What It Will Take to Be the Next GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs

Kyle Dubas won't be back to the Toronto Maple Leafs. So the search begins for a new General Manager. What kind of qualities will this gentleman need?

1. Thick Skin

The new General managers will be under rigorous scrutiny. Every move he makes will be questioned. No man is safe from fans questioning, mulling, beating, and also loving-hating at the same time.

2. Perform Under Pressure

The General Manager will be under tremendous pressure. As well as the constant questioning mentioned above, he will have to work under deadlines to get the work done. It will likely be the most highly-pressured job he will ever have. The Toronto Maple Leafs are the Mecca of the NHL Universe.

3. Surround Himself With People He Trusts

He must find two experienced Assistant General Managers to help him make decisions. He has to surround himself with knowledgeable people who know and understand the game and are on the same page as he is; this is vital for his success. If he does not find the right Assistant General Managers, he will be too busy checking their work to focus on the task at hand.

4. Good Judge of Talent

He must be and knowledgeable hockey man. The General Manager must have a good handle on his players' strengths and weaknesses. This knowledge is essential to evaluating the team's prospects and making decisions about their future.

5. Must Have a Plan

The new General Manager must have a clear vision for the team's future and what to do with its core players. He must have the conviction of what to do with the team's core, the big four players. The new GM has to decide what to do with Marner, Matthews, JT, Nylander, and Reilly. So what will it be?

A heads up — expect Flames GM Brad Treliving will get consideration here. (If the Flames give permission, that is.)

Randy

The Blame Game, Frustrations, and Expectations

There's plenty to blame to go around this season for the New York Islanders. You can easily blame their lackluster powerplay, which was unimaginative and unsuccessful all season. You could almost predict what the Islanders would do every time they entered the powerplay. Additionally, the team made critical errors during crucial moments of play. These areas must be addressed for the Islanders to improve next season. 

So what do we do now? Do we keep Lou, or do we shop for a general manager? While we're at it, is Mr. Lambert's job in danger? Everyone knows when things go wrong, the easiest solution is to fire the coach. Lambert doesn't deserve all the blame in this case. Bear with me. Lambert can only work with what he has. But when Lou tried to help, it didn't work. The Islanders have made it clear that Lou and Lambert are staying. I just don't know if this is the right move for the team.

We know we can't trade every player on the team. The Islanders have some of the pieces to the puzzle on this team. Barzal and Horvat are a deadly combination. A lot of fans are raining on Horvat's parade. They are not happy with his performance. I asked my source for all things Islanders, Paul Kreischer, for his opinion. "Horvat and Barzal have not played enough games together to show that they can play together for a full season." I am with Paul. We need to give Barzal and Horvat time to become the team's leaders.

The New York Islanders need to beef up their second line for next season to provide more support for Barse and his scoring capabilities. Nelson continues to improve and continues to be a 30-goal score, no matter who they put him with. I would like to see the team add a sniper to go with Nelson, giving the New York Islanders two scoring lines. I'm hoping, of course, that the New York Islanders go after Tarasanko. If the Rangers don't sign him, he will easily be the top free agent available. If not him, the Islanders have to consider bringing in another forward. 

Lastly, what about Mayfield? Should we sign him? From what I've heard, Mayfield will be asking for a salary of around three to four million dollars a year. If this number is close to the floor, the Isles may let him go and instead use the off-season to address their bottom pairing.

The team has some pieces to the puzzle, but changes must be made to improve their performance next season.

You can reach Paul at twitter @P_Kreischer

The Leafs' Playoff Roadmap to Beating the Panthers

I was understandably worried about the Leafs going up against the Florida Panthers. The Panthers had all the momentum going into this matchup, while the Leafs had nothing to lose. So what do the Maple Leafs have to do to emerge victorious?

I have three key concerns that I want to address regarding this series. There may be more, but these three are of particular importance.

Topping my list, my top three players must do what they do, only better.

Austin Matthews

Austin is to be the one the Leafs rely on to get the big goal. He has to be the leader. He's one of the most explosive offensive players in the NHL. With him for wheeling across the Sunrise shooting, passing, and doing what he does, Toronto will be much more successful.

Mitch Marner

Mitch is a slick playmaking forward. To be successful, Mitch has to be himself. He has to be involved in the play. He has to be stirred in the drink. If Mitch is being creative and causing havoc,  the Leafs will be successful.

John Tavares

The captain's responsibility is to lead by example, setting the tone for the rest of the team. He has to be the leader in the dressing room. The one that speaks up when things aren't going exactly right. He has to steer the ship. He can't sit back and be a passenger. He has to ensure everyone is contributing their fair share.

The second key: no one takes time off. One of my greatest peeves is an NHL team not playing the full 60 minutes. The Leafs have often taken their foot off the gas pedal and allowed teams to get back in the game. They can't take this team politely. They cannot sit on their laurels and expect the Panthers to roll over. Winning the series will take a lot of hard work and dedication.

The final key is coaching the coach. Keefe cannot simply be out-coached. To avoid this, the Maple Leafs need to play their own game instead of playing a wide-open game like the Panthers. For the Maple Leafs to succeed, they must play their game.

Randy