06-25-2019, 01:08 AM
TORONTO - He didnt talk about the Vatican of hockey. He didnt mention the centre of the hockey universe. He shied away from dream job talk. He didnt wax on about pugnacity, testosterone, truculence, or belligerence. He didnt lay out his vision for how his Toronto Maple Leafs would play or what ailed them this past season and in seasons before. "Im not here today for big speeches, big words, big proclamations," Brendan Shanahan said Monday morning from the Air Canada Centre. "Today is my first day at work and theres a lot of work to be done." It was more than five and a half years ago that the Maple Leafs hired Brian Burke to change the "culture" of an organization which had veered further and further off the rails toward an eventual Stanley Cup. But unlike the bombastic Burke on that excitable day in Nov. 2008, the new President and alternate governor in Toronto made few bold statements or declarations. "This is the time for me to start learning about the organization from top to bottom," he said. "Its a time for me to listen, to learn and get to work and thats all thats really worked for me in my career. Its whats worked for me when I was done playing hockey and thats what I intend to do here." Tim Leiweke, the President and CEO of Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment, says he hired the 45-year-old to become the leader of the hockey team in Toronto - a presence he was unfit to fill - to instill an identity, to become the culture, heart, soul and character of the organization. He spoke glowingly of Shanahans track record - both as a player and in the league office - his leadership skills as a player for 21 seasons, his first-hand familiarity with winning cultures in Detroit and New Jersey, his passion, his work ethic, his analytical skills and his knowledge of the game. And with that full faith came final authority on all hockey and business matters. "I couldnt find anyone to say anything bad about him," Leiweke said of fact-finding conversations which came to include Ken Holland, Lou Lamiorello and Luc Robitaille. "…what everyone talks about is the man fights," Leiweke said, selling his new management piece with vigour. "He fought as a player. He fought for the union (during the second NHL lockout). He fought for the game. And now he fights for the integrity of the league. Now he comes here to fight for the Leafs. And the one thing I know about Shanny is hes going to fight for us every day. He may be analytical, he may be patient, he may not knee-jerk, but in that heart beats a man that is extremely committed to winning and doing whatever is necessary." Whatever credentials Shanahan may boast as a former player (three Stanley Cups) and league disciplinarian, he lacks the same in actual front office experience - an obvious source of skepticism for the hiring. A growing trend in the NHL has seen teams sweep up former star players for management roles to only middling success. Maybe the most recent example of disappointment saw local legend Pat Lafontaine plucked for a senior position in Buffalo only to depart less than four months later. Brett Hull, also of limited experience, was brought back to Dallas and eventually named co-general manager. He lasted less than two seasons and now works in St. Louis. Those that found success in the transition typically gained experience before eventually ascending to the type of role Shanahan has inherited in Toronto. Steve Yzerman toiled in the Red Wings front office, also managing Team Canada at the Worlds and Olympics before becoming the Lightning GM. Cam Neely was a vice-president for a few years before he was promoted to team president. Joe Sakic, now the overseer of all hockey matters in Colorado, joined the club initially as an advisor and alternate governor. Because of that inexperience its difficult to project which direction Shanahan will take the Leafs. Will he try to follow Hollands philosophy in Detroit - skill over brawn - or lean in the direction of what Lamiorello built in New Jersey - a stifling defensive system - or try something different entirely? Above all, he said hed be open to new ideas, even spending his flight to Toronto reading all about the merits of Corsi and Fenwick (analytical tools for measuring the game). Learning the business side of the game under the tutelage of Gary Bettman in his past business role with the NHL, Shanahan also was keen as a player, claiming to have picked the brains of superiors like Holland, Lamoriello, Glen Sather and Jim Rutherford. "I was always curious from their perspective, the difficulties and the challenges of operating and running a team," he said. "He was like a sponge and he took it all in," Leiweke claimed. Shanahans more recent gig as the leagues head of discipline offered opportunity, additionally, at the centre of controversy - something hell become familiar with in a hurry with the Leafs. "I had a job in which everyone questioned my decisions, everybody thought they knew better than us, they second-guessed everything we did and didnt like us," Shanahan said. "So now I get to come do this." Leiweke was blunt that the Leafs pre-Shanahan were lacking in direction, lacking in identity and lacking the culture of a winner - damning with Dave Nonis seated just a short distance to his left. He wanted someone to change that, much in the way, he said, that Masai Ujiri has quickly altered the course of the Raptors - though he failed to mention good fortune in that case, notably with the unexpected post Rudy Gay-trade ascension and emphatic growth of Kyle Lowry. Burke, too, talked about culture when he first landed from Anaheim, harshly critical of a "blue and white disease" that he felt had infected the club. He tried to change that and ran out of time. He also could not deliver the nasty, black and blue squad he imagined on the day of his arrival all too long ago. Shanahan wouldnt stray down a similar path as far as bold proclamations and statements were concerned on this day. If anything, it seems he aimed to undersell and over-deliver. He wouldnt get into what his vision for the club would be, wouldnt say what went wrong this year - he didnt feel it was his place - detailing instead his immediate plans, which included a full review of the coaching staff, roster, management team, and farm system, all to be done with his standing general manager, Nonis. "It would be premature for me to tell you right now where were going to go," Shanahan said. "Were going to work together to try to find the right answers together," Nonis added. "If we have questions or concerns were going to work them out, but at the end of the day Brendans the boss. He runs this team." How the dynamic between Shanahan and Nonis plays out remains of some intrigue and uncertainty. Its uncertain how much of a say Shanahan will have in the day-to-day operations of the team and more broadly speaking, how strong an influence hell exert over the bigger picture and to what effect. What direction he wants to take the Leafs wasnt immediately clear nor was how that approach will jive with that of Nonis, who helped build the current group, formerly as the No. 2 under Burke and eventual No. 1 until Mondays present. In terms of shifting the identity and culture of the Leafs, Shanahan will have to start with Randy Carlyle, quickly determining whether he is, in fact, the right head coach to guide the push forward. Though Carlyle found some success with the group in the lockout-shortened 2013, his message never seemed to hit home this season, culminating in all too familiar collapse. Both Shanahan and Nonis said all the right things as to Carlyles prowess as a coach, but neither would rightly commit to his future. Beyond the urgent matter of coaching - and who might be a suitable replacement - is a roster full of questions - be it with the core group and bundle of free agents - and a draft and development system that needs refreshment and considerable improvement. A lot, quite simply, lies on the plate of the new boss with little time to learn on the job. "Winning is just a very simple solution," he said. "Were not going to win a game sitting up here today. We have to get results." Wholesale Vikings Jerseys . Andrews, Scotland - Oliver Wilson fired a final- round, 2-under 70 on Sunday and he held on to win the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship by one shot. Cheap Vikings Jerseys . 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Under the deal, the Vikings will donate an undisclosed sum of money to five gay rights-related charities over the next five years. Kluwe said he wont receive any money as part of the settlement. "This will help a lot of people that really do need that help," Kluwe said.CHICAGO - The Indiana Pacers were without six players and coming off a 21-point loss.Coach Frank Vogel felt he still had enough to win, and thats what the Pacers did.A.J. Price, Luis Scola and Solomon Hill all scored 21 points, and the injury-plagued Pacers beat the Chicago Bulls 99-90 on Saturday night.Chris Copeland added 13 points for the Pacers, who had lost seven of nine and fell 108-87 to the Nuggets on Friday after trailing by as much as 33.We got plenty of guys in uniform. Lets focus on the strengths we have with this group, try to win the next game, weather the storm, Vogel said about his teams focus.The Pacers (4-7) earned another impressive win after beating Miami 81-75 on Wednesday.Its going to be somebody different every night, Pacers centre Roy Hibbert said. Were not a team that has someone who scores 20 every night.Were trying to hold it down until everybody gets back.Jimmy Butler had a career-high 32 points for the Bulls, who played without the injured Derrick Rose and had won six of seven.The Pacers shot 7 for 18 from beyond the arc and 48 per cent overall. The Bulls shot just 4 for 17 from 3-point range and 42 per cent from the field.The Pacers also outrebounded the Bulls 46-34. Hill grabbed 12 rebounds and Scola had 11.Its a tough-minded group, Vogel said. Were just trying to play to our strength, which is our size up front, even with (David) West out.The Bulls are 2-3 at home compared to 5-0 on the road.We got beat in every aspect of the game, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. Weve got to figure out how to play better here. We just played a low-energy game.Butler pulled the Bulls within two on a breakaway dunk late in the third, but Copeland hit a 3 and Price completed a three-point play early in the fourth for a 75-65 lead.Prices 3 extended the lead to 88-71 with 6:42 left, and Hill made one for a 93-81 lead with 1:29 remaining.The Pacers led 46-42 at halftime after shooting 50 per cent to the Bulls 44 per cent. Scola led the Pacers with 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting after entering the game averaging seven points.Pau Gasol finished with 12 points and six rebounds for the Bulls after averaging 19.3 and 11.1. The Bulls ended their streak of having at least five players score in double figures in all their games. Kirk Hinrich scored 15.The Pacers were 29th in the league in scoring at 91.2 points per game entering Saturday.When the guys are back, were going to have a really strong team, Scola said.___TIP-INSPacers: Rodney Stuckey (sore foot), CJ Miles (sore calf), David West (sprained ankle), George Hill (bruised knee), CJ Watson (bruised foot) and Paul George (broken leg) all sat out. . Vogel said Stuckey and Miles are likely the closest to returning, perhaps early nnext week.ddddddddddddBulls: Hinrich started in place of Rose. . With his first assist, Gasol became the sixth player in NBA history with 16,000 points, 8,000 rebounds, 3,000 assists and 1,500 blocks.ROSE UPDATERose was out after straining his left hamstring Thursday in the Bulls 100-93 victory over the Toronto Raptors. He is day to day and missed four games because of sprained ankles. To try to speculate where hell be tomorrow, I dont know, Thibodeau said. Im hopeful if he improves the way he did today, thatll be a really positive thing, so thats what were hoping for.BIG NIGHTButler scored at least 20 points for the fifth time this season. He is the first Bulls player to score 30 or more since Luol Deng had 37 on Dec. 2, 2013, against New Orleans.UP NEXTPacers: Host Charlotte on Wednesday.Bulls: Visit Clippers on Monday to begin a two-week, seven-game trip.?&?????No. 1 Mississippi State (9-1) lost to No. 4 Alabama 25-20. Next: vs. Vanderbilt, Saturday.No. 2 Florida State (10-0) beat Miami 30-26. Next: vs. Boston College, Saturday.No. 3 Oregon (9-1) did not play. Next: vs. Colorado, Saturday.No. 4 Alabama (9-1) beat No. 1 Mississippi State 25-20. Next: vs. Western Carolina, Saturday.No. 5 TCU (9-1) beat Kansas 34-30. Next: at Texas, Thursday, Nov. 27.No. 6 Baylor (8-1) did not play. Next: vs. Oklahoma State, Saturday.No. 7 Arizona State (8-1) at Oregon State. Next: vs. Washington State, Saturday.No. 8 Ohio State (9-1) beat Minnesota 31-24. Next: vs. Indiana, Saturday.No. 9 Auburn (7-3) lost to No. 16 Georgia 34-7. Next: vs. Samford, Saturday.No. 10 Mississippi (8-2) did not play. Next: at Arkansas, Saturday.No. 11 Nebraska (8-2) lost to No. 22 Wisconsin 59-24. Next: vs. Minnesota, Saturday.No. 12 Michigan State (8-2) beat Maryland 37-15. Next: vs. Rutgers, Saturday.No. 13 Kansas State (7-2) did not play. Next: at West Virginia, Thursday.No. 14 UCLA (8-2) did not play. Next: vs. Southern Cal, Saturday.No. 15 Notre Dame (7-3) lost to Northwestern 43-40, OT. Next: vs. Louisville, Saturday.No. 16 Georgia (8-2) beat No. 9 Auburn 34-7. Next: vs. Charleston Southern, Saturday.No. 17 Arizona (8-2) beat Washington 27-26. Next: at No. 25 Utah, Saturday.No. 18 Clemson (7-3) lost to No. 24 Georgia Tech 28-6. Next: vs. Georgia State, Saturday.No. 19 Duke (8-2) lost to Virginia Tech 17-16. Next: vs. North Carolina, Thursday.No. 20 LSU (7-4) lost to Arkansas 17-0. Next: at Texas A&M, Thursday, Nov. 27.No. 21 Marshall (10-0) beat Rice 41-14. Next: at UAB, Saturday.No. 22 Wisconsin (8-2) beat No. 11 Nebraska 59-24. Next: at Iowa, Saturday.No. 23 Colorado State (9-1) did not play. Next: vs. New Mexico, Saturday.No. 24 Georgia Tech (9-2) beat No. 18 Clemson 28-6. Next: at No. 16 G?? Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Cheap NBA Jerseys Wholesale NHL Jerseys Wholesale MLB Jerseys Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Wholesale NCAA Jerseys Wholesale Football Jerseys Wholesale Basketball Jerseys Wholesale Baseball Jerseys ' ' '