Leiweke: Leafs' decisions coming soon

MLSE CEO Tim Leiweke phoned in to Tim & Sid on Sportsnet 590 The FAN Wednesday afternoon.

On the collapse of the Leafs:

"I guess I'm spending a lot more time on where we're going. I've spent a lot of time with Brendan. Spent some time with him in New York when we were there for the playoff games. He's here, came back with us Monday... spent a few hours with him again this morning. He'll be at the game tonight.

"He's out doing one-on-ones with everybody on the hockey side. I'm amazed at his focus and intensity, but I'm also amazed - he's like a sponge. So he's taking a lot in and learning a lot.

"I'm very comfortable that we are headed in a direction here where we're never going to have to go through this sort of thing again because I won't let it happen. It's just unacceptable and Shanny not only feels the same way I do, but I see the way he's going about this and it gives me a lot of comfort we're about to make the right decisions in a lot of different areas soon. So you will see decisions on our part in the near future based on the work he's done, the intelligence and information he is now digesting. And I love the fact he is very analytical on how he's approaching this and what he thinks is wrong and how we fix it."

On if these decisions will involve the coach:

"Well, they're going to involve every aspect of the organization. Brendan has to put his - just as Masai has done on the basketball side - we need Shanny to do on the hockey side. He has. He will. And I'm excited about it. I'm telling you guys, we got ourselves a good one here. The first two weeks, have absolutely verified within not just my head, but my heart, this is a guy that is ultimately going to get us to the right place and will never let this happen to us again."

Again, on if it can be said with certainty if Randy Carlyle will return next year:

"That's Shanny's decision and it's Dave Nonis's decision and the two of them are spending a lot of time together. By the way, they're doing extremely well for those that said it wouldn't work, for those that said it was an extra layer, for those that said it was the end of Dave Nonis - it couldn't be further from the actual, what's taking place now within our organization.

"They have formed a bond like I thought they would. They have different qualities and they bring to the task different experiences and different strengths and it's worked out extremely well. They are getting along extremely well. I have not had to intercede on one issue, nor do I expect to, and I think they see eye-to-eye on where we're headed here."

On if he and Shanahan can put enough of their stamp on this team from the front office to be able to say 'this will never happen to us again':

"Yes."

On how many guys on the roster he would deem untradeable:

"Well, my opinion doesn't matter - but I'll give you my opinion. No one's untradeable.

"Now, that doesn't mean a damn thing. What I know is this: Brendan's meeting with each guy, one-on-one. Brendan and Dave are spending a lot of time talking about how do we get better. There are decisions coming soon, I promise you. I know where these guys are at in their decision-making. We're not there yet, but they're getting there.

"We will not lack in our ability to make tough decisions around here, I promise you."

Source: Tim & Sid, Sportsnet 590 The FAN