Quote: 'Wayne, it's your baby. come in here, hire who you want, and run our hockey club', he'd have some serious thinking to do."[/QUOTE]
therein lies the problem. the MLSE suits would NEVER say that...they are always in charge despite what they have ever said to other GM's and coaches..
despite the tragic 43 year history since the last Cup win the powers that be in MLSE (Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment) are more insterested in the botton line than putting a winning team on the ice. When the worst team in the NHL is charging the highest prices to see the newest version of the losing Leafs, MLSE is laffing all the way to the bank...
just look at what they own:
http://www.theaircanadacentre.com/contact/
and
Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. (MLSE) is the owner and operator of the Toronto Maple Leafs National Hockey League team, Toronto Raptors National Basketball Association team, Toronto FC Major League Soccer team, and Toronto Marlies American Hockey League team—all based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In addition to owning these franchises as well as Leafs TV, Raptors NBA TV (the official television channels of the Maple Leafs and Raptors respectively), and GolTV Canada, MLSE is also involved in property management, including ownership of the Air Canada Centre, the home arena of the Maple Leafs and Raptors.
major stockholders in the MLSE are the Ontario Teachers Federation pension plan..(amongst dozens of other investments the pension plan has.. making it the 2nd largest pension plan in Canada)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jesse Joe
http://www.citytv.com/toronto/cityne...ext-leaf-coach
Could Wayne Gretzky Be The Next Leaf Coach?
If you've ever said to yourself 'boy, would Wayne Gretzky look good in a Leaf uniform,' when number 99 was performing his miracles for Edmonton, you might not know what to make of this rumour. Wayne Gretzky a Leaf? Or maybe that should be: Wayne Gretzky, the new Leaf coach? In his blog for CityNews's sister station The Fan 590, Howard Berger speculates on a rumour he believes could one day be fact.
In the unusual world of professional sports, where hypotheses often become reality, could the Toronto Maple Leafs be considering the most renowned and celebrated name in National Hockey League annals for their prime executive vacancy? There are no hard facts to boost the notion that Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment is planning a frontal assault on the Phoenix Coyotes for Wayne Gretzky, but more than a few whispers in recent days suggest that No. 99 has not completely eluded MLSE's radar. If the Leafs contacted the Coyotes, Gretzky would merely have to grant himself permission to chat, for he is coach and part owner of the Phoenix club. Semantics, therefore, would not be an issue. All that needs to be answered is this: Would Gretzky divest himself of equity in the Coyotes to finally join the club he has followed since his earliest years?
"I think he'd be tempted to the core," suggested a long-time associate of Gretzky's, who chose to remain anomymous. "He certainly isn't looking to get out of Phoenix, and I think he's really starting to enjoy the coaching gig. But, the Leafs have always held a special place in his heart, even in the days when he was knocking the crap out of them with the Oilers and Kings. If MLSE ever said to him, 'Wayne, it's your baby. come in here, hire who you want, and run our hockey club', he'd have some serious thinking to do."
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