Maple Leafs Roundtable: Does Lamoriello Finish His Contract?
Dec 15, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; The Toronto Maple Leafs logo at center ice before the start of the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
The Toronto Maple Leafs have Lou Lamoriello under contract as the general manager through 2017-2018, but will he see it through?
There’s always the chance that a GM gets shuffled into a different position, especially if that GM has budding young management prospect sitting below him that the team doesn’t want to lose. Are the Toronto Maple Leafs in this situation?
In this week’s roundtable, we ask the following question:
Will Lou Lamoriello finish his deal as the Toronto Maple Leafs GM?
It all depends on how you view Lamoriello’s decisions as GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and how much control you think he’s had over every single decision.
There have been decisions that you could pin on Mark Hunter. There have been decisions you could pin on Kyle Dubas. There has been decisions that you can pin on Lou Lamoriello.
The pecking order, on paper, is definitive. It’s Lamoriello, then Dubas-Hunter. But is it that simple in reality?
We discuss.
Apr 11, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; The Toronto Maple Leafs logo on the offices of the Air Canada Centre before the final game of the season against the Montreal Canadiens at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Torrin Batchelor
That all depends on those three men. If Mark Hunter is satisfied with being recognized with the AGM title for his expanded role, then leave it there and let Lou finish off.The same goes for Dubas, he is in no rush to be the big man on campus and will take every second of sponge soaking knowledge from Uncle Lou that he can get.That means it falls to Lamoriello himself. Does he still have the fire and passion to whether a full season at the helm? The point he’s at in his career with all he’s already accomplished, there’s nothing left to prove to anyone other than himself.If Lou has the will, then he’s earned the right to finish off his term in the big chair. If he has any doubts about that passion, then shift him to a special advisor to the President role and potentially run a two headed Dallas Stars-esque co-GM team of Dubas and Hunter.Otherwise, let Uncle Lou be the godfather for one more season.Next: Lauren Kelly's Call
Mar 9, 2013; Toronto, ON, Canada; The Toronto Maple Leafs logo decal at center ice before the start of the shootout against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Air Canada Centre. The Penguins beat the Maple Leafs 5-4 in the shootout. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Lauren Kelly
Although promoting Hunter or Dubas after this season wouldn’t come straight out of left field, it makes more sense to let Lamoriello finish up his contract as the Leafs GM before they do.
There’s no harm in keeping Lou in charge for one more season, and after all, they signed him to the original contract length because they had every intention of allowing him to remain as the Leafs GM for the duration of the contract.
Once Lou’s contract is up, then they can decide as to whether or not to sign him to another contract or allow Dubas or Hunter to take the reigns from there.
The only reason I can see Lou not being the Leafs GM after this season is if he steps down and allows one of the other two to take his place (and that’s a very big ‘if’).
Dec 15, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; The Toronto Maple Leafs logo at center ice before the start of the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Tim Chiasson
I think the Toronto Maple Leafs are going to be further along at the end of the 2016-2017 season than anyone expected. With that will come the need for this team to take a definitive course and I don’t think Lamoriello should be involved in the concrete portion of the rebuild.
Lamoriello was brought in for his experience and knowledge of being a National Hockey League general manager. He’ll have fulfilled his duties by the end of this season and it’s time to hand the team over to either Kyle Dubas or Mark Hunter.
The team will be looking to make long-term moves and not short-term patchwork like the Polak and Martin signings.
This team needs to remove any negative personnel influence that could arise. As long as Lamoriello is around there’s a chance the Leafs sign a strange veteran with a negative impact on the team.
After this year those kinds of moves won’t be as easily swept under the rug.
All that being said, the longer that Dubas and Hunter are in the shadows the more opportunities that will arise for them elsewhere. They say they’re committed to Toronto, I believe they’re committed to Toronto, but job offers and money talk louder than promises.
The Leafs can’t afford to lose either Hunter or Dubas, but they can afford to shuffle Lamoriello elsewhere in the organization.
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