Two or less Posted December 22, 2013 Report Posted December 22, 2013 Its not what I want but I'm sure if surrounded by the right people he could grow into the job. I'd prefer an experienced G.M. for sure but one only needs to look at Gillis in Vancouver. From player agent to G.M. Interesting. If PLF does become GM, i wonder if he would bring in Don Meehan (player agent/one of Pat's best friends) along with him?
3putt Posted December 22, 2013 Report Posted December 22, 2013 You're welcome. More info FWIW: Elliotte Friedman said on hot stove there is a growing suspicion that PLF will do the job himself Hotstove Tonight: High number of injuries will lead to higher escrow (12/21/13) That would be uhm...less than optimal.
Hoss Posted December 22, 2013 Report Posted December 22, 2013 Don't like the idea of PLF doing the job unless he hires a new Assistant. If he can find a guy who has actual GM experience to be the assistant and advise him on the job. Even then I don't really like the idea, but who knows how it'd work.
deluca67 Posted December 22, 2013 Report Posted December 22, 2013 The Sabres are in a really bad spot. Ideally I would like to see the Sabres not hire a new GM until the off-season. Take the time needed and get it right. That leaves one monstrous problem, Ryan Miller. Miller is one asset you would like the new GM to determine the fate of. I would hate to see LaFontaine making that call. I really don't want LaFontaine involved in making that trade and I would hate to see a new GM burdened with a 33 year goaltender with a brand new contract extension.
wjag Posted December 22, 2013 Report Posted December 22, 2013 You're welcome. More info FWIW: Elliotte Friedman said on hot stove there is a growing suspicion that PLF will do the job himself Hotstove Tonight: High number of injuries will lead to higher escrow (12/21/13) That's been my belief all along. This whole search is a farce. The Sabres are in a really bad spot. Ideally I would like to see the Sabres not hire a new GM until the off-season. Take the time needed and get it right. That leaves one monstrous problem, Ryan Miller. Miller is one asset you would like the new GM to determine the fate of. I would hate to see LaFontaine making that call. I really don't want LaFontaine involved in making that trade and I would hate to see a new GM burdened with a 33 year goaltender with a brand new contract extension. Two monstrous problems... Nolan and Miller
Stoner Posted December 22, 2013 Report Posted December 22, 2013 PLF is going to pull a Dick Cheney? That's cold.
SwampD Posted December 22, 2013 Report Posted December 22, 2013 How do we know that PLF wouldn't do a great job? Cup building GMs have to come from somewhere and it's not like there are a bunch of them out there just waiting to come to the Sabres to build a Cup team. I have just as much confidence that PLF could do it as any of the names that have been mentioned so far.
Stoner Posted December 22, 2013 Report Posted December 22, 2013 How do we know that PLF wouldn't do a great job? Cup building GMs have to come from somewhere and it's not like there are a bunch of them out there just waiting to come to the Sabres to build a Cup team. I have just as much confidence that PLF could do it as any of the names that have been mentioned so far. You could also think of PLF as president with some of the weightier duties of GM — setting the direction, being the thinker, envisioning the kind of team he wants and so on — then hire three or four guys (edit: or women!) to manage different day to day areas (scouting, pro personnel, salary cap etc.).
Darryl Shannon's +/- Posted December 22, 2013 Report Posted December 22, 2013 How do we know that PLF wouldn't do a great job? Cup building GMs have to come from somewhere and it's not like there are a bunch of them out there just waiting to come to the Sabres to build a Cup team. I have just as much confidence that PLF could do it as any of the names that have been mentioned so far. We don't know that he wouldn't do a great job, it's just a huge leap of faith to believe that someone who has never done a job like that before, or been in any form of training for it at all will make the grade. The problem I have is that I believe we're the only team in the league that would give him this opportunity, and that's due to his great play and community impact that he's had here. Then again, if you believe that the bulk of the process is luck in landing an elite player (like McDavid), maybe the role of GM is overblown anyways.
Robviously Posted December 22, 2013 Report Posted December 22, 2013 How do we know that PLF wouldn't do a great job? Cup building GMs have to come from somewhere and it's not like there are a bunch of them out there just waiting to come to the Sabres to build a Cup team. I have just as much confidence that PLF could do it as any of the names that have been mentioned so far. Making a fan favorite with no experience the GM is a terrific idea. Remember when the Bills brought in Marv Levy as GM and he completely turned the franchise around?
TrueBlueGED Posted December 22, 2013 Report Posted December 22, 2013 How do we know that PLF wouldn't do a great job? Cup building GMs have to come from somewhere and it's not like there are a bunch of them out there just waiting to come to the Sabres to build a Cup team. I have just as much confidence that PLF could do it as any of the names that have been mentioned so far. The man himself said he wasn't ready. I'd have a hard time being convinced 5 weeks of front office experience involving interviews and minor player moves suddenly makes him ready. It's not that it couldn't work, but I'd be fully in "believe it when I see it" mode.
Two or less Posted December 22, 2013 Report Posted December 22, 2013 We may have a GM.... Jim Benning. http://beta.thescore.com/nhl/news/389059 Pat LaFontaine and the Buffalo Sabres are getting close to naming a new general manager, and according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun, the top candidate for the job is Boston Bruins assistant GM Jim Benning.Benning, 50, is in his seventh as Boston's assistant general manager, after serving twelve seasons in the Sabres organization including eight seasons as that team's Director of Amateur Scouting.
Sabres Fan in NS Posted December 22, 2013 Report Posted December 22, 2013 Anyone else think that this search for a new GM is Patty's training wheel portion of his on the job training? He is interviewing people and picking the brains of anyone who has 2 cents to give. He is learning the ropes of being a GM, IMO. I am not opposed to the idea of Pat being the GM, as long as he builds a good support team to help him.
darksabre Posted December 22, 2013 Report Posted December 22, 2013 Garrioch is this forum's new Eklund.
Stoner Posted December 22, 2013 Report Posted December 22, 2013 We may have a GM.... Jim Benning. http://beta.thescore...nhl/news/389059 Bring 'em home. Bring 'em all home, Terry.
dudacek Posted December 22, 2013 Report Posted December 22, 2013 Garrioch. Enough said. As far as the Friedman bit, I have no doubt that is a growing sentiment among other executives. They have to be getting frustrated as Patty continues to pick the brains of some of the league's better minds. But I think that is just happy byproduct of a comprehensive search and I think Lafontaine is probably pretty much done - just waiting for a final interview or two to come together. Patty made it clear he was not going to be the GM; I'm confident he won't be, but if he waffles that's a bad sign for the organization. One thing seems to escape some people: Patty will be the new GM's boss; he will ultimately be the one that signs off on a Miller trade or extension. And, like a new GM, he will be relying on the word our scouting staff when he does that.
papazoid Posted December 23, 2013 Report Posted December 23, 2013 GMINO ( general manager in name only).....can't pick your players, can't pick your coach (unless you pick teddy).
LTS Posted December 23, 2013 Report Posted December 23, 2013 The longer the search goes the more likely some journalist is going to throw out the idea that PLF will do it himself. It's natural journalism based on nothing but the lack of selection.
wjag Posted December 23, 2013 Report Posted December 23, 2013 The longer the search goes the more likely some journalist is going to throw out the idea that PLF will do it himself. It's natural journalism based on nothing but the lack of selection. Or because that was the plan all along. I mean seriously, how long should it take to hire someone? It's a relatively small community of candidates out there. There is due diligence and then there is "dah" diligence. Announce PLF and get on with it.
Two or less Posted December 23, 2013 Report Posted December 23, 2013 Or because that was the plan all along. I mean seriously, how long should it take to hire someone? It's a relatively small community of candidates out there. There is due diligence and then there is "dah" diligence. Announce PLF and get on with it. Calgary hasn't hired anyone yet either, so don't make it seem it's only us.
wjag Posted December 23, 2013 Report Posted December 23, 2013 Calgary hasn't hired anyone yet either, so don't make it seem it's only us. Buffalo has been at it longer. Not sure if it is a few days or weeks, but I believe it has been longer for Buffalo.
dudacek Posted December 23, 2013 Report Posted December 23, 2013 I'm sure it's priority one, but Patty also has had to familiarize himself with the entire organization - players and staff - at the same time. The GM interviews are likely to be day-long sessions with busy people who need permission first. Two or three interviews a week times 6-10 candidates, plus reference checks. Seems like he's on schedule to me. That said, I do expect something over the holidays.
spndnchz Posted December 23, 2013 Report Posted December 23, 2013 The longer it goes on the more interviews PLF can have the better I say. He's not making a rushed decision and the more people he interviews the more ideas he can get from these guys.
LastPommerFan Posted December 23, 2013 Report Posted December 23, 2013 PLF should totally hire that LPF guy that used to hang around here.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.