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What's the Old Guy think of the New Guy?
October 6, 2003
Story by: Damon Papadopoulos
He was there in the days of Harold Ballard, Punch
Imlach and John Brophy. When Borje Salming was
the veteran and Wendel Clark was the new kid.
He was the General Manager of the Toronto Maple
Leafs. And he was just 30 years old. So how did
Gord Stellick find himself in charge of Canada's
hockey team?
"I started working part-time for the Leafs
when I was still in high school… working
game nights in the press box. And then I got a
job in the front office doing day of game stuff,"
Stellick reminisces. "I started full time
as an Executive Assistant. I moved up to Assistant
to the General Manager, then Assistant General
Manager, running their American Hockey League
team in Newmarket, then I became General Manager
in 1988."
Fifteen years later and Stellick finds himself
as host on Toronto's sports talk radio station,
the FAN 590. He's also a hockey analyst on Rogers
Sportsnet, makes appearances on Leafs TV, and
is even writing a book on the '66-'67 Leafs. But
what does he think of John Ferguson Junior, the
man named to his old position?
"I don't know him real well, but I know
his dad a lot better," he says. "I've
talked to him a few times… met him a few
times."
And has he had a conversation with Ferguson since
his appointment as Leafs' General Manager?
"No. Haven't spoke with him. I would if
he wanted too… I think I could give him a
lot of interesting perspectives. I wouldn't mind
doing that, I mean, totally off the record. Maybe
that'll happen… (it's just that) he's had
so much he's had to assimilate and grasp in such
a short period of time."
Even with the lack of contact, Stellick knows
Ferguson will have challenges to face as leader.
"There's so many facets… (but) the
big thing is, it's not his staff," Stellick
states. "I don't look at him as the guy who's
going to be accountable in the short term. I think
that down the road he'll get some of his guys
in and we'll see more of his imprint on the team."
"I still think it's Pat Quinn's team; so
I think Fergie gets some slack that way, that
(for the season) if it goes well, he can take
the credit: if it doesn't go well, he never really
had control."
And control is a big issue, especially when you
have such a strong presence with Pat Quinn. So
how does Gord think Pat Quinn will deal with a
new boss?
"Pat Quinn's not going to change. Why would
he? He's got the power, he's got the contract,
and I think that the hiring of John Ferguson was
more Richard Peddie putting his imprint (in),
saying, "I'm actually the boss, I'm bringing
in my guy." John Ferguson better hope things
go well for Pat Quinn because if it comes to that
moment that Fergie's got to fire Pat Quinn, that'll
be a real telling moment."
Do tell. Could that happen in the near future?
"If the team stunk this year, then all coaches
are accountable, and it's not out of the realm
that he may have to think of firing Pat Quinn;
but I don't think that's in the cards."
Stellick's given his advice on how to deal in
the front office. What would he tell Ferguson
to do behind the bench?
"They've got to get better on the blue line.
Ed Belfour, when he's on his game, can give you
as good a goal-tending as there is. Up front,
there's a lot of fire power. The big thing is
on defense. That's in the short term and everyone
knows that they've got to improve the blue line.
In the long term, they've got to figure out why
they have not done such a good job of drafting
and developing players. They don't have 20-something
(year old) players… they don't have guys
that age and that's key. You can't just keep signing
unrestricted free agents who are 31 plus and win
a Stanley Cup. You've got to develop guys that
make an impact on your organization and the Leafs
haven't been doing that."
And that's his best piece of advice?
"Yeah, it would be. So no other Jason Smith
situations happen. So you don't have a guy you
decide can't play for your team and you trade
him away for not very much and (now) he's the
best defenseman on the Edmonton Oilers. That doesn't
make sense at all."
Doesn't make sense to a Leafs fan either. It's
the kind of thing that makes you wonder how Toronto
will do this year.
"They're going to make the play-offs,"
Stellick states. "They're going to be an
entertaining team, at times. They're certainly
going to be a competitive team. But they have
said their goal is to win the Stanley Cup and
they have not proven that - that they're willing
to make the sacrifices or put a team together
that legitimately is a Stanley Cup contender."
"It'll be the same old same old."
I hope not. And if you love the Blue and White,
you'll feel the same way too. Gord Stellick hopes
the Leafs can bring home the hardware too, because,
when it's all said and done, he misses the job.
"Yeah, you do. I do miss living and dying
with the team. But it's also healthy not to do
that. I was fortunate to be involved in that and
that was a lot of fun," he muses. "If
it ever came up again that'd be great to do, but
I'll cherish the memories and I'll just enjoy
being an observer and commentator right now."
John Ferguson Junior certainly hopes that time
doesn't come soon. He's looking to make his mark
as the latest General Manager of what could arguably
be the greatest team of all time. But if he isn't
up to the task, I know a guy who'd probably love
to take the reins one more time.
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