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The 2008–09 Toronto Maple Leafs season was the franchise's 92nd, and their 82nd as the Maple Leafs. The Leafs did not qualify for the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, and have not qualified for the post-season since the 2003–04 season. ==Offseason== The Leafs faced an off-season challenge to hire a general manager. Brian Burke was a favourite for the position held by Interim General Manager Cliff Fletcher, but Burke decided to stay with the Anaheim Ducks. He was not given permission to talk to the Leafs about their vacancy by Ducks owner Henry Samueli.〔(globeandmail.com: Burke stays put, leaving Leafs in the lurch )〕 Burke had one more year left on his contract as the general manager of the Ducks, and those close to him say he was interested in the Maple Leafs' job. On May 7, the Leafs fired Head Coach Paul Maurice, along with two assistant coaches, after missing the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.〔(Paul Maurice fired as Leafs head coach )〕 On May 8, the Leafs asked the Vancouver Canucks permission to speak to Dave Nonis about hiring him for a position with the club.〔(CANOE – SLAM! Sports – Hockey NHL – Toronto – Leafs' timing questionable )〕 In mid-May, there were rumours that Wayne Gretzky was in the running for a position with the Maple Leafs. Gretzky responded to the rumours linking him to the Toronto Maple Leafs by stating that his focus was on the Phoenix Coyotes and developing their young talent.〔(Gretzky's focus remains in Phoenix, not Toronto )〕 On June 10, Ron Wilson was hired as the new head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Wilson was fired in May by the San Jose Sharks after the Sharks lost to the Dallas Stars in the second round of the NHL playoffs. Wilson has also coached the Anaheim Ducks and the Washington Capitals. The former U.S. college player spent parts of three NHL seasons with the Leafs in the 1970s.〔(CANOE – SLAM! Sports – Hockey NHL – Toronto – Wilson faces different challenge with Leafs )〕 The Toronto Maple Leafs hired Al Coates as their player-personnel director on June 16.〔(CANOE – SLAM! Sports – Hockey NHL – Toronto – Leafs hire Al Coates )〕 Coates comes to Toronto after spending the previous six seasons with Anaheim. Coates has spent more than 30 years in pro hockey and has been part of two Stanley Cup-winning teams (2007 with the Anaheim Ducks and 1989 with the Calgary Flames). The move perpetuated speculation that Anaheim General Manager Brian Burke would become the Maple Leafs' GM once his deal with the Ducks expired in 2009. The fact that new head coach Ron Wilson played hockey with Burke at the Providence College sparked further rumors about Burke potentially joining the club. Former NHL star Joe Nieuwendyk was named as General Manager Cliff Fletcher's special assistant on July 8.〔(CANOE – SLAM! Sports – Hockey NHL – Toronto – Nieuwendyk brought in as GM's right-hand man )〕 While playing for the Florida Panthers, Nieuwendyk gained experience as a special consultant to GM Jacques Martin. Throughout the off-season, the Maple Leafs have been involved in numerous transactions. On June 24, the Toronto Maple Leafs put goaltender Andrew Raycroft and forward Kyle Wellwood on waivers.〔(Toronto Maple Leafs – Mike Ulmer's Blog: Leafs Begin Promised Overhaul – 24 June 2008 )〕 Morever, Interim GM Cliff Fletcher informed Darcy Tucker that he is to be bought out of his three-year contract; however, this decision was not made official until June 25.〔(Toronto Maple Leafs – News: Maple Leafs To Buy Out Tucker – 24 June 2008 )〕 The Maple Leafs bought out goaltender Andrew Raycroft on June 28, making him eligible for free agency on July 1. When the free agent signing period began on July 1, Toronto signed defenceman Jeff Finger, goaltender Curtis Joseph and former Dallas Stars forward Niklas Hagman. Another transaction was made on July 3 when Toronto traded for former Montreal Canadiens forward Mikhail Grabovski in exchange for the rights to Greg Pateryn and a second-round draft pick in 2010. The Leafs also re-signed forwards Dominic Moore, John Mitchell and Greg Scott. On July 14, the Maple Leafs acquired forward Ryan Hollweg in a trade with the New York Rangers for a fifth-round draft pick in 2009. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「2008–09 Toronto Maple Leafs season」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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