SNY POINT BLANK TV: GREG CRONIN
New Maple Leafs asst on 6-7 dman Jamie Oleksiak
1:00 pm: By the end of this interview I had a feeling Greg Cronin was on the move. I held this until today’s announcement that the Maple Leafs have hired Cronin and Scott Gordon as assistant coaches to Ron Wilson. Outstanding additions for Toronto. Listen to Cronin as he praises and pushes his defenseman at Northeastern: 6-7, 244-pound defenseman Jamie Oleksiak, who will likely be drafted in the top 15 on June 24. Recorded last week. Much more to come later today and for the rest of the week. Comments on this, please.
35 Responses to SNY POINT BLANK TV: GREG CRONIN
New Maple Leafs asst on 6-7 dman Jamie Oleksiak
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Glens says:
I think Scott Gordon has a lot to offer as an assistant coach, but I think he was in over his head as a head coach with the Isles. His GO GO system looked great at the start of the season, but at the end of the day it wore on the player’s and it showed through the injuries. Good luck to him in Toronto, except when he plys the Isles of course.
LETS GO ISLANDERS…..
PS: GARTH lets do the right thing on Friday please. -
Sal says:
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Isles traded back to pick the 6’7 defenseman. It’s not everyday you get one of those on the blue line. Maybe he’s the next Chara?
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IslesHostage says:
How does the colder weather affect groin pulls/surgeries? I was hoping NYR but this is just as good for Go-Go-Gone.
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Jzimm says:
I wouldn’t draft a guy just because he’s 6’7″. It doesn’t mean he’s the next Chara. I’m 6’1″, was a decent skater, had decent hands, a pretty good temper, but that didn’t mean that I was the next Mark Messier. Also, it’s all relative, the 6’1″ is real, but the “decent skater”, “decent hands”, means for a DIII hockey player. I never sniffed anything close to the NHL. But I did have a funny temper… still kind of do.
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Andy F says:
#5, Northeastern is D-1 and Oleksiak is a standout on a competitive team.
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Ethan K says:
I wanted Scott Gordon to be an offensive assistant coach for the Islanders, under an established head coach. He’ll do well.
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Neil says:
Appears Ron Wilson was not on board for this.
And if Greg Cronin’s leaving NU, it means the NCAA is comin’ a-knockin, like he did at Maine
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dhockey says:
Maybe a good move if we can trade back into the mid first round using our 2 2nd rounders + to grab this guy
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Anthony says:
was Chara on the “shy” side in regards to hitting and fighting when he was this guys age? Obviously Chara and the other guys that Cronin mentioned have developed into hard hitting, game changers over time. I was not aware that Oleksiak was not the type to throw the body around as much given his size, my question is … do you think he will take on that role and are the Islanders considering moving around to take a man like this given the other prospects in this draft?
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JimfromStJames says:
Good now the Leafs can lead the league on groin pulls and twisted knees…
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NYI365 says:
sounds like a project, much like zdeno was, unless if these draftees are going to be nhl ready before 2015 i don’t see the point, this whole arena saga is really putting a damper on things,,, thank you CB for all your incredible work!
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2Bit says:
I don’t know about Oleksiak. My vote still goes for whoever is there between Landeskog, Courturier, Larsson or Siemens.
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I’m with #9 – package the 2 #2′s or sweeten with a B-level prospect. Anyway too many variables to make the call on a possible move up at this point….but if we are talking about moving up perhaps Duncan Seimans? Just don’t move back from #5.
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i was sad that the isles sacked gordon as a coach, but i believe at the time, it was the proper move. i think gordon has a great future as a head coach, much like the guy in Phila. still, happy to see good men prosper, even if its not for us. still hope we take the swede defender( doubt he’s there, but ya never know)or the big centermen Couturier..hes a big boy up front(6’4″, 195 lbs as a teenager) with skill. we play in East, big bears needed. hes been a top rated player for 2 years. sometimes 6’4″ centermen with skill, are just 6″4″ centermen with skill. they dont grow on trees like flashy quick 5’10″ wingers.
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gary91922 says:
dont think down…
think up… this team needs to make a splash and become relevant!!!
Trade up to get Landeskog, make a move at ZP, make something happen!!!!
Trading down at this important junction in this franchises existence does not help the cause.
We need positive headlines to stir people so they beg the Isles to stay and make it politically favorable to push through a good arena deal!!!
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Jack says:
Hockey News on Oleksiak. ” He’s a poor man’s Tyler Myers. ” ” He’s not overly physical. ” Draft Dougie Hamilton and move on.
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MoreDraftPicks says:
Yeh right…..#34 and #50 will get you #15. Cmon guys……..
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EdTurner says:
Not a chance that they will draft a 6’7″ d-man.
At that height he needs a custom jersey. They are not paying extra for a custom jersey.
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#13,,,, I love your optimism but cmon, thats a little ridiculous, be optimistic but you also have to be real
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the only people against the islanders are stupid ranger fans/democrats
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Blitz says:
Nice career path to go from suspended in the NCAA to an assistant coach in the NHL.
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Oye Comeau Va says:
You can’t draft someone based solely on size. Remember Kristian Kudroc? My point exactly. Besides, there will be tons of D-men available after the 1st round that can help. Watch out for Joel Edmundson.
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Chin Ho says:
It’s a cinch Gordon won’t be in charge of the power play.
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Ray says:
not suprised given the USA hockey connection…. By all accounts this kid is raw but with alot of potential… If we go foward with our first pick and decide to trade back into the first i would target Klefbom….
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also not interested in “soft” big men….
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PotvinRocks says:
Pass…
Strome will be there at 5 and will definately be a player in the league, sooner rather than later. -
LouD says:
When will the Gordon bashers understand that he was coaching a minor league hockey team? I’m not saying the man is the best coach in the league, not even saying he was in the top 20, but what I am saying is that he had VERY little to work with. That means we never really got the chance to see what he could do with an NHL roster. You would think from reading a few of these posts that some people do believe it’s possible to polish a turd and Gordon just wasn’t scrubbing hard enough. Time to leave the man alone and wish him a bright future in the NHL.
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Pingback: WRBB Sports » Off The Wires: Reaction to Cronin’s departure
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Daniel says:
Very informative interview Chris. I follow the guy on Twitter who claimed Cronin was going to the Tigers. He def knows his hockey. I am very torn on this kid, if they like him, they should go after him. The potential is there, and we are definitely lacking a big body on the blue line. That being said, we need somebody with an edge, not a big kid who has the potential to get nasty. We need somebody nasty period.
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James III says:
@ the # 5:
Huberdeau (no way he’s avail)
Strome
Couturierthen move up to take this kid in the mid-to-late 1st round.
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IslesNC says:
As far as trading up for Oleksiak from no. 34, in last year’s draft, nos. 35 and 58 got the Isles to no. 30 (B. Nelson), so maybe this year nos. 34 and 50 would bring somewhere around no. 26-27 in return. Still probably well shy of where Oleksiak will go. Maybe Nabakov would get them the rest of the way.
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JKP on LI says:
Lots of rumors that they’re hiring potential replacements for Wilson. Gordon would be a disaster head coaching in Toronto. He couldn’t handle the tiny Isles media contingent without petulantly walking off the podium in response to tough questions.
He might be a good Xs and Os guy–I agree that the lack of talent made it impossible to tell–but I don’t think he has the people skills or temperament to handle head coaching anywhere, but especially not in Canada.
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Fee-Show says:
Sounds like Jurcina Junior.
Ray (#26) hit the nail right on the head. Nothing frustrates me more as a fan than having a guy with size not use it!
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Bob E says:
trying to fill the chara void. thank you mike milbury. I dont hink this kid as much of a dark horse as everyone things. he going to go alot higher then expected.
would be great if we moved down to get him with late first rounder. My feeling is he wouldnt be there.
Wait, Scott Gordon now an asst. coach in Toronto? More on this soon, I trust.