Jeremy Laura: Todd McLellan presser - video and thoughts about what was said

Only 10 super stars in the league???? Then why does the Leafs have 4 of them?????

I have not listed to the presser but your text report of it told me that there WILL be a different attitude in the locker room and on ice. I can see the new group pulling players off ice if they decide not to give 110%. About time.

Only 10 super stars in the league???? Then why does the Leafs have 4 of them?????
- HenryHockey

I guess it depends on how you differentiate stars from Superstars. It’s the NFL version of “how many true #1 quarterbacks are there”?

I have not listed to the presser but your text report of it told me that there WILL be a different attitude in the locker room and on ice. I can see the new group pulling players off ice if they decide not to give 110%. About time.
- BiffPokaroba

definitely looking for accountability. Accept what you have as a team and grind it out

Great interview, very insightful. Todd Mac’s not an idiot or sub-par coach, he’s got a read on this team and where he wants to take this team, it feels.

He made a pretty strong reference to “HockeyTown. I know what that means…”. Give him a week or so. Clean slate. Utilize the talent on the roster, hold players accountable. He said something that made me re-wind a bit talking about Larkin bearing the weight on his shoulders: “Other guys need to do that….” I see that as a veiled reference to some guys not stepping up. Feels like accountability is in the cards.

After watching this, he may not be Toe or Scotty, but he may well be the right guy with the right skill-set and approach to implement change. Believe me, Organizational Change Management (OCM) is a beast of a task. A deliberative approach to lay ownership on the organization, obtain buy-in, and implementing change is an inexact science, but when done properly, by the right leaders, can have profound impacts. It just feels like a much better fit. Yawney’s got his hands full, as well….

This is going to be an interesting few weeks!

Great interview, very insightful. Todd Mac’s not an idiot or sub-par coach, he’s got a read on this team and where he wants to take this team, it feels.

He made a pretty strong reference to “HockeyTown. I know what that means…”. Give him a week or so. Clean slate. Utilize the talent on the roster, hold players accountable. He said something that made me re-wind a bit talking about Larkin bearing the weight on his shoulders: “Other guys need to do that….” I see that as a veiled reference to some guys not stepping up. Feels like accountability is in the cards.

After watching this, he may not be Toe or Scotty, but he may well be the right guy with the right skill-set and approach to implement change. Believe me, Organizational Change Management (OCM) is a beast of a task. A deliberative approach to lay ownership on the organization, obtain buy-in, and implementing change is an inexact science, but when done properly, by the right leaders, can have profound impacts. It just feels like a much better fit. Yawney’s got his hands full, as well….

This is going to be an interesting few weeks!
- mcmastermike1968

I got the same feeling. Apparently Perron was very verbal in the room and no one has filled that gap. Trying to temper expectations. Looking for players to own their part in this as well as Yzerman. Part of me is relieved only in wondering if this was being considered.

Sooooooo. Talbot to Edmonton, according to Ek this is an e4, so Lou Whittaker is being charged an error. Got it 🤭🤭

I got the same feeling. Apparently Perron was very verbal in the room and no one has filled that gap. Trying to temper expectations. Looking for players to own their part in this as well as Yzerman. Part of me is relieved only in wondering if this was being considered.
- Jeremy Laura

As has been outlined by several of your regulars, Perron's move wasn't a major impact on the ice, but man do they miss his voice in the room. I never played pro sports so take the following for what it's worth: Every team/organization needs someone who serves as "the voice". Losing Perron really impacted the room.....

Only 10 super stars in the league???? Then why does the Leafs have 4 of them?????
- HenryHockey


I guess it depends on how you differentiate stars from Superstars. It’s the NFL version of “how many true #1 quarterbacks are there”?

What is a superstar? Is it a top-ten point producer? Over the last three seasons, Toronto has one. Is it a top-twenty point producer? Over the last three seasons, Toronto has three. Is it a top-thirty-nine point producer? Well, then Toronto has four.

Is it a top-ten playoff point producer? Over the past three seasons, Toronto has zero. Is it a top-twenty playoff point producer? Toronto has zero. Is it a top-thirty-eight playoff point producer? Toronto has one.

Only 10 super stars in the league???? Then why does the Leafs have 4 of them?????

The Leafs have 4 being paid like superstars..... that's different than having 4 superstars.

What is a superstar? Is it a top-ten point producer? Over the last three seasons, Toronto has one. Is it a top-twenty point producer? Over the last three seasons, Toronto has three. Is it a top-thirty-nine point producer? Well, then Toronto has four.

Is it a top-ten playoff point producer? Over the past three seasons, Toronto has zero. Is it a top-twenty playoff point producer? Toronto has zero. Is it a top-thirty-eight playoff point producer? Toronto has one.
- bluelineenforcer

Always have to come into the fray with those blasted "facts", don't you???? 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

The Leafs have 4 being paid like superstars..... that's different than having 4 superstars.


- ThatDarnCat

Yeah, but their COACH has Lord Stanley's chalice on his resume', sooooooo........I got nuthun. Todd Mac's going to be a good change for us, regardless of what the Tronno Twit thinks.

The thing about Tronno's "core 4" is the cap hit makes it impossible to bring in guys who are viable assets for an extended cup run.......much like some of the contracts we're paying now. The Leafs are good, but they need serious help to seriously contend.

I wasn't sure how I felt about the hire, but after thinking about it, I think it's a good thing, at least short-term. Leadership is part art, part science. Great leaders can make ordinary people do extraordinary things. Great leaders can make extraordinary people achieve the seemingly impossible. Men are willing to charge headfirst into danger for a great leader. I've seen firsthand what great leadership can do, and I've seen firsthand what weak leadership can destroy (and very quickly).

Like the military, it would never work to have one leader, lead the same men for years on end. Their schtick gets old. Its why officers are always being moved around and why good NHL coaches move around. It's built in stages. You have leaders who are strong working with younger, inexperienced guys, but oftentimes they aren't good working with more experienced guys. Then there are leaders who are effective leading experienced guys, but not with the young, new guys. Then you have leaders who excel at working with rockstars. The latter is the hardest of them all. That was Scotty Bowman and it's where McLellan hasn't proved he can get to.

They need a leader who can develop young players, while also effectively leading another group who are entering their primes over the next few years. He's going to have very young goalies soon, a young D-core and I personally believe young players respond better to veteran coaches than they do to young/new coaches. Blashill had success in a league where every player is fighting tooth and nail to make the show, but that doesn't mean they are good leaders at the next level where it's more challenging to find the motivation. Those are few and far between (Cooper).

McLellan's experience should help with the younger players. He's coached plenty of stars so leading the crop entering their prime shouldn't be a problem. He's probably not going to be the leader that propels them to the SCF, but he may be the right guy point them in the right direction.

He's got a bit of a mess to deal with for the next two years, but he also has plenty of reinforcements who should be coming up over the next two and beyond. We shall see.

I wasn't sure how I felt about the hire, but after thinking about it, I think it's a good thing, at least short-term. Leadership is part art, part science. Great leaders can make ordinary people do extraordinary things. Great leaders can make extraordinary people achieve the seemingly impossible. Men are willing to charge headfirst into danger for a great leader. I've seen firsthand what great leadership can do, and I've seen firsthand what weak leadership can destroy (and very quickly).

Like the military, it would never work to have one leader, lead the same men for years on end. Their schtick gets old. Its why officers are always being moved around and why good NHL coaches move around. It's built in stages. You have leaders who are strong working with younger, inexperienced guys, but oftentimes they aren't good working with more experienced guys. Then there are leaders who are effective leading experienced guys, but not with the young, new guys. Then you have leaders who excel at working with rockstars. The latter is the hardest of them all. That was Scotty Bowman and it's where McLellan hasn't proved he can get to.

They need a leader who can develop young players, while also effectively leading another group who are entering their primes over the next few years. He's going to have very young goalies soon, a young D-core and I personally believe young players respond better to veteran coaches than they do to young/new coaches. Blashill had success in a league where every player is fighting tooth and nail to make the show, but that doesn't mean they are good leaders at the next level where it's more challenging to find the motivation. Those are few and far between (Cooper).

McLellan's experience should help with the younger players. He's coached plenty of stars so leading the crop entering their prime shouldn't be a problem. He's probably not going to be the leader that propels them to the SCF, but he may be the right guy point them in the right direction.

He's got a bit of a mess to deal with for the next two years, but he also has plenty of reinforcements who should be coming up over the next two and beyond. We shall see.
- bluelineenforcer

I wasn't aware anyone knew

I wasn't sure how I felt about the hire, but after thinking about it, I think it's a good thing, at least short-term. Leadership is part art, part science. Great leaders can make ordinary people do extraordinary things. Great leaders can make extraordinary people achieve the seemingly impossible. Men are willing to charge headfirst into danger for a great leader. I've seen firsthand what great leadership can do, and I've seen firsthand what weak leadership can destroy (and very quickly).

Like the military, it would never work to have one leader, lead the same men for years on end. Their schtick gets old. Its why officers are always being moved around and why good NHL coaches move around. It's built in stages. You have leaders who are strong working with younger, inexperienced guys, but oftentimes they aren't good working with more experienced guys. Then there are leaders who are effective leading experienced guys, but not with the young, new guys. Then you have leaders who excel at working with rockstars. The latter is the hardest of them all. That was Scotty Bowman and it's where McLellan hasn't proved he can get to.

They need a leader who can develop young players, while also effectively leading another group who are entering their primes over the next few years. He's going to have very young goalies soon, a young D-core and I personally believe young players respond better to veteran coaches than they do to young/new coaches. Blashill had success in a league where every player is fighting tooth and nail to make the show, but that doesn't mean they are good leaders at the next level where it's more challenging to find the motivation. Those are few and far between (Cooper).

McLellan's experience should help with the younger players. He's coached plenty of stars so leading the crop entering their prime shouldn't be a problem. He's probably not going to be the leader that propels them to the SCF, but he may be the right guy point them in the right direction.

He's got a bit of a mess to deal with for the next two years, but he also has plenty of reinforcements who should be coming up over the next two and beyond. We shall see.
- bluelineenforcer

Great comment.

The Leafs have 4 being paid like superstars..... that's different than having 4 superstars.


- ThatDarnCat

Sooooooo. Talbot to Edmonton, according to Ek this is an e4, so Lou Whittaker is being charged an error. Got it 🤭🤭
- mcmastermike1968

Thinking Lyon goes there for a 3rd.