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2023-24 Marlies/Growlers Discussion

https://twitter.com/ToddCrocker/status/1676234194605727746
https://twitter.com/Kyle_Cush/status/1676233182281121792
 
Gruden was also the first head coach of the Flint Firebirds, and the details of how that relationship ended during their inaugural season might be remembered by some:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flint_Firebirds said:
The Firebirds garnered international attention in November 2015 when, following an overtime victory over the Oshawa Generals, owner Rolf Nilsen fired the team's entire coaching staff for failing to adequately increase the playing time of his son, H?kon Nilsen, a Firebirds' defenseman described by one NHL player agent as "a borderline OHL player". Prior to the game against Oshawa, the entire team with the exception of Hakon Nilsen met with head coach John Gruden and his staff and were informed that the owner had insisted that his son receive more playing time, and indeed Nilsen ultimately played 17 minutes, including power-play time, in the subsequent game. However, head coach John Gruden has denied that this was the reason for his dismissal. In response to the firings, the entire team, including H?kon Nilsen, stormed into the team's front office, threw their jerseys on the floor, and quit the team in a show of solidarity with the coaching staff.

The player revolt proved to be successful, as less than 24 hours later the coaching staff was not only rehired, but given three-year contract extensions. Following a meeting with OHL commissioner David Branch, Firebirds' owner Rolf Nilsen stated publicly that he had made an "irresponsible mistake" and apologized to the players.

On February 17, 2016, Rolf Nilsen again fired head coach John Gruden and assistant coach Dave Karpa. The next day, OHL Commissioner David Branch suspended Nilsen, as well as his appointees on the management and coaching staff, from hockey operations until further notice. The league also ordered counseling be provided to players, at Nilsen's cost. Nilsen and his staff were then ordered to cooperate with a league investigation and comply with its findings. On April 6, 2016, the OHL suspended Nilsen for five years, with no requests for reinstatement to be entertained for three years. He was also fined $250,000. The league also stripped the Firebirds of their 2016 first-round draft pick. Had Nilsen attempted to get involved in hockey operations while suspended, the OHL could have forced him to sell the Firebirds. The OHL placed the Firebirds under league stewardship and appointed Joe Birch as director of operations. After the five-year suspension passed, the OHL reinstated Rolf Nilsen on April 6, 2021.
Click to expand...

Gruden was then hired by the Bulldogs a few months later where he ended up winning a OHL championship.
 
herman said:
I remember that (vaguely)! He can handle Toronto drama no problem, then.
Click to expand...
Yes when Nylanders Dad throws firebombs into the Scotiabank Arena cause Willy didn't get 11 million a year.
 
https://twitter.com/Kyle_Cush/status/1677317845481299974
Let's play fill in the blank: Leafs should sign Suthers and trade him to Arizona for ________
 
herman said:
https://twitter.com/Kyle_Cush/status/1677317845481299974
Let's play fill in the blank: Leafs should sign Suthers and trade him to Arizona for ________
Click to expand...

Nick Ritchie?
 
https://twitter.com/Kyle_Cush/status/1679525500207652873

Dyck has a very extensive resume in the junior scene. Almost a little surprised he'd take an AHL assistant coaching job at 54 with his experience/background. While Wellwood, who coincidently enough was also a former Flint Firebirds head coach like Gruden, typically gets high praise for the work he's done with the Growlers.

Gruden, Dyck, and Wellwood all have experience with junior players which will be important since this Marlies team could potentially have more young players than we've seen in the past few years.
 
https://twitter.com/torontomarlies/status/1679853472328437762
https://twitter.com/mostlyleafies/status/1679856083257511936
I?m spending my 30k post on this, instead of waiting for the Nylander signing. Can I squeeze in another 10k until then?
 
The Leafs just announced their roster for their 2023 Training Camp and there were several players on Marlie contracts who weren't listed:

Zach Solow
Grant Cruikshank
Jackson Berezowski
Brock Caufield
David Farrance
Dryden McKay

Does anyone know the status of these players and why they weren't listed?
 
Like you said, those guys are all on AHL-only contracts and not every single player on a AHL contract gets invited to the NHL camp. Presumably the few that did get an invite are ones that the Leafs think have a bit more potential and could benefit the most from the development portion of camp. It's notable that 5 of the 6 names you mentioned are 24 years or older.

The rest will show up when the Marlies open their training camp which is generally a couple weeks after NHL camps open.
 
https://x.com/kyle_cush/status/1710701916341047597

cooke-matt-cooke.gif

?!?
 
https://twitter.com/nickbarden/status/1712509488723275868
Marlies Assistant Coach, and former Growlers Head Coach

All the best to him and his family.

I wonder if Danielle Goyette gets a temporary spin at assistant coaching, as she did covering for the Growlers when Wellwood went into Covid protocol.
 
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