Dave Nonis has signed one of the top NCAA free agents in Casey Bailey
Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Shanahan’s Toronto Maple Leafs Massacre
On April 12, just a day after the season ended, Shanahan made his boldest move yet, firing GM David Nonis, as well as coaches Peter Horacek, Steve Spott, Chris Dennis, and Rick St. Croix. Director of pro scouting Steve Kasper and director of player development Jim Hughes were also relieved of their duties along with members of the scouting staff. When the day ended, 22 staff members no longer worked for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Shanahan was cleaning house and not much was being left untouched.
The search for a new head coach was on but Shanahan certainly wasn’t straining all that hard to find “the right guy” to be the lead the on-ice portion of the rebuild. He had the guy he wanted on his radar long before he dropped the axe on Carlyle.
On May, 20, after months of speculation, Shanahan hired Detroit Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock to be come the new bench boss. Babcock joined Primetime Sports with Bob McCown that evening. Even though he had only officially been the head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs for a few hours, he offered this quote that sent quite the message to the players, fans, and media. Things were about to change in Toronto.
“I expect you to bring it everyday. Every single day. And I expect you to be a man when you don’t. And own your own stuff. Period. I believe the game’s honest. And if you’re an everydayer… and you’re honest about your approach and your professional with the way you eat, the way you drink, the way you live. The way you live away from the rink. It shows when you come to the rink and the fans appreciate who you are. If you don’t wanna be like that… if you don’t wanna be part of the Maple Leafs that’s fine too. All you do is you go see Shanny.” (Sportsnet)
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