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Another Holland To Toronto Push
by Paul on 02/11/08 at 11:39 AM ET
Comments (11)
from Ken Campbell of the Hockey News,
You don’t think Sam Pollock or Frank Selke or Jack Adams would have won Cups if they had changed teams? Does that mean Lou Lamoriello or Holland would suddenly lose their ability to build a winner if they changed organizations?
Of course it doesn’t, which is why if the Maple Leafs search committee doesn’t do everything it possibly can to get permission to speak with Ken Holland, then hire him if they do, then they are simply abdicating their responsibility and doing the organization a complete disservice.
That’s because Holland is the best GM in the NHL, period. That’s why the Detroit Red Wings have won three Stanley Cups and are a perennial contender regardless of the financial landscape of the league. There’s absolutely no reason to believe he wouldn’t bring those same attributes to Toronto if he were hired.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Ken+Holland,
Comments
I seem to recall that they asked permission earlier in the season and were denied such permission - although I might be mistaken.
The Leafs can have the right to TALK to Ken Holland for Mats Sundin.
Reminds me of Clint Dapper for a certain iconic baseball broadcaster. 
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 02/11/08 at 12:32 PM ET
Baroque—I believe you’re correct. But now they can have that right...for a price. It’s perfectly acceptable for the Wings (or any other team) to take a gamble on a player who is strongly anticipated to return to his current team. Would the Leafs like to take a gamble that Ken Holland is actually interested in running the circus in TO? If so, they can put their “money” (player) where their mouth is.
Modestly speaking, I think it’s a move even Brian Burke would be proud of.
Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 02/11/08 at 12:50 PM ET
Campbell, yet again.
Unbelievable. Isn’t this like the SECOND time Campbell has written about this?
Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 02/11/08 at 12:51 PM ET
I would do it. Holland would go to Toronto, do the interview, be polite, and then throw Mats in the back of his Toyota and drive as fast as he could back down the 401 laughing demonically all the way.
Posted by Nathan on 02/11/08 at 01:07 PM ET
Most of the media especially around the Toronto area seem to know exactly what the Leaf organization should do with their players and who should be hired as GM.
If the media are that intelligent, why don’t they apply for the GM job? I’m sure it pays better than their current job.
This gets sickening.
Posted by Ted from Innisfil, Ontario on 02/11/08 at 01:34 PM ET
I would do it. Holland would go to Toronto, do the interview, be polite, and then throw Mats in the back of his Toyota and drive as fast as he could back down the 401 laughing demonically all the way.
Posted by Nathan on 02/11 at 01:07 PM
Bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha…
er, I mean my thoughts exactly.
Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 02/11/08 at 01:54 PM ET
Holland drives a Toyota? I didn’t know that.
Although he might need something bigger - Sundin is pretty tall, and wouldn’t like getting squashed in the back seat.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 02/11/08 at 02:33 PM ET
Holland drives a Toyota? I didn’t know that.
Although he might need something bigger - Sundin is pretty tall, and wouldn’t like getting squashed in the back seat.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 02/11 at 02:33 PM
Hey, he’s welcome to ride “shotgun”...as long as he agrees to a 2-year extension at $2 million/year first.
Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 02/11/08 at 02:55 PM ET
Hey, Detroit has had players defect from the Soviet union - why not a defection from Canada? It would certainly be a first.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 02/11/08 at 03:48 PM ET
but would Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch really stand in Holland’s way if Holland had the chance to run one of the most storied franchises in NHL history
....yeah Holland would jump at that after being stuck with the Historyless (is that a word?) 90’s expansion team in Detroit. If only we had some hockey greats wandering the corridors from time to time and had more than our 3 cups from ‘97 to today. Maybe then we’d be a “storied franchise” and Holland wouldn’t be so tempted to rush to an Original 6 like Toronto! <sarcasm off>
Posted by Dahrken from Grand Rapids, MI on 02/12/08 at 09:15 AM ET
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Unfortunately, I don’t thave time to read the whole article right now, so sorry if this is covered, but here’s my “modest proposal:”
The Leafs can have the right to TALK to Ken Holland for Mats Sundin. Straight up. No other players. No picks. Sundin for the right to ask Holland if he’s interested. Any takers?
Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 02/11/08 at 12:01 PM ET