Leafs, Bowman continue to talk

[MacK_Attack 108]

Bowman, Leafs tango drags on

By: STEVE SIMMONS

The slow dance between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Scotty Bowman never seems to end.

Although the music has once again stopped playing.

Bowman recently had meetings with both Leafs CEO Richard Peddie and board chairman Larry Tanenbaum while he continues to maintain a public stance that he has no interest in leaving his consultants role with the Detroit Red Wings.

The role the Leafs talked to Bowman about of late was not that of advisor to general manager John Ferguson but to be the senior hockey voice in the organization.

If anything has been proven accurate in this continuing two-step with the legendary Bowman -- other than the Leafs inability to get a deal done -- it's that almost nothing Bowman has said for attribution can be believed.

The Leafs first went hard after Bowman in June, which he denied, but that fell apart because Tanenbaum and Peddie had alternate views of what his power base would be.

But the board pressed for the continuation of negotiations, and separate meetings in the final days of August, early days of September, ended up going nowhere.

For now, all is status quo with the Maple Leafs. For now.

http://www.torontosun.com/Sports/Columnist...481428-sun.html

[Cicada 4]

i didn't buy it the 1st two times...

and i still don't

[Barrie 900]

i didn't buy it the 1st two times...

and i still don't

Same here...

[vangvace 12]

Next offseason perhaps... because I doubt Toronto will meet his demands before then

[SweWings 45]

Meh. If Bowman gets more or less full control then perhaps maybe. But otherwise why should he bother? If he gets a role similar to what he has with the Wings then why would he leave. He knows everyone here, they listen to him and respect his opinion.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Meh. If Bowman gets more or less full control then perhaps maybe. But otherwise why should he bother? If he gets a role similar to what he has with the Wings then why would he leave. He knows everyone here, they listen to him and respect his opinion.

While I agree with the bolded statement, its not like he wouldn't be given mad respect from the Leafs organization. The guy's resume alone demands it.

[toby91_ca 620]

Here is what I don't understand:

It is very obvious that talks have been occuring with Bowman and the Leafs, which means Bowman must have some interest in some role. If that is the case, it is simply a matter of the Leafs not giving Bowman the control he wants.

Why wouldn't they give him the control? I guess I do understand......that is simply the way the organization is run and that is the problem. They will continue to print money, but that will likely not result in success on the ice.

[Hank 0]

i didn't buy it the 1st two times...

and i still don't

Me neither. No way the Leafs organization actually makes an intelligent move.

[Guest REDWINGS4LYFE]

just leafs nation spewing out garbage

[Guest Yzer19]

Here is what I don't understand:

It is very obvious that talks have been occuring with Bowman and the Leafs, which means Bowman must have some interest in some role. If that is the case, it is simply a matter of the Leafs not giving Bowman the control he wants.

Why wouldn't they give him the control? I guess I do understand......that is simply the way the organization is run and that is the problem. They will continue to print money, but that will likely not result in success on the ice.

From what I understand, Scotty wants to do a complete overhaul of both the management team and the coaches. The Leafs don't want to do that at this point. They want to bring in Scotty as an advisor and keep everything else in tact at least for now.

[Guest Yzer19]

Here's more on Scotty Bowman:

Scotty Bowman

He says he'd take a big role with another team, not a consulting role. I thought Bowman had a contract with the Wings, but I guess not. Does anybody else from the Wings management team not have a contract with the Wings?

[MacK_Attack 108]

Here's more on Scotty Bowman:

Scotty Bowman

He says he'd take a big role with another team, not a consulting role. I thought Bowman had a contract with the Wings, but I guess not. Does anybody else from the Wings management team not have a contract with the Wings?

I think that might be a disguised ultimatum to the Leafs for them to give him the power or shove it, basically.

[theman19 47]

I think that might be a disguised ultimatum to the Leafs for them to give him the power or shove it, basically.

So MacK, i've been in a diaolgue with several other leafs fans who seem to think Bowman isn't good enough to help there team,..as a wings fan i find that ridiculous, your thoughts?

[MacK_Attack 108]

So MacK, i've been in a diaolgue with several other leafs fans who seem to think Bowman isn't good enough to help there team,..as a wings fan i find that ridiculous, your thoughts?

If he had ultimate control of the team in every hockey aspect, it would be the best thing that has happened to the team since Conn Smythe ran it.

That's my feeling.

[wingslogo19 281]

If he had ultimate control of the team in every hockey aspect, it would be the best thing that has happened to the team since Conn Smythe ran it.

That's my feeling.

[HenryMalredo 2]

If he had ultimate control of the team in every hockey aspect, it would be the best thing that has happened to the team since Conn Smythe ran it.

That's my feeling.

Bowman wouldn definatly improve the Leafs, but I'm not sure If I would go that far. As shown by his time in Buffalo, Bowman seems to have done better when he can concentrate on coaching instead of managing a team.

Edited September 11, 2007 by HenryMalredo

[SweWings 45]

While I agree with the bolded statement, its not like he wouldn't be given mad respect from the Leafs organization. The guy's resume alone demands it.

I suppose. But I think he still would have a bigger impact here - just because they'd respect him doesn't mean they'd listen to him. That goes for his situation in Detroit too but he's been here for a long time and probably has bigger influence.