[GLG]

Sportsnet dot ca

"There's a lot going on there right now," said an NHL insider to the Sun. "You have a general manager who thinks he's provided a coach with good players. You have a coach who the players clearly aren't working for. I could see one fired, the other fired, or both of them fired.

Howard Berger

Multiple sources have told The Fan-590 the past two days that Peddie is the only person standing in the way of a major overhaul with the Leafs -- one that would spell the end for Ferguson, his assistants, and head coach Paul Maurice. Peddie is reportedly doing his best to convince his fellow board members that riding out the latest storm on the ice will lead to better results.

TSN dot ca

Sun columnist Steve Simmons wrote that a source told him Ferguson tried to fire Maurice, but was "prevented" from doing so.

"There isn't a shred of truth to that assertion," Ferguson told TSN. "This is made up, its a complete fabrication."

Peddie on Sportsnet dot ca

"We're trying not to be reactionary in this tough time," Peddie said after the Leafs posted a pair of losses over the weekend.

"The fact is John is under contract and we want him and Paul focused on winning hockey games and turning around this situation," added Peddie.

That's not to say MLSE is happy with sitting 14th in the Eastern Conference at 8-11-5.

"We're clearly disappointed in our start to the season," said Peddie. "It's not what we had envisioned. But we're monitoring the situation."

The Star

But here's two intriguing scenarios, both of which include the necessary removal of Richard Peddie from the hockey operation in the same way he's no longer influential on the Raptors side of the business.
First, former Leaf goaltender Glenn Healy clearly has been someone Tanenbaum has expressed interest in. Healy, in turn, frequently mentions Mark Messier's name as the kind of executive he'd hire in a heartbeat.

It would lack NHL experience, but a Healy-Messier combo – Healy as president, Messier as GM, or the other way around – would pack a punch.
NHL vice-president and hanging judge Colin Campbell, meanwhile, was in the mix back in '03 when Ferguson was hired. Campbell has played and coached in the league, and the media scrutiny in Toronto would be child's play for him after he's been dumped on for every tough decision he's made in the past five years.

If Campbell were to come in as president and GM, a compelling scenario might see Detroit executive Steve Yzerman – never underplay those Peterborough connections – come in as assistant GM, then take over as GM in two or three years.

Either combination – Healy-Messier or Campbell-Yzerman – would completely alter the public perception of the Leaf operation.

I like Healy, but not enough to want him to replace Ferguson or Maurice. There's no upgrade in replacing one inexperienced guy with another.

I'd love to have Yzerman around, except as coach, but don't see Campbell or Messier being all too helpful.

Rumours of Bowman coming here are the subject of hockey wet dreams in Leafland, but it's not happening. Bowman is staying in Detroit.



But one thing is clear: The Raptors completely turned around when Peddie was pulled out of that area of MLSEL.

Now it's time to remove Peddie from the hockey side.

After that, let the dominoes fall as they may, IMO.