Bowman was interested in the job with Leafs

[e_mcgrath88 0]

Bowman said on cbc that he was indeed interested interested in taking the job with the Leafs.

[SweWings 45]

Not surprising but on the other hand he'd never have the influence that he'd want to have - and the influence necessary to actually perform real changes.

[Grittzkey 1]

Epic Fail.

Why in the hell would he do that.

[Statts 4]

If Bowman was given complete control like he wanted, I’m sure he would have taken the job. Apparently the Leafs weren’t willing. Foolish mistake IMO on the Leafs part.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

I kinda wish he had taken the job.... just because it'd spare me from having to see the Leafs be such a joke. They lost again tonight, it's only a matter of time before JFJ, Peddie and Tannenbaum are gone. Maurice too.

[Manoir 70]

I saw that, very interesting interview. Ron Maclean asked him if he would take the job now and Scotty said it's tough to answer hypothetical questions, but it sure looked like he wants the job.

They also asked him why he thought the Wings lost to the Ducks last season in the playoffs and he said the Ducks always play on the edge which gives them an advantage in the playoffs. He said that gritty teams with talent like the Ducks usually win a 7 game series. He said to watch out for the Ducks again this year but that they need to replace Selanne's scoring. it sure seemed to me that he also thinks the Wings are lacking in the grit department.

CBC also ran a segment on the Wings attendance woes. Christopher Illitch said that being in the western conference is partly to blame as a good portion of Wings games begin late and that the Wings are losing the young fans. The Wings are also considering the possibility of keeping playoff ticket prices at the current level as the increase last season angered fans.

[e_mcgrath88 0]

Some folks here feel we're gritty enough; I on the other hand agree with Scotty 100% concerning our needs.

EDIT - Our pp didn't do much for us this past spring as well...Lets just hope with the addition of Rafalski the pp will provide a few extra goals here, & there.

i also agree.. i laugh when people say that we shouldnt tinker with our current lineup just because we're winning at the moment..

[irishtemper14+25 11]

if bowman was given control, he would pull a bill parcels and fire everyone(which is the best idea)

[Grim 5]

the Leafs should go all out and try to hire Bryan Murray. that guy builds teams that win. he can't coach a lick though.

Not sure what Bowman would accomplish in TO. with his well-known penchant for vets, not sure if the Leafs simply have enough assets and time to trade.

[Flip-check 6]

The Wings are also considering the possibility of keeping playoff ticket prices at the current level as the increase last season angered fans.

Wait wait - What?

Glad to see the Ilitches think fans will magically be okay with it this year. You're sure going to beat those empty first round seats in '08!

Edited January 13, 2008 by Flip-check

[arnoldbuck 0]

I really think he should take the job, and ship Sundin and Tucker here for pennies. Then rip off his Maple Leaf jearsey at center ice and expose a Red Wing one beneath on our February Hockey Night In Canada meetting.

Haha ... oh, wait ... what ... this isn't pro wrestling? None the less, that would be sweet.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Epic Fail.

Why in the hell would he do that.

Because it's his personal/professional life and he was looking for something new and a challenge possible. Life isn't all about sticking within the Red Wings organziation, or any job at any organization or company, for your entire life. I commend people who show such loyalty, but it rarely happens in life today. It's neither good or bad, it's just a major part of being in work today.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

i also agree.. i laugh when people say that we shouldnt tinker with our current lineup just because we're winning at the moment..

Well it's been kinda hard to argue tinkering with the lineup that much, considering how well the Wings have played overall this season so far and are leaps and bounds above just about everybody else in the standings....

[Barrie 900]

If Bowman was given complete control like he wanted, I’m sure he would have taken the job. Apparently the Leafs weren’t willing. Foolish mistake IMO on the Leafs part.

I think there's to much ego in Leafs Management. The Ownership/Board wants to have the credit for turning around the Leafs, not someone else, which is why someone like Bowman won't work in Toronto.

Anyone who works for the Leafs has to report and give suggestions to the Board, and they make the final decision on what's going to happen. Leafs Ownership is in it for the money, not because they want to see the Leafs win, so anyone they hire is a puppet. Bowman isn't a puppet. Instead the situation needs to be the exact opposite, Ownership is there to hire the right people, and let them run the team. We all know Illitch is that kind of owner.

With all that said, Bowman still won't get the job. The Leafs will probably hire a mid-level GM, to get the fans an media off their back for a few more years. It'll be someone with a decent name, but will be willing to report to the Board.

The Leafs problem is ownership, not the GM or VP. The only way the Leafs will change is if someone buys the Leafs from MLSE, which probably won't happen because the Leafs make to much money.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Bowman loves the game, so he feels like coming back. I don't see anything wrong with that, but at his age, I don't think that this is a challenge that he should take on. The Leafs are going to take too long to turn around.

[MacK_Attack 108]

I think there's to much ego in Leafs Management. The Ownership/Board wants to have the credit for turning around the Leafs, not someone else, which is why someone like Bowman won't work in Toronto.

They swallowed their pride with the Raptors and it's worked pretty well. The Leafs are embarrassing them so badly that they're probably going to be forced to do much the same.

The "board" doesn't meddle in the Leafs affairs. Richard Peddie does. He has a symbolic title of president of the Leafs and he seems to think that alone gives him some sort of hockey I.Q., when in fact, he has less than none.

John Ferguson was Peddie's little project, much like Rob Babcock was with the Raptors. Given Ferguson's most recent clusterf*ck, Peddie seems poised to lose his title as president, just like he did with the Raptors.

The reason Bowman wasn't hired was because he wanted Peddie's title as president of the team. Peddie used his clout with the Teachers to avoid that. Peddie bought Ferguson one more year when the board went to fire him last year. With this year being by far the worst of his tenure, the Leafs out of the playoff race, and not having seen a cent of playoff revenue since 2004, Peddie's not going to be able to get in the way this time.

Of course, rumours are running wild that Peddie will lose his title as president of the Leafs, Ferguson and Maurice will be fired and Bowman will takeover as president & interim GM. He'll orchestrate the Sundin trade, as well as trade off any other stiff that he can and then he'll hire his full-time GM this spring. Keith Acton would takeover as interim head coach and then a new coach named after the GM is named.

I don't know that it'll be Bowman, but I think it will be somebody with similar experience in the game to take the figurehead spot.

[toby91_ca 620]

Management was willing to admit they were not basketball guys so they hired a guy and gave him full control. That's what Bowman wanted with the Leafs, but current ownership/management thinks they know hockey and don't need to give full control over to someone.

[Statts 4]

Management was willing to admit they were not basketball guys so they hired a guy and gave him full control. That's what Bowman wanted with the Leafs, but current ownership/management thinks they know hockey and don't need to give full control over to someone.

I think your right.

If there was one person who could turn the Leafs around I would put my money on Bowman. He is a hockey genus and knows what it takes to make a winning team. IF the Leafs were to give him complete control, I think Bowman would (and rightfully so) take the job. I would hate to see him go, but it’s a great opportunity to expand his legacy beyond coach. Hell, as much as I (wont say hate) don’t like the Leafs their fans are some dedicated mother’s to their team… win or lose (lose or lose lately) gotta respect that.

[MacK_Attack 108]

I think your right.

If there was one person who could turn the Leafs around I would put my money on Bowman. He is a hockey genus and knows what it takes to make a winning team. IF the Leafs were to give him complete control, I think Bowman would (and rightfully so) take the job. I would hate to see him go, but it’s a great opportunity to expand his legacy beyond coach. Hell, as much as I (wont say hate) don’t like the Leafs their fans are some dedicated mother’s to their team… win or lose (lose or lose lately) gotta respect that.

There's a certain lore that goes with working for the Leafs. It has nothing to do with being an Original Six team, or being in "the centre of the hockey universe" or anything like that.

It has everything to do with being "the guy" to end the Leafs Cup drought. Scotty knows what it was like to end Detroit's, and no disrespect intended, but to end the Leafs Cup drought would top even that. It's a challenge that despite how uphill the climb is, that is just too hard to turn away from.

Also, Scotty's still got that competitive edge that just doesn't seem to go away. Retirement doesn't take away your desire to tackle new challenges.

[T.OWingsFan 7]

I'm alittle hurt.

In the summer Bowman was telling us Red Wings fans that nothing was up. Why lie Scotty?

And why even flirt with that loser organization?

I hope the jaded experience he had with them shows him how well it is being with the Wings. The rest of the NHL ain't like Detroit.

Besides, why should Scotty go with his resume (!!!) to some Leaf board members? He's forgotten more about hockey today than they will all ever know put together, x100.

The LAUGHS are just that; LAUGHS.

[Guest DetroitIan]

I'm alittle hurt.

Don't be. Scotty just reconfirmed on TSN today, that if the Leafs come at him again, he will reject them. He said he wants to win in Detroit. And he has no plans of leaving.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=227269&hubname=nhl

[T.OWingsFan 7]

He sung that tune already once, I won't be lured into listening to it again.

Either way he owes us fans nothing, and has given his all to the Wings.

But alittle truthfulness couldn't hurt.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

I'm alittle hurt.

In the summer Bowman was telling us Red Wings fans that nothing was up. Why lie Scotty?

And why even flirt with that loser organization?

I hope the jaded experience he had with them shows him how well it is being with the Wings. The rest of the NHL ain't like Detroit.

Besides, why should Scotty go with his resume (!!!) to some Leaf board members? He's forgotten more about hockey today than they will all ever know put together, x100.

The LAUGHS are just that; LAUGHS.

Because people's minds change about work all the time, I don't care what the career or profession is.

I definitely commend people for staying at the same job or company for many and many years, but that's totally unrealistic in today's society, even in the sports world.

Very rarely do you find athletes or staff members in a sports organization stay in the same place for a majority or their entire career. That's not bad, that's not good, it's just the way the work world is for a lot of people today.

Life isn't all about playing or working for the Red Wings your entire life for many people whether we like it or not.

Edited January 15, 2008 by SouthernWingsFan

[Flip-check 6]

Life isn't all about playing or working for the Red Wings your entire life for many people whether we like it or not.

It's not about that. I get that you're trying to be a mediator but no one's saying that about Scotty, it's his dodging the Maple Leaf talks that have happened.

I'd have to dig up the articles from summer but from what I recall he was flat out denying any contact with Toronto, and what was it, twice? he was shown to be lying about it. I don't get why, it's not a big deal to me either, but it's curious all the same.

[2probert4 8]

Some folks here feel we're gritty enough; I on the other hand agree with Scotty 100% concerning our needs.

EDIT - Our pp didn't do much for us this past spring as well...Lets just hope with the addition of Rafalski the pp will provide a few extra goals here, & there.

There is a severe lack of grit on the Wings.......they get pushed around more often than not (See Ottawa game for latest version) Bowman is wishy-washy, and im sure Babcock would like the team to be tougher. Im not a Drake fan, but at least he provides that aspect each night. Hopefully they can get tougher at the blue line also.