Sources tell TSN that former Maple Leaf Joe Nieuwendyk is scheduled to meet with Toronto general manager Cliff Fletcher this week to discuss joining the team's management group.
Fletcher's first attempt to bring Nieuwendyk on board was stopped by the Florida Panthers, who refused to give the Maple Leafs permission to speak Nieuwendyk before his contract as an advisor to Panthers general manager Jacques Martin expired on June 30.
It's hard to find a guy with the class and general hockey knowledge that Joe possesses, so this is great, and this'll potentially weigh heavily on Sundin's decision. Plus, I'll never forget the two weak ones he put in on Lalime in game 7 against Ottawa.
Just for fun let's compare Gilmour, Nieuwendyk and Yzerman to evaluate future management potential:
Cup experience (gotta know what it takes to build one):
Yzerman - Check. In fact double check.
Glimour - Check.
Nieuwnedyk - Check. In fact triple check and with three different teams. I think this is an important distinction: Yzerman saw how to build a team around a superstar (him), Gilmour helped capture lightning in a bottle helping the flames win one away from the mighty oilers of the time. But Joe N. has seen 3 completely different teams playing 3 different systems (well Dallas and NJ were both trapping teams) win the cup. And although he was an important player each time, he was also not the key guy - he's had the opportunity to see how 3 completely different groups could gel together to win the big prize.
Education (certainly not a foolproof method to determine intelligence, but it would be hard to argue that it made you dumber by going to college)
Yzerman - Don't think so
Gilmour - Don't think so
Nieuwendyk - Cornell University. I may be wrong, but I don't think you get into an Ivey League school on a hockey scholarship.
Etcetera (anything out there in public knowledge that would indicate poor decision making):
Yzerman - None that I know of
Gilmour - I'm one of Douggie's biggest fans and think that his 92/93 season was the best single leaf season since 1967, but there was at least one issue (in St. Louis) where poor personal choices were made.
Nieuwendyk - None that I know of
I think Yzerman may one day make a great general manager OF THE DETROIT RED WINGS but won't be successful elsewhere. Doug Gilmour showed that he would do whatever it took to win, and maybe that will make him a good general manager, but i haven't seen anything (Mark Bell??) to show me that he'll be a good anytime soon. Joe N. has an awful lot going for him.
Why Florida was so insistant on keeping Nieuwy away from us earlier makes no sense...maybe they were pissed about the Kilger deal, lol
I remember reading somewhere that FLA didn't want Nieuwy talking to the Leafs earlier because he might have given away draft and FA plans....whatever!
Anyways, I think this a good move for the Leafs. Let Nieuwy sit in the background and learn a thing or two and maybe in a couple of years he could be the next GM or Assistant.
I also have a question out of this......where does this leave Gilmour?
I think Yzerman may one day make a great general manager OF THE DETROIT RED WINGS but won't be successful elsewhere. Doug Gilmour showed that he would do whatever it took to win, and maybe that will make him a good general manager, but i haven't seen anything (Mark Bell??) to show me that he'll be a good anytime soon. Joe N. has an awful lot going for him.
Welcome back Joe.
Interesting assessment. What was Gilmour's involvement with Mark Bell??
I remember reading somewhere that FLA didn't want Nieuwy talking to the Leafs earlier because he might have given away draft and FA plans....whatever!
Anyways, I think this a good move for the Leafs. Let Nieuwy sit in the background and learn a thing or two and maybe in a couple of years he could be the next GM or Assistant.
I also have a question out of this......where does this leave Gilmour?
I'm happy to be bringing Joe on board, hopefully. Bringing him in, as part of the management group, will only help this team. And who knows, if Joe does enough "wowing" over the next year, perhaps the Leafs decide not to bother with anyone else, and just promote him. I know, "no rookies", but everyone was a rookie somewhere, including Holland in Detroit.
I'm happy to be bringing Joe on board, hopefully. Bringing him in, as part of the management group, will only help this team. And who knows, if Joe does enough "wowing" over the next year, perhaps the Leafs decide not to bother with anyone else, and just promote him. I know, "no rookies", but everyone was a rookie somewhere, including Holland in Detroit.
The same idea was discussed by Panthers fans. I think once again it will depend on how much time Joe wants to spend away from his family. I think he'd be a great GM in the right situation.
Also, I believe Joe originally went to Cornell to play lacrosse and was recruited by the hockey coach.
I know, "no rookies", but everyone was a rookie somewhere, including Holland in Detroit.
