It will be interesting to see if Brendan Shanahan can summon his inner Bill Gregson.
Gregson is the Fairfax Holdings appointed turnaround artist, who made headlines on the weekend for his potential $ 60-90 million payout, from the Cara IPO last week. Like Shanahan, Gregson has only been at the helm of his enterprise for a short while. But unlike his sports counterpart, he has quickly shown results with sales increasing, costs decreasing, and a renewed emphasis on hiring top talent.
While Cara and Gregson were dominating the business pages over the weekend, Shanahan’s housekeeping was almost as topical in the sports pages as Speith’s Masters mastery. At least to Torontonians. Pretty sure the rest of Canada is more focused on their team’s playoff potential, than the never ending suffering we experience here in the 416/647.
Fairly doubtful that Shanahan has the same financial windfall. as Gregson’s, awaiting him if he is successful. But settling for the sainthood, that locals will bestow upon him if he builds a winner, may be a pretty close second.
Now the fun and games will start. Every amateur, and professional, hockey commentator in the land will be contributing their thoughts on how the franchise should be rebuilt. Who should be traded. Who should be drafted. Who should be hired. Who (if anyone!) should be retained.
I’m not going to add to the list of alleged hockey experts with my thoughts. Somehow my eight goals against average as a houseleague pee-wee goalie doesn’t qualify me! But as fan (who is off the bandwagon), a season ticket holder, and an industry practitioner I do have a wishlist for Mr. Shanahan.
1. Please share with us your vision. I assume you have one and that it’s probably pretty good. But right now I don’t know what it is. In order to rally my support, provide me something to buy into.
2. Stick to the vision. I am so confused as why, in 2014, the Leafs extended the contract of a coach that reportedly was the barrier to the team’s success, only to fire him mid-season when they were in play-off contention. That last act precipitated a downwards slide to oblivion that was as ugly as the Ottawa Senator’s rise from the ashes was beautiful.
3. Talk to me. Not at me. Not around me. Not over or beneath me. Me. I am right here. Talk to me, to all the fans, young, old, loyal, and losing their loyalty. We want to hear from you. Not a script. No need for a podium. No massaged messages. If we miss out on a free agent or a high potential trade, don’t worry about spinning it. Just share.
4. Deal from strength. That is one of my personal mottoes. The Leafs have been one of the richest teams for as long as I can remember. Let’s use our resource advantages to the fullest. Look no further to Canada’s Olympic Teams for a 3D case study as to how the right investments, in the right areas, can power a sporting entity from obscurity to the podium.
5. Turn your weaknesses into assets. I don’t understand the cliches about pressure for coaches and players in dealing with the Toronto media. Let alone the pressure from fans and sponsors. Really? Really? How about leveraging all that passion and harnessing it’s energy. The fans want a winner. The sponsors want a winner. I really think even the media wants a winner. Felt that way in the early 90’s.
So while I said I had no advice on the ice, it seems I have plenty for off it. It comes from the right place.
Besides if a guy can make sixty million dollars serving quarter-chicken dinners, with that yummy Chalet sauce, anything is possible right?
Even a Leafs turnaround!