The demotion of Pat Quinn as general manager, which led to his eventual firing as coach of the Maple Leafs, has to rank as one of the ridiculous decisions in Toronto hockey history.
It’s more clear now than it was then but you can call Quinn’s firing a $50 million mistake by Richard Peddie, then CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. Maybe more than $50 million.
Peddie, a man Quinn used to mock behind closed doors, gave him an option in his last season as general manager. He didn’t want Quinn to be both GM and coach.