The shoe finally drops

Prelude - The media have been waiting for this event for sometime now. The question was beyond, if, but rather when. Yesterday it happened. In hockey land, this IS the conversation everyone will be talking about today.

Sport - Hockey

Event - Toronto Maples Leafs fired their General Manager, John Ferguson Jr yesterday.

Issue
Coaches are usually the first to be blamed if a team isn't doing well. But if a team doesn't perform over a long period, then all eyes look to the General Manager.

In Toronto, all eyes have been on their General Manager John Ferguson Jr for some time now. The vision he brought to the team (young team) never happened and the product on the ice looks like there is no where to go but down. There needs to be a new plan now.

Point to say - "Did you hear that the Leafs fired their GM?"

Follow up point - "Will they trade Sundin?"

Get out of the conversation - "Think the Oscars will be cancelled?"

Backgrounder
General Managers in hockey is the job that looks after who will play on the team. Meaning they are the ones who make the trades, sign the players, and have the major say on who gets drafted. Based on who they put on the team, they control the kind of team that it will be. Therefore when the team's part don't produce, it is usually seen as their fault.

Mats Sundin is the best player on the Leafs. He's 36 and still has a few years yet at being a top producer in the league. So, the question now is, does Mats play out his career in Toronto or do they trade him for a high draft pick. This idea would be to try and land a high draft pick that might be used to get a player that might help them in the future. The key word being 'might'.

Draft picks don't really show up on an NHL team for at least 4 to 5 years after being drafted. So, for the Leafs, there are no quick fixes.

Links
Will they trade Sundin? Read more about this here.
Story about the event.
What did Ferguson do (or not do) to get fired? Find out here.