GM Speculation

[Hoss]

Garrioch, by the way, tweeted that more candidates have been added to the list "according to his sources." PLF announced that himself. Just figured I would throw that out there for some laughs.

[26CornerBlitz]

12/3/13 Elliotte Friedman: 30 Thoughts: NHL stands to profit from on-ice fix

 

9. The Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch confirmed the Hotstove Tonight report that Senators assistant GM Tim Murray will get an interview with Buffalo Sabres president of hockey operations Pat LaFontaine about the GM vacancy. Despite this season's struggles, there's a lot to like about Ottawa's building process. There is a method to LaFontaine's expanding interview list -- a form of industrial espionage. What he's realized is you should interview as many people as possible to get all the ideas/thoughts about philosophies you can steal. It's a common practice in sports.

 

10. If there's one concern raised by potential candidates, it's that LaFontaine keeps putting people in place. He hired Kevin Prendergast to take a look at the team's scouting operation. And replacing Ted Nolan - hugely popular in Buffalo - is not an easy first move, should that be the new GM's wish.

[Doohicksie]

The grammar in that article is atrocious.

 

It's not an article, it's a blog post. Big difference.

 

12/3/13 Elliotte Friedman: 30 Thoughts: NHL stands to profit from on-ice fix

 

10. If there's one concern raised by potential candidates, it's that LaFontaine keeps putting people in place. He hired Kevin Prendergast to take a look at the team's scouting operation. And replacing Ted Nolan - hugely popular in Buffalo - is not an easy first move, should that be the new GM's wish.

 

Nolan being hugely popular or not, PLF simply needs to ask a candidate: "What would be your plans for the coaching situation?" PLF did, after all, give Nolan the Interim tag, so it wouldn't necessarily eliminate a candidate if he had a different direction in mind. All pro coaching is a "no guarantees" situation, so if Nolan were relieved of duties, it wouldn't be that big of a deal. That said, I kind of hope he at least gets the rest of the season to show what he can do with the team, and one way or the other his performance will make the decision easy for the new GM.

[dudacek]

12/3/13 Elliotte Friedman: 30 Thoughts: NHL stands to profit from on-ice fix

He hired Kevin Prendergast to take a look at the team's scouting operation.

 

 

I found that very interesting.

The initial announcement made it sound like Prendergast was another scout.

This makes it sound like he will initially basically act like an outside consultant brought in review the system and quality of work being done by Devine and company.

Prudent move by Pat to be sure, but politically very touchy.

He must trust KP's integrity because the possibility of conflict of interest is huge.

He's obviously eminently qualified to be Devine's replacement.

[nfreeman]

I found that very interesting.

The initial announcement made it sound like Prendergast was another scout.

This makes it sound like he will initially basically act like an outside consultant brought in review the system and quality of work being done by Devine and company.

Prudent move by Pat to be sure, but politically very touchy.

He must trust KP's integrity because the possibility of conflict of interest is huge.

He's obviously eminently qualified to be Devine's replacement.

 

Interesting. I like the move by PLF. I agree that there is a conflict of interest, but even so there is probably value to PLF in hearing KP's impressions of the scouting operation.

[IKnowPhysics]

14 pages of GM speculation and no one's gone off the deep end yet.

 

If only for fun, I'll say it.

 

 

 

 

[TrueBlueGED]

14 pages of GM speculation and no one's gone off the deep end yet.

 

If only for fun, I'll say it.

 

 

 

 

 

Well, if it gets his daughter in town a few times... :w00t:

[dudacek]

Patty was very cagey in his fresh interview on GR, but he sure seemed to indicate that the Sabres were so far gone down tank road that they have to follow it through.

He said the new GM would have influence on that decision, but didn't seem likely any quick fix is in the offing.

 

http://audio.wgr550.com/a/84740651/12-5-pat-lafontaine-interview-with-bulldog.htm

[26CornerBlitz]

@SunGarrioch

Tim Murray set to interview for top job with Buffalo Sabres | Senators | Sports | Ottawa Sun http://www.ottawasun.com/2013/12/07/ottawa-sens-assistant-gm-tim-murray-set-to-interview-for-top-job-with-buffalo-sabres …

 

#Sens

[Robviously]

@SunGarrioch

Tim Murray set to interview for top job with Buffalo Sabres | Senators | Sports | Ottawa Sun http://www.ottawasun...uffalo-sabres …

 

#Sens

 

Murray is widely-regarded as a strong talent evaluator in NHL circles. He was the GM of the club's AHL affiliate in Binghamton when they won the Calder Cup in 2011. He started his career as a scout with Detroit in 1993 and has also held director of player personnel jobs with Anaheim and the Rangers.

 

Amongst Murray's more noteable picks while not in Ottawa are Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry with the Ducks and Rangers defenceman Marc Staal in 2007. That was the same year the Senators took Brian Lee with their No. 9 selection.

 

Hmmm.

[Stoner]

Surely Joe Battista knows somebody decent that Terry met at a wine and cheese affair.

[Eleven]

Well, if it gets his daughter in town a few times... :w00t:

 

1. Yes, he's got a hot daughter.

 

2. No. No and no.

[Iron Crotch]

Forget Wayne... Paulina for GM! It'll make press conferences much more enjoyable to watch. B-)

 

[ubkev]

Forget Wayne... Paulina for GM! It'll make press conferences much more enjoyable to watch. B-)

 

 

Hot daughter indeed. But every time I hear the name Paulina I immediately think Mexican housekeeper from Die Hard.

[Robviously]

Hot daughter indeed. But every time I hear the name Paulina I immediately think Mexican housekeeper from Die Hard.

Wow! Digging deep.

 

"No Missus Holly. No telephono."

 

"Si. I do that already"

 

Those are the two Paulina lines I remember.

[bunomatic]

Forget Wayne... Paulina for GM! It'll make press conferences much more enjoyable to watch. B-)

 

 

What a miserable looking character he is. His daughter on the other hand looks quite pleasant.

[Hoss]

Baker wants Shanahan as the GM. Obviously he won't get much support from the fans, but I don't dislike the idea. I don't think he'll take the job, though. He'll wait until he gets set up in a bigger city.

[Two or less]

Baker wants Shanahan as the GM. Obviously he won't get much support from the fans, but I don't dislike the idea. I don't think he'll take the job, though. He'll wait until he gets set up in a bigger city.

 

A guy with absolute zero experience in the field to a team with very small margin of error to get out of the league basement? No thanks. Give me a guy who is a workaholic and has proven he has an eye for talent then go for the nice sexy PR hire. I doubt PLF even considers/interviews Shanahan.

[Hoss]

A guy with absolute zero experience in the field to a team with very small margin of error to get out of the league basement? No thanks. Give me a guy who is a workaholic and has proven he has an eye for talent then go for the nice sexy PR hire. I doubt PLF even considers/interviews Shanahan.

 

I wouldn't put him anywhere near the top of my list. Baker wants a big name guy, so he's hoping for him.

 

But Shanahan will know the league just as much if not more than other candidates.

[Two or less]

I wouldn't put him anywhere near the top of my list. Baker wants a big name guy, so he's hoping for him.

 

But Shanahan will know the league just as much if not more than other candidates.

 

Potentially. Don't state it as a fact. Don't disrespect guys who have been in the league, doing the grind, staying up late breaking down prospects and getting positive results and say Shanahan for a fact is just as qualified as they are. He may be. It's a risk. Just as Dallas took a risk with Joe Nieuwendyk. Sabres can't afford that.

[TrueBlueGED]

Would Shanahan give us most-favored team status?

 

On a serious note, given that we have LaFontaine learning on the job, I want the GM to be somebody with front office experience. It doesn't have to be a former GM, but I'm definitely looking for assistant experience.

[LGR4GM]

I wouldn't put him anywhere near the top of my list. Baker wants a big name guy, so he's hoping for him.

 

But Shanahan will know the league just as much if not more than other candidates.

Why? His current job has absolutely nothing to do with talent evaluation or negotiating trades. So I will ask again, why?

[bunomatic]

Why? His current job has absolutely nothing to do with talent evaluation or negotiating trades. So I will ask again, why?

 

I suppose if we're looking for a G.M. thats experienced at rubbing elbows. Shannys rubbed elbows at the executive level at all those league functions. No thanks. We need someone experienced in cleaning up after trainwrecks. And preferably a team builder.

[That Aud Smell]

I don't get Baker's fascination with Shanahan at all. As others have noted, we need someone who's experienced in running a FO, knows how to manage a cap and an organization's talent from first line to Jr. prospects, and is a proven talent evaluator. Shanahan's none of those things. If anything, I'd think that Shanahan might land a gig like PLF's.

[26CornerBlitz]

TSN Insider Trading: Dec. 10

 

When will the Sabres name a new GM? Bob McKenzie says 6-10 names on PLF's list with the Sabres asking for permission to talk to the LAK's director of amateur scouting Michael Futa.

 

MICHAEL FUTA CO-DIRECTOR OF AMATEUR SCOUTING

 

 

Michael Futa is in his sixth full season with the Kings as Director of Amateur Scouting. He was named to his current position on June 5, 2007.

 

Futa came to the Kings after five successful seasons as General Manager of the Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), where he was named OHL Executive of the Year in 2005. The Attack advanced to the post-season in all five seasons with Futa at the helm, and high profile players like Trevor Lewis (17th overall, 2006 NHL Entry Draft) and Wayne Simmonds (second round, 61st overall, 2007 NHL Entry Draft) played for Owen Sound during Futa’s tenure there. Futa has also served as Director of Team Ontario’s Under-17 program for three seasons, and his Under-17 team won the gold medal at the Canada Games in 2007.

 

Prior to his time with the Attack, Futa served as both an Assistant Coach and Assistant General Manager with the Oshawa Generals (OHL) for two seasons (1999-01). The native of Toronto also served first as an Assistant Coach and then as a Head Coach of Toronto St. Michael’s Majors (OHL) from 1997-00. Prior to that, he served as Head Coach and General Manager of the St. Michael’s Buzzers (Provincial Junior “A”).

 

Before turning to the coaching ranks, Futa played four seasons of professional hockey in Europe (two seasons in Germany and two seasons in Denmark). The former left wing also captained his team at York University, where he was also honored as the student who best combined academics and athletics at the school during his senior season.

 

Michael, 44 (10/28/67), lives in the greater Toronto-area. He has three daughters: Hunter and identical twins Carmen and Devon.

 

@helenenothelen

Sabres asked Kings' permission to talk to Michael Futa, Kings' co-director of amateur scouting, about vacant Buffalo GM job. (more)

 

That request is under consideration by the Kings, a club executive said.