Toronto Maple Leafs fire veteran head coach Pat Qu

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TORONTO (CP) - The Maple Leafs fired Pat Quinn on Thursday, making the veteran coach the latest victim of Toronto's inability to recapture its hockey glory.

The 63-year-old Quinn, who still had another year on his contract, leaves after seven seasons behind the Toronto bench.

But his last season was the most difficult, the Leafs missing the post-season for the first time under his helm despite a late charge. It was only the fourth season overall in his stellar 19-year coaching career that he missed the playoffs.

There were also rumblings of a strained relationship with GM John Ferguson, who inherited Quinn as coach when he took over in August 2003.

Overall, the Hamilton native went 300-222-52 with 26 shootout and overtime losses as Leafs coach, twice leading Toronto to the Eastern Conference final, losing to Buffalo in 1998-99 and Carolina 2001-02.

He's fourth all-time in coaching victories with 657 behind only Scotty Bowman (1,244), Al Arbour (781) and Dick Irvin (692).

The Leafs were 41-33-8 this season and finished ninth in the Eastern Conference, missing the final playoff spot by two points after a strong 9-1-2 run late in the year.

Quinn was named Toronto's 25th head coach in June 1998, inheriting a club that had missed the playoffs in successive seasons. It didn't take long for Quinn to make an impact. The Leafs set a club record for wins (45), they reached the conference final, and Quinn was runner-up for the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year in 1998-99.

FULL STORY: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/20042006/2/spor...head-coach.html

DISCUSS.... !!!

[NEVER85]

Good riddance.

[metalguy90]

i would have to say that in the 8 years that Quinn was with the Leafs, he did a great job.

I dont think Quinn is the problem. The problem is upper management and that is where they need to clean house.

[bayrider]

Fat Quinn got what he deserved. His system only works if you have a top5 goalie, because its all offense no defense. Of course when you have a siev in net, and get outshot every game, you're going to lose.

Blame JFJ all you want, but its MLSE that has their hand up his ass.

Quinn is just out of it. He can't coach a team that isnt full of dinosaurs. He also doesnt know how to handle goaltending as we've seen with Belfour/Tellqvist and Aubin. He also changes the lines every 5mins.

[planetik]

I loved how he looked like a racoon a few months ago.

Good riddens is right :yes:

[zeke009]

Toronto is pitiful! Might be time to clean house... then again, don't make the same mistake Boston did and trade away the Art Ross winner for the season!

[goodcase]

Im beyond infuriated. Quinn was a damn good coach. Maby Fergy should get up and realize that its not entirely the coaches fault and start doing his GM part properly and actually sign some descent players.

[u_diddy]

Im beyond infuriated. Quinn was a damn good coach. Maby Fergy should get up and realize that its not entirely the coaches fault and start doing his GM part properly and actually sign some descent players.

There is nothing wrong with the players. The fact that 90% of them are older than Pat Quinn only means that Toronto is more experienced than most teams!

[goodcase]

There is nothing wrong with the players. The fact that 90% of them are older than Pat Quinn only means that Toronto is more experienced than most teams!

Im not saying all the players are bad. But look at this stat:

Here's a +/- comparison between Ferguson's guys and Quinn's guys:

Ferguson's guys:

Kavanov: -11

Allison: -18

Lindros: -3

Czerkawski: -4

Suglobov: (not on leafs site, I *believe* he was a -1) -1

Wozneuiski: -8

Kilger: -6

Aubin: n/a

Brad Brown: n/a

Domi: -10

O'Neill: -19

Richardson: -1

Quinn's guys:

Steen: -9

Wellwood: 0

Ondrus: -10

Harrison: 5

Kronwall: -3

McCabe: -1

Kaberle: -1

Tucker: -12

Poni: 15

Tellqvist: n/a

Colaiacovo: 0

Stajan: 5

White: 2

Wilm: -15

Antropov: 13

Ferguson total: -81

Quinn total: -11

So by +/- ... Quinns additions obliterate Ferguson's additions.

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Lets even look at it by points :

Ferguson's guys:

Kavanov: 12

Allison: 60

Lindros: 22

Czerkawski: (10 at the end of the season.. I believe he had 6 with the leafs)

Suglobov: 0 (I *believe*)

Wozneuiski: 1

Kilger: 28

Aubin: n/a

Brad Brown: n/a

Domi: 16

O'Neill: 38

Richardson: 3

Quinn's guys:

Steen: 45

Wellwood: 45

Ondrus: 0

Harrison: 1

Kronwall: 1

McCabe: 68

Kaberle: 67

Tucker: 61

Ponikarovsky: 38

Tellqvist: n/a

Colaiacovo: 7

Stajan: 27

White: 6

Wilm: 8

Antropov: 31

Ferguson total: 186

Quinn total: 405

So by points ... again Quinns additions obliterate Ferguson's additions.

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here is a quick salary comparison.

Ferguson's guys:

Kavanov: 1.25

Allison: 4.0 potential, got 1.5 before bonuses, 3.0 after?

Lindros: 1.55

Czerkawski: 800k

Kilger: 475k

Aubin: 500k

Domi: 1.25

O'Neill: 1.5

Richardson: 2.09

Quinn's guys:

Steen: 720k

Wellwood: 627k

McCabe: 3.46

Kaberle: 2.28

Tucker: 1.60

Ponikarovsky: 700k

Tellqvist: 450k

Stajan: 805k

Wilm: 450k

Antropov: 1.00

Ferguson Total: 12.415 (+4 mil for belfour?)

Quinn Total: 12.092

[Matrix XII]

Hmm, didn't think that would happen, maybe he'll come back to Vancouver :p

[Deathray]

They should've cleaned house starting higher up... Ferguson.

[Matrix XII]

Yeah he did an awful job at the helm this year.

[JohnMarsten]

Now those players he's been so loyal to for years better leave too, ie. Berg, Belak, Antropov .. only reason we did good down the stretch was because Quinn was forced to play young players due to injuries, which is never likes to do. Hopefully they give the job to Paul Maurice, and we let our youth take over!

They should have fired JFJ and Peddie while they were at it

[User6060]

bad move, the problem is not the players or the coach or the GM its Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment the OWNERS. The majority owners are the frickin' Ontario Teachers Pension Plan and they don't want to act as the Majority owners on the Board of Directors which makes all the other small time part-owners up to the important decision making. The Pension Plan bought into MLSE to make huge profits because the leafs are the most profittable team in the NHL and all they care is keeping the money rolling in, not stanley cups.