The Maple Leafs made long-term commitments to Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Is it enough to remake the look and feel of Toronto's defense? Cliff Fletcher is still with the Toronto Maple Leafs and that doesn't appear to be changing anytime soon. According to Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun, the 88-year-old had his contract renewed as a senior advisor with the club. Fletcher was a two-time general manager with the Maple Leafs, first stepping into the role in 1991 where he engineered two of the most memorable trades in franchise history. The first one was a 10-player trade with the Calgary Flames that saw Doug Gilmour become a Leaf. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTC2wt51mnI[/embed] In 1993 and 1994, the Leafs went on a couple of their most successful postseason runs in recent history, advancing to the conference championships in both seasons. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g5dHFIQqjc[/embed] Following the 1994 run, Fletcher traded fan favorite and team captain Wendel Clark to the Quebec Nordiques. Clark was moved along with Sylvain Lefebvre, Landon Wilson, a first-round pick in the 1994 draft (Jeff Keatley) in exchange for Mats Sundin, Garth Butcher, Todd Warriner, and a first-round pick in the 1994 draft (Nolan Baumgartner). Sundin went on to become the all-time Leafs leader in goals (420) and points (987) and is a Hockey Hall-of-Famer. Fletcher was GM for six seasons before he became a senior advisor to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1999. In 2001 he was an executive vice president with the Phoenix Coyotes and was dismissed at the end of the 2006-07 season. The former GM of the Leafs returned in January of 2008 in an interim capacity after the club relieved then-GM John Ferguson Jr. of his duties. He moved into an advisory role shortly after the club hired Brian Burke as team president and GM later in November. Fletcher moved to a senior advisory role following Burke's appointment, and he has been mostly filling that role despite the many layers of turnover since his arrival. Fletcher's role is very much hands-off. He's mostly down in the United States at home but does make various trips to visit the team. Those trips have become fewer and fewer over the years as Fletcher gets older. But there's no question Fletcher has a legacy within the Leafs and his continued advisory role is the biggest show of respect from Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNTk1MTUxMDE2NDM2ODQ0/cf1808c0-6a82-4298-9049-3eb2eae105b0.jpg] Related 'The Second He Called My Name, I Kind Of Blacked Out’: Maple Leafs First-Round Pick Ben Danford Reflects on Being Selected by Toronto [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/the-second-he-called-my-name-i-kind-of-blacked-out-maple-leafs-first-round-pick-ben-danford-reflects-on-being-selected-by-toronto] Mitch Marner Wearing White Skates in Training as he Prepares For Huge 2024-25 Season with Maple Leafs [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/mitch-marner-wearing-white-skates-in-training-as-he-prepares-for-huge-2024-25-season-with-maple-leafs] Maple Leafs Avoid Arbitration With Connor Dewar, Agree to One-Year, $1.18 Million Contract and Updated Salary Cap Information [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/maple-leafs-avoid-arbitration-with-connor-dewar-agree-to-one-year-1-18-million-contract-and-updated-salary-cap-information] News from THN.com What's Next Once Hurricanes Winger Martin Necas Gets His New Contract? [https://thehockeynews.com/news/whats-next-once-hurricanes-winger-martin-necas-gets-his-new-contract] 'He’s All Business': Thatcher Demko's Emergence as Elite NHL Goalie Was No Surprise [https://thehockeynews.com/news/hes-all-business-canucks-thatcher-demkos-emergence-as-elite-nhl-goalie-was-no-surprise] Fantilli's Rookie NHL Season Marred By Injury, But Blue Jackets Center Still Central To Columbus' Blueprint For Success [https://thehockeynews.com/news/fantillis-rookie-nhl-season-marred-by-injury-but-blue-jackets-center-still-central-to-columbus-blueprint-for-success]
