Leafs Appoint Two New Assistant Coaches

[Thrillhouse]

Brian Burke, President and General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced Monday that Scott Gordon and Greg Cronin have been appointed assistant coaches on Ron Wilson’s staff. Burke also disclosed that Keith Acton and Tim Hunter will not return to the team’s coaching staff.

Gordon, 48, is a former head coach of the New York Islanders (2008 to 2010) and the U.S. National Team in 2010 and 2011. He was an assistant coach on Ron Wilson’s silver-medal winning U.S. Olympic Team in 2010. A former goaltender, Gordon’s international resume also includes his participation as a player for his home country in the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France.

Gordon earned the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the American Hockey League’s ‘Coach of the Year’ in 2007-08 as the Providence Bruins sported a league-best 55-18-3 record. He originally joined Providence as an assistant in 2000 and ascended to the head coach position near the end of the 2002-03 campaign. He fashioned a record of 221-141-20-27 (W-L-T-OT/SOL) in the five seasons running the bench of Providence.

Gordon’s coaching career began with the International Hockey League’s (IHL) Atlanta Knights from 1994 to 1996 and another two with that league’s Quebec Rafales. He has the distinction of being the IHL’s youngest head coach in their league’s history when he became the bench boss of the Knights on January 5, 1996 at the age of 32. He is also a former coach of the East Coast Hockey League’s Roanoke Express (1998-99).

A native of Easton, Massachusetts, Gordon was a goaltender for Boston College from 1982 to 1986, posting a career mark of 64-35-3. He’s a former Hockey East First-Team All-Star in 1986 and he played a huge role in the Eagles’ first place finish in the ECAC East Region in 1983-84. The Eagles would go on to first-place finishes in 1984-85 and 1985-86.

Gordon signed with the Quebec Nordiques in 1986-87. He made his NHL debut in 1989-90 with Quebec and he played a total of 23 NHL games, all with the Nordiques. He retired as a player following the 1993-94 season.

Cronin, 48, brings a wealth of professional and collegiate coaching experience to the Blue and White. Most recently, he completed his sixth season as head coach of Northeastern University. He led the team to their first consecutive seasons of posting a .500 record or better since the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons. He served as the head coach of the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Bridgeport Tigers from 2003 to 2005, following a five-year stint as assistant coach with the New York Islanders from 1998 to 2003.

The native of Boston, Massachusetts was an assistant coach for Team U.S.A.’s entries at the 1997 and 2011 World Hockey Championship. In addition, he served as an assistant coach for two U.S. National Junior Teams (1997, 1998) and earned a silver medal with Team U.S.A. at the 1997 IIHF World Junior Championship. Cronin’s coaching background also includes assistant coaching and interim head coach posts for both the University of Maine and Colorado College. He played four years at Colby College from 1982 to 1986 and he spent the 1987-88 season as an assistant coach at his alma mater. Cronin played an integral role in the institution of U.S.A. Hockey’s National Team Development Program by serving at the helm of the inaugural National Under-18 team in 1997-98.

[grits207]

Great to see that Keith Acton finally got canned. It's unbelievable how long that dumbass lasted in Toronto. He should have fired at the same time as Pat Quinn.

I like Tim Hunter but he did a pretty bad job in Toronto, not that I'm expecting Cronin or Gordon to be any better.

[BROKEN*ORBITAL]

Scott Gordon and Greg Cronin have been appointed assistant coaches on Ron Wilson’s staff

I find that pretty interesting. "Appointed?" Almost sounds like Burke isn't happy with his bench bosses and made the changes. I wonder what, if any say Wilson had here. Acton was a scrub, but Hunter came over from San Jose with Wilson.

Do we normally hear about assistant coaches getting fired, but not the coach?

[Chiefs for Life]

Originally Posted by grits207

Great to see that Keith Acton finally got canned. It's unbelievable how long that dumbass lasted in Toronto. He should have fired at the same time as Pat Quinn.

I like Tim Hunter but he did a pretty bad job in Toronto, not that I'm expecting Cronin or Gordon to be any better.

Assistant coaches have to be on the same page as the Head coach, so who cares who the assistant coaches are if Ron Wilson is still heading the ship...

[grits207]

Originally Posted by Chiefs for Life

Assistant coaches have to be on the same page as the Head coach, so who cares who the assistant coaches are if Ron Wilson is still heading the ship...

Wilson will probably be fired the first time the Leafs struggle next season. Wilson's BFF Hunter getting fired is a pretty clear message from Burke that Wilson is on a short leash.

[Chiefs for Life]

Originally Posted by grits207

Wilson will probably be fired the first time the Leafs struggle next season. Wilson's BFF Hunter getting fired is a pretty clear message from Burke that Wilson is on a short leash.

I think you are bang on on that one, I think MLSE is growing tired with the rebuilding, an never making the play-offs, So I think that Brian Burke's job might be in Jeopardy if the Leafs don't have a good enough season to make the play-offs.. Burke in all his arrogance will fire Wilson in a last ditch effort to save his on skin with MLSE....

[swhite]

Wasn't expecting to see Hunter getting the axe but glad they finally got rid of Keith Action, should have done it long ago.

[leafs_fan77]

Originally Posted by Chiefs for Life

I think you are bang on on that one, I think MLSE is growing tired with the rebuilding, an never making the play-offs, So I think that Brian Burke's job might be in Jeopardy if the Leafs don't have a good enough season to make the play-offs.. Burke in all his arrogance will fire Wilson in a last ditch effort to save his on skin with MLSE....

Not a chance is Burke's job in Jeopardy. MLSE is stupid, but I don't think they are stupid enough to think in this day and age you can build a playoff team over night.

JFJ ****ed us hard, Burke is cleaning it up. It's finally starting to look real good. When the season starts I think we'll be in pretty good shape.

I do agree though that Burke might have Wilson on a short leash. Especially getting rid of Hunter. Hunter was a good guy, don't like to see him go but this is a competitive business and you gotta do what it takes to win.

[BROKEN*ORBITAL]

The thing I find most interesting is that Burke had 2 replacement coaches ready to go the same day Acton and Hunter got canned. That has to mean he was sending out feelers and/or interviewing for the past while. There were no reports of this? Things don't usually sneak through the cracks like that here in Toronto.

Oh well.

From the Toronto Sun. Apparently the firing of 2 coaches was Burke's idea and he forced Wilson to decide which ones were getting the axe.

- When Brian Burke approached Ron Wilson and told him he needed to make changes on his coaching staff, Wilson’s response was quite predictable.

“I had no intention of doing anything like this,” said Wilson, from his home in South Carolina.

But Burke, in truth, wasn’t asking, even if he was discussing. He was telling. The time had come for change. The number he had in mind was two. He wanted Wilson to make two changes with his Maple Leafs coaching staff. He didn’t offer up which coaches had to go — that choice was for Wilson to make himself. He only offered up how many bodies had to go.

The choice wasn’t in any way easy or comfortable.

“There was significant push back from him,” said Burke. “Ron was resistant. He’s a loyal guy. His first reaction was ‘I believe in these guys.’ He was resistant to any kind of change at all.

“But I want to be clear on this. This isn’t the case of a coach making a change. This is the case of the general manager saying it’s time for a change.”

Burke, in one of his toughest calls as general manager of the Leafs, didn’t give Wilson a choice of any kind, except in determining who stays, who goes, and who gets hired next. He didn’t believe in the old coaching staff anymore.

“When he presented his arguments to me, they made some sense,” said Wilson. “I mulled it over for a period of time and then we talked about where we would go from here.”

Then Wilson had to make his own determination.

Wilson has been coaching with Tim Hunter on his staff way back to his years with the Washington Captials. That’s two teams and more than a decade ago. And for as long as he’s known and worked with Hunter, he’s been a friend of Keith Acton’s that much longer. “We played together in Minnesota,” said Wilson. “I’ve known Woody longer than Hunts or Zetts (Rob Zettler). That’s what makes it so difficult. I consider him a very good friend.”

Sometimes in hockey you have to fire your friends. Sometimes you remain friends afterwards. Sometimes the relationships change forever because of circumstance.

Burke made the initial telephone calls to inform Hunter and Acton that they were being let go, although finding Hunter fishing in Northern British Columbia wasn’t easily accomplished.

“And I followed up with a phone call right after,” said Wilson. It wasn’t an easy thing to do.

Wilson has been fired before as an NHL coach. Just about everybody who has coached has been. But this was a first for him: The first time a general manager has ordered him to make changes.

It happens often in pro baseball and pro football. It’s happening more often in hockey these days. Head coaches and managers staying — their assistants leaving.

“I have to accept (we needed to change),” said Wilson, who has coached the Leafs for three seasons, missed the playoffs for three straight years, and employed just about the worst special teams in each of those three seasons.

“I have an incredible amount of respect for Burkie. If he thinks this is going to help us get better, I’m willing to try anything.”

What it came down to was numbers: Not enough wins, not enough power play goals, not enough penalty kills. Burke looked for answers and didn’t find any. And with all of that, there’s an overriding feeling that the message was getting lost somewhere.

Burke has been a huge Wilson supporter since he arrived as general manager of the Leafs, even though the statistics don’t support such enthusiastic a response. This is essentially the last chance for Wilson. If he starts the season in reasonable form, he will likely get a contract extension. If it’s same-old, same-old for another Leaf season, then this will be Wilson’s last hurrah in Toronto.

“The message to the players is that Ron Wilson is the coach of this team but that, as a group, we have to do better,” said Burke. “If that doesn’t impart some urgency with the players, I’ll be very surprised.”

Wilson ended the season adamant that there was nothing wrong with his coaching staff and he wasn’t about to consider changes of any kind. When he was told differently, he considered and added two men of varied experience, Scott Gordon and Greg Cronin to his staff.

“This is difficult for me, too,” said Burke. “(Hunter’s) a good coach, a good guy. Woody’s a good coach, a good guy. That doesn’t mean it’s the right assembly of parts. This is not an exact science. Do you have the right four guys together or do you have two of the right four guys together? We’re going to find that out. But in my mind, having watched for two and a half years, it was time for a change.”

[fansince65]

Originally Posted by grits207

Wilson will probably be fired the first time the Leafs struggle next season. Wilson's BFF Hunter getting fired is a pretty clear message from Burke that Wilson is on a short leash.

Wilson is in the last year of his contract . On the sports news this morning (CJBK 1290 London Ontario) they said Burke has told him , " produce this season or you dont get an extension " He also stated it was hard watching the PP and the PK last season "they both were non existent". I think the writing is on the wall ..

[Chiefs for Life]

Originally Posted by leafs_fan77

Not a chance is Burke's job in Jeopardy. MLSE is stupid, but I don't think they are stupid enough to think in this day and age you can build a playoff team over night.

JFJ ****ed us hard, Burke is cleaning it up. It's finally starting to look real good. When the season starts I think we'll be in pretty good shape.

I do agree though that Burke might have Wilson on a short leash. Especially getting rid of Hunter. Hunter was a good guy, don't like to see him go but this is a competitive business and you gotta do what it takes to win.

So how many more season is Toronto going to go without making the play-offs, before MLSE stops believing in Brian Burke's rebuiling process, in the end of the day to be a winner, you first have to qualify for the play-offs, something Brian Burke hasn't done with the Leafs, an sorry barring some rabbit out of his hat, or a team that is going to come together this season, I still don't see the Leafs making the play-offs again this season. Then Burke is going to be going on his fifth season of a rebuilding process, witch in normal rebuiling processes you are a middle of the pack team close to being a contender, or a solid contender, like Pittsburg, Washington, Chicago, ect,ect.... My point being is that JFJ didn't make Brian Burke trade the draft picks away for Phil Kessel, Yes the cupboards were bear in the minors, an again that is JFJ's fault, but with the cap room that Burke had an the influence he has around the league, he definatley could have pulled a Bob Gainey an went out an signed a bunch of caracter guys, the Could have made the play-offs, while drafting young talent an letting them develop into good nhl players.....


Please don't think I am trying to start a flame war, these are just my points of view as an outsider to the Leafs situation. Please note that everything I say is NOT being said in a sarcastic manner.....

[leafs_fan77]

Originally Posted by Chiefs for Life

So how many more season is Toronto going to go without making the play-offs, before MLSE stops believing in Brian Burke's rebuiling process, in the end of the day to be a winner, you first have to qualify for the play-offs, something Brian Burke hasn't done with the Leafs, an sorry barring some rabbit out of his hat, or a team that is going to come together this season, I still don't see the Leafs making the play-offs again this season. Then Burke is going to be going on his fifth season of a rebuilding process, witch in normal rebuiling processes you are a middle of the pack team close to being a contender, or a solid contender, like Pittsburg, Washington, Chicago, ect,ect.... My point being is that JFJ didn't make Brian Burke trade the draft picks away for Phil Kessel, Yes the cupboards were bear in the minors, an again that is JFJ's fault, but with the cap room that Burke had an the influence he has around the league, he definatley could have pulled a Bob Gainey an went out an signed a bunch of caracter guys, the Could have made the play-offs, while drafting young talent an letting them develop into good nhl players.....


Please don't think I am trying to start a flame war, these are just my points of view as an outsider to the Leafs situation. Please note that everything I say is NOT being said in a sarcastic manner.....

It's all good man, you're backing up you points and not just shooting your mouth off like the regular Leaf bashers haha.

I do agree that MLSE is getting fired up about not getting into the playoffs. Last time we made it was the 2003-04 season. My math may be off but what's that 7 years? Brutal, I know. Brian Burke came here roughly halfway through the 2008-09 year. So that's 2 and a little more than a half years where Burke didn't make the playoffs. Depending on how the off-season goes I think they will be sitting pretty good for that 6-8th playoff spot this season. Burke has made the team the second youngest team in the league now with some promising talent (Aulie, Kadri, Colborne, etc.). Guys like Grabo, Schenn, Kulemin, etc. will probably only get better too.

If they bomb this year though, you may be right. I guess we'll just have to play the waiting game and see what happens. I'm just really looking forward to the moves he makes this off-season, starting with the draft in a couple days.

[The DZA]

Burke has been here 2 and a half years and inherited plenty of no-move clause contracts and contracts that couldnt be moved because how horrible they were in the first place. He should be given some extra time because of the hole he was in to start with.

He said at the start of last season he wanted to make the playoffs, but any realistic hockey guy knew they werent going to make it. If it wasnt for Reimer and the way the team seemed to play in front of him, they would have been near the bottom again.

This year Ron Wilson is the one who has to watch his back. If the Leafs hit a 10 game loosing streak, then he's done immediately.

[cashman rules]

When you can your assistant coaches you have to can the coach as well,burke knows that!Sad to see Hunter go thats for sure

[I_am_Belak_2]

I thought they would've brought up Dallas Eakins to be assistant, because we all know he'll be replacing Wilson soon.