Typically, when the Leafs make a new hire for their front office, my response is one of hope. That is, even if I don't think much of the hire, I have to hope that I'm wrong or that, worst case scenario, the hire won't actively hurt the team's chances of success. Maybe, just maybe, I've thought, maybe this time won't be bad.
Really, it was all any Leafs' fan had: feeble, desperate hope.
Going right back to the days of Paul Maurice and John Ferguson Jr., I never had much confidence in the Leafs' coaching staff or management.