. I just see it as a minor setback. We got rid of a lot of dead-weight old school type of people and brought one back in to a position that happens to be the second most powerful in the organization.
 
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Man. Jonas Siegel really, really doesn't like the Lamoriello hiring.

The gist of his latest article is that he thinks this is a redux of Peddie bringing back Cliff Fletcher for a second go-round as GM:

link

Richard Peddie, then the president and CEO of Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment, was describing Cliff Fletcher, the organization’s pick for interim general manager in the winter of 2008, replacing the embattled John Ferguson Jr.

Fletcher, then 72, said he’d be the “custodian of the keys,” someone to steer the franchise while a search committee sought a long-term replacement. The position of general manager, he said, was for “younger people.”

Fletcher was thought to be a suitable fit for the interim based on a track record that included a Stanley Cup with the Calgary Flames and rebuilding of the Leafs franchise in the early ’90s. His more recent failures in Phoenix were seemingly ignored.

Over the course of just 10 months Fletcher proceeded to push the Leafs in a backward direction. Notable amongst the damage was an exorbitant contract to relative unknown Jeff Finger, a lopsided trade of a yet-to-bloom Alex Steen and a pricey deal to move up two slots for the right to select Luke Schenn in the 2008 draft.

Late last week the Leafs hired another 72-year-old to assume the general manager’s role, only this time in a full-time capacity. Lou Lamoriello was given full autonomy and a three-year contract to leave New Jersey after nearly three decades.

Like Fletcher then, it seems the Leafs hired Lamoriello based on the bigger picture of a Hall of Fame career and the experience he could offer to an inexperienced front office. All that ignores a spotty recent track record, one that illustrates Lamoriello’s struggles to adapt in the salary-cap era.
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LeafGm said:
Man. Jonas Siegel really, really doesn't like the Lamoriello hiring.

The gist of his latest article is that he thinks this is a redux of Peddie bringing back Cliff Fletcher for a second go-round as GM:

link
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[video=youtube;gZEdDMQZaCU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZEdDMQZaCU[/video]
 
Lou Lamoriello was given full autonomy
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Anything can be made to look like a smart argument if you're willing to lie through your teeth.

Not a single public statement made by anyone involved in this even suggests that Lou has full autonomy.
 
I had kinda forgotten that the Devils just made the finals in 2012. I know some people have referred to that as a fluke but it's kinda funny/sad that the "shitty recent track record" everyone keeps talking about includes something most of us have never seen out team do.
 
Lou will have the last say, but he will have good input. A good rational for having a strong front office is to make sure that you don't have "yes" men surrounding the top people, and that these people can even change the higher-ups mind and make them see things differently.
 
If Lou was such a monster to work with, who didn't consider the opinions of others, why is it that pretty much all of his old employees rave about him.
 
Aberdeen said:
If Lou was such a monster to work with, who didn't consider the opinions of others, why is it that pretty much all of his old employees rave about him.
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NHL is a small society. You rarely hear people shaming or exposing former employers as they want to remain employed themselves.
 
KingTucker said:
NHL is a small society. You rarely hear people shaming or exposing former employers as they want to remain employed themselves.
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Ya but when your doing it for a long as he has, word gets out regardless. And it's not like people are just silent on the issue. The actively endorse him.
 
I see Jonas Nerdgel's point when he compares him to Fletcher. I mean, they're both senile old clueless men. He may be wrong that he has all the power though. I hope so at least.
 
David Conte is one of the biggest name scouts out there and built that reputation completely while working for Lou. This idea that he is a power hungry dictator is a complete fabrication. One of the most important aspects to being a great general manager is surrounding yourself with good people, and relying on them. And Lou is one of the greatest.
 
hockeylover said:
I had kinda forgotten that the Devils just made the finals in 2012. I know some people have referred to that as a fluke but it's kinda funny/sad that the "shitty recent track record" everyone keeps talking about includes something most of us have never seen out team do.
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Not only that but they had 6 99+ point seasons. They were a contender for more of the post lockout era than they weren't. In fact from 2004-05 till their cup run they were 4th in the NHL in points. They've been bad for 3 years. After a 23 year run where they missed the playoffs 3 times.
 
people are really complaining about adding Lou? really?

He's a piece of the puzzle. He is here to take the brunt end for the next couple of years as the team shits the bed. Once the team becomes relevant and Lou retires Dubas will likely take over and look like a genius. Lou will likely move into a "Senior Advisor to the GM" role and look like the architect of the hopefully successful Leafs at that point.

We now have the media by the nuts with Babcock and Lou. Shanahan has been no push over his entire tenure here. This will allow the players to focus on hockey and not the side shit the media narrates.
 
I don't get the fletcher comparisons. Cliff fletcher hadn't been a gym for a decade and was 20 years removed from his last cup appearance when the leafs brought him back. Lou'snever not been a go and got a team to the finals just 3 years ago. New jerseys problem the past few years has been drafting but with hunter and du as here that shouldn't be an issue here.

Also they obviously got the ok for this from Babcock. I flew was difficult to work with the coach with the eight year deal most certain,y owould have nixed the hire.
 
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