Regardless of situation with Leafs, 'bright' Ferguson has a future in NHL
Michael Traikos, National Post
Published: Monday, January 21, 2008TORONTO - After spending more than six months on the proverbial hot seat, John Ferguson's days in Toronto could be numbered.
But many believe that the Maple Leafs general manager still has a future in the National Hockey League, if and when he and the Maple Leafs part ways.
"This is a very, very bright guy and a sharp hockey mind who's very respected," said Larry Pleau, senior vice-president and general manager of the St. Louis Blues. "He's going to be around the hockey world for a long, long time."
Rumours began surfacing early last week that former Maple Leafs general manager Cliff Fletcher, who is currently vacationing in Mexico, will replace Ferguson in the next 48 hours. If that happens, Ferguson will leave behind a team that has missed the playoffs the last two seasons and is tied for 13th in the 15-team Eastern Conference this year.
Despite the team's lack of success, Ferguson's reputation apparently remains untarnished. Many believe the 40-year-old has earned even more respect after spending four years working for what one hockey source referred to as a "dysfunctional franchise" in one of hockey's biggest markets.
"I just think he's in a very tough situation," said Rich Hunter, a professional scout with the Phoenix Coyotes. "With most teams, you're allowed to be the general manager. And I don't think that's obviously happening out there.
"It's probably one of the toughest organizations in pro sports to manage a team, because it's more than just the hockey team. It's an empire. And I do feel bad, because I think he got pushed around unfairly.
"I don't think he deserves it. I think it's unfair."
When he was first hired to be the Leafs general manager in 2003, critics wondered if the son of Montreal Canadiens legend John Ferguson Sr. actually deserved the job.
Ferguson had never run an NHL team. He had worked as a player agent and a scout, and his previous managerial experience was as an assistant GM in St. Louis.
At the time, it did not matter. But last November, Richard Peddie, the president and chief executive officer of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, said that hiring a rookie general manager "was a mistake."
Though columnists have said worse things about Ferguson, the fact that it came from Peddie's mouth only made the beleaguered general manager appear more like a victim.
"How can you not sympathize?" said Rick Dudley, the Chicago Blackhawks' assistant general manager. "I just know that if you're going to be put under the microscope, that's a dandy. With all that is swirling around him and all the media attention he's got, I think he's done a real good job of focusing on his job, to be honest with you."
Though Ferguson may have had his hands tied in Toronto, with the MLSE board apparently insisting on approving any major decisions, his resume still has more than a few black marks on it.
In the past four years, he has traded future prospects for short-term gains. And ever since the salary cap was implemented in 2005, he has locked the team into expensive long-term contracts.
"That's not a general manager's fault," Dudley said. "That's an organizational philosophy. Sometimes you're told as the GM that you have to make the playoffs this year. If that's said, then I don't blame anybody for doing that."
Ferguson said last week that he presented a rebuilding plan two years ago that the MLSE board rejected, presumably because the Leafs were not expected to be competitive in the short term. That, and MLSE's refusal to address his contract situation, have made it difficult to think in the long term.
"He is in the last year of his contract, and to get an extension, we need to see ... we need to see real progress," Peddie told the National Post on the first day of training camp. "And that starts with making the playoffs."
While there is no guarantee Ferguson will get another chance to work as an NHL general manager if he is fired by the Leafs, his colleagues believe his career is far from over.
"I think John Ferguson has done a tremendous job under these circumstances and handled it as a professional," Pleau said. "It says a lot about him. He's an excellent person and has got a bright future in this business."