OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - Turning Over a New Leaf(s): The 1988-89 Maple Leafs

uWoHollywood · 05-22-2023, 04:54 PM

Leafs GM Jason Taylor focused on settling things down during the final days of the offseason. He offered extensions to some players where he was confident about long-term fit and potential.

G Ed Belfour, 23 - 4yr 2way @ $45k/yr
RW Russ Courtnall, 23 - 3yr @ $290k/yr (no budge)
LW Dave Reid, 24 - 3yr @ 130k/yr (no budge)

Taylor also asked Scotty Bowman to ensure that any player on the final year of their contract be qualified in June, to avoid losing any of them as a UFA. Taylor would see how some of his older players on expiring contracts (Brad Marsh, Borje Salming, Doug Smail and Ron Wilson) performed with the team before offering them extensions.

There was one final meeting with his coaching staff to decide on line-up and strategy. Here is the Maple Leafs’ starting roster for the 1988-89 Preseason (with Ken Wregget as starter, and Ed Belfour as backup in net):

Fan happiness was strong, as is almost always the case in Toronto. But losing two fan favourites (Al Secord, Allan Bester) along two of the team’s top scorers (Tom Fergus, Mark Osborne) were not well received. This was especially true following the loss of the acrobatic Bester. Taylor understood he would likely need to hold off on any more blockbusters to avoid angering fans for the foreseeable future.

The only hiccup as training camp opened was Scott Pearson reporting out of shape. Rather than blast him in the media, Taylor took him to his office for a one-to-one chat. Taylor advised that he understood Pearson was young (18) and still maturing, but this would need to be a key learning for him. There is a level of commitment required to be a professional hockey player, and coming back from vacation unfit to play would cost him both development time (getting back into shape) and any chance of starting the season with the NHL squad. Pearson hung his head, and said he understood. Taylor stressed he wasn’t going to be traded or released; he would get plenty of ice time with the AHL Newmarket Saints. But Pearson HAD to be better, and Taylor didn’t want to have this conversation ever again.

A few days later, on Taylor’s birthday, the preseason would officially begin. With Toronto’s players fully committed to training camp, and the Leafs’ first exhibition game on the horizon, Taylor briefly allowed himself a moment of satisfaction. He felt his efforts had put the Leafs in a better position to succeed in the long term, while still remaining competitive in the weak Norris division. Go Leafs Go indeed.

05-22-2023, 04:54 PM	#7
uWoHollywood Minors (Single A) Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 55	End of the 1988 Offseason Leafs GM Jason Taylor focused on settling things down during the final days of the offseason. He offered extensions to some players where he was confident about long-term fit and potential. G Ed Belfour, 23 - 4yr 2way @ $45k/yr RW Russ Courtnall, 23 - 3yr @ $290k/yr (no budge) LW Dave Reid, 24 - 3yr @ 130k/yr (no budge) Taylor also asked Scotty Bowman to ensure that any player on the final year of their contract be qualified in June, to avoid losing any of them as a UFA. Taylor would see how some of his older players on expiring contracts (Brad Marsh, Borje Salming, Doug Smail and Ron Wilson) performed with the team before offering them extensions. There was one final meeting with his coaching staff to decide on line-up and strategy. Here is the Maple Leafs’ starting roster for the 1988-89 Preseason (with Ken Wregget as starter, and Ed Belfour as backup in net): Fan happiness was strong, as is almost always the case in Toronto. But losing two fan favourites (Al Secord, Allan Bester) along two of the team’s top scorers (Tom Fergus, Mark Osborne) were not well received. This was especially true following the loss of the acrobatic Bester. Taylor understood he would likely need to hold off on any more blockbusters to avoid angering fans for the foreseeable future. The only hiccup as training camp opened was Scott Pearson reporting out of shape. Rather than blast him in the media, Taylor took him to his office for a one-to-one chat. Taylor advised that he understood Pearson was young (18) and still maturing, but this would need to be a key learning for him. There is a level of commitment required to be a professional hockey player, and coming back from vacation unfit to play would cost him both development time (getting back into shape) and any chance of starting the season with the NHL squad. Pearson hung his head, and said he understood. Taylor stressed he wasn’t going to be traded or released; he would get plenty of ice time with the AHL Newmarket Saints. But Pearson HAD to be better, and Taylor didn’t want to have this conversation ever again. A few days later, on Taylor’s birthday, the preseason would officially begin. With Toronto’s players fully committed to training camp, and the Leafs’ first exhibition game on the horizon, Taylor briefly allowed himself a moment of satisfaction. He felt his efforts had put the Leafs in a better position to succeed in the long term, while still remaining competitive in the weak Norris division. Go Leafs Go indeed.