RIP Jim Gregory

[unassuming]

Former Leafs GM , Jim Gregory has passed, he was 83. He was responsible for bringing HOFer , Borje Salming to the Leafs.

 

[Mozo]

Sad news. He was a class guy.

 

[jgd]

I think that if he had stayed with the Leafs instead of going to NHL head office, the Leafs would not have been the train wreck of a franchise they have been since he left.

 

[mellowjello]

I think that if he had stayed with the Leafs instead of going to NHL head office, the Leafs would not have been the train wreck of a franchise they have been since he left.

Probably the best hockey mind in Leafland in my lifetime, and a real gentleman.
Not a tough decision to jump Leaf ship while Ballard was owner and went on a wrecking spree.

 

[shack]

Probably the best hockey mind in Leafland in my lifetime, and a real gentleman.
Not a tough decision to jump Leaf ship while Ballard was owner and went on a wrecking spree.

My understand was that Ballard either fired or forced Gregory out. Between selling off their minor league teams for '67 expansion and forcing Gregory out were the two biggest mistakes by ownership.

Gregory was groomed as GM of the Marlies Jr. A team and stepped right in after Imlach. He built that team with Darryl, Lanny, Borje, Turnbull, Palmateer etc.

 

[unassuming]

He built that team with Darryl, Lanny, Borje, Turnbull, Palmateer etc.

Was a shame when Ballard broke up that team by trading away Lanny, team was a couple of good players away from seriously contending for the Cup.

 

[mellowjello]

My understand was that Ballard either fired or forced Gregory out. Between selling off their minor league teams for '67 expansion and forcing Gregory out were the two biggest mistakes by ownership.

Gregory was groomed as GM of the Marlies Jr. A team and stepped right in after Imlach. He built that team with Darryl, Lanny, Borje, Turnbull, Palmateer etc.

Thanks for refreshing.

 

[Insidious Von]

I think that if he had stayed with the Leafs instead of going to NHL head office, the Leafs would not have been the train wreck of a franchise they have been since he left.

It was inevitable, Ballard was unwilling to pay to bolster the team after the 1978 run, instead he blew sheet up. Jim Gregory had the patience of a saint (RIP).

Nover forget that as Scouting Director, Ballard passed on Bobby Orr.

 

[jgd]

I think the Leafs were the last team to eliminate the Islanders before they went on their run of (I think ?) 6 Cups.

 

[unassuming]

I think the Leafs were the last team to eliminate the Islanders before they went on their run of (I think ?) 6 Cups.

It was 4 consecutive cups. It was an upset when the Leafs beat them in game 7. Lanny's overtime winner wiil be forever etched in my memory.

 

[wigglee]

The Habs were really good that year (4th of 4 straight cups ) but they barely beat the Leafs.

 

[shack]

The Habs were really good that year (4th of 4 straight cups ) but they barely beat the Leafs.

I seem to recall that Montreal swept and the 4th game went to OT. A PP goal in OT with Tiger in the box. After Montreal scored, Tiger jumped out of the box took a bee line to the ref. He should have been celebrating with his teammates, but Larry Robinson showed amazing sportsmanship and intercepted Tiger before he could do anything really stupid with the ref. All class. Will never forget it.

 

[Insidious Von]

I seem to recall that Montreal swept and the 4th game went to OT. A PP goal in OT with Tiger in the box. After Montreal scored, Tiger jumped out of the box took a bee line to the ref. He should have been celebrating with his teammates, but Larry Robinson showed amazing sportsmanship and intercepted Tiger before he could do anything really stupid with the ref. All class. Will never forget it.

Big Bird had too much respect for the historic rivalry to allow Tiger to bring it in disrepute. The Canadiens swept the Leafs in 4.

In 1979, the Islanders went out early, losing to the New York Rangers in the opening round. It was Mike Bossy's rookie season.

 

[wigglee]

I seem to recall that Montreal swept and the 4th game went to OT. A PP goal in OT with Tiger in the box. After Montreal scored, Tiger jumped out of the box took a bee line to the ref. He should have been celebrating with his teammates, but Larry Robinson showed amazing sportsmanship and intercepted Tiger before he could do anything really stupid with the ref. All class. Will never forget it.

I was at that game ( at least that game was close) and Tiger went wild. He was raging! It was hilarious ( as a Habs fan, that is) Leafs had a good team, but Habs had a great team.