GM Speculation

[LGR4GM]

The idea that we aren't in a great position to judge properly is true.

But I have researched as much as I could on these guys.

 

Benning's calling card seems to be "good soldier in a winning organization."

I am not overly impressed with his drafts as a Sabre, or a Bruin.

Couple that with video I've watched (bruin training camp press scrums, the insider video where they decide to trade Seguin), and I get the distinct impression that he is an NHL old boy candidate, as opposed to a leader and innovator.

I'd prefer innovative and fresh.

 

That said, I have also come to understand this is a different management scenario, and it is Lafontaine's role to supply the people skills, and the tone-setting - the leadership skills that, too me, Benning seems to lack.

It may be that Benning has the work ethic and the contacts to implement whatever direction PLFsets out.

I'm with you. Benning seems like a gold old boy who is competent and can follow directions has some thoughts but overall is average. I would rather Botterill or the Nashville guy be brought in. They seem to be sharp and up and comers. I would rather have that. I think PLF is smart enough that if they stray he can bring them back.

 

Basically I want the unexpected wild card pick not the safe by the book pick. I am sick of playing it safe.

[Two or less]

I'm with you. Benning seems like a gold old boy who is competent and can follow directions has some thoughts but overall is average. I would rather Botterill or the Nashville guy be brought in. They seem to be sharp and up and comers. I would rather have that. I think PLF is smart enough that if they stray he can bring them back.

 

Basically I want the unexpected wild card pick not the safe by the book pick. I am sick of playing it safe.

 

Benning is a winner though. Five years after arriving in Buffalo, we were in the Cup finals, and five years after arriving in Boston they won the Cup. My biggest issue with Paul Fenton is, he worked side-by-side with one of the most respected hockey minds in the league in Poile, yet, in 16 years they were only able to advance past the first round just once. Talk about mediocrity.

[bunomatic]

Benning is a winner though. Five years after arriving in Buffalo, we were in the Cup finals, and five years after arriving in Boston they won the Cup. My biggest issue with Paul Fenton is, he worked side-by-side with one of the most respected hockey minds in the league in Poile, yet, in 16 years they were only able to advance past the first round just once. Talk about mediocrity.

 

I'm with you. I'd go with the guy thats experienced the Stanley Cup success and was a part of the build that preceded it before I'd go with the one thats never escaped the first round.

[Hoss]

I'm with you. Benning seems like a gold old boy who is competent and can follow directions has some thoughts but overall is average. I would rather Botterill or the Nashville guy be brought in. They seem to be sharp and up and comers. I would rather have that. I think PLF is smart enough that if they stray he can bring them back.

 

Basically I want the unexpected wild card pick not the safe by the book pick. I am sick of playing it safe.

 

Mhm. Surrounding yourself with "yes" men is how you drive a franchise into the ground. Or keep it there. See: James Dolan's Rangers and Knicks. Jerry Jones in recent years (well, in that case, he IS the yes man himself). Michael Jordan's Bobcats. Hopefully Terry Pegula's Sabres won't be added to the list.

[Weave]

What he said. On top of that, Fenton has been in charge of the draft for Nashville and he has consistently found good talent. Especially late. Not just one guy, he's found several. Good talent evaluator.

 

 

I guess I'm not impressed enough with Nashville's accumulation of talent for that to sway me too much.

[Koomkie]

I can't find anything on what Friedman said so there's a chance we're debating over something that was never said.

 

Garrioch (this board's favorite person) said in an article that Benning is the clear favorite but that PHX's Treliving is still in the mix.

 

 

 

Researching the types of moves that appear to be directly linked to the assistants in their tenure. A few hours of googling. Won't give you much, but it gives you enough to at least think about it and pick your own favorite.

 

This is a discussion forum, opinions are expected.

jesus man. freakin chill out

 

The upside to Fenton is that he's a completely new voice and we'd get some fresh thinking. Benning has already been with the Sabres for several years; Nolan has already been the coach before; Kevin Devine is still the scouting director; and PLF is a former Buffalo star in a new role.

 

I'd love someone completely new who might challenge the assumptions all the current guys have been working with. A bunch of Buffalo guys who all know each other and are super comfortable around each other could lead to groupthink.

 

I'd prefer to shake things up more than I think Benning would.

 

But, like the other posters in this thread, I don't have super strong feelings on the matter. It's a total guess and I'm only comparing "Concept of [GM candidate]" notions.

change is good. i am in this pool

[Iron Crotch]

Benning is a winner though. Five years after arriving in Buffalo, we were in the Cup finals, and five years after arriving in Boston they won the Cup. My biggest issue with Paul Fenton is, he worked side-by-side with one of the most respected hockey minds in the league in Poile, yet, in 16 years they were only able to advance past the first round just once. Talk about mediocrity.

 

Nashville is bottom-5 in payroll most years. The GM job down here is to do what you can with fewer resources than in bigger markets. With an owner who will spend to the cap, that opens up possibilities for a guy like Fenton.

 

On another note, David Poille with retire within the next few years (said so himself). So I wonder if the Preds plan to promote Fenton when that happens.

[Koomkie]

*eye roll*

 

Like I didn't see everybody disagreeing with me coming.

 

I said there's a chance. Never said anything definite. Seriously. I'm not the antichrist you guys really want me to be.

 

I never once said anything personal until Foligno came in with it. Happens every time.

 

 

 

Seriously: my original post was not a knock or an insult. There was no links posted, and something that big is usually all over twitter. Not search turned up anything. I saw TFP's report, but they didn't say anything about Friedman in the tweet so I kept looking to see if anybody else mentioned. Nothing. So I said that we might be talking about something that wasn't said. No crime there. If you see something wrong with it, it's just because you're just on the bandwagon of always taking a side against me.

maaaaaaaaaaaan....you're a douche..... or maybe a 15 year old.....or like a really short guy with a small jimmy that needs to go ape poop on message boards to feel good about himself.

 

anyways....for once the sabres are ACTUALLY taking their time to evaluate a perfect fit. it is funny how stressful it is. but in the end i feel as though they will make the correct choice. i thinkall of the media is leaning to benning just because of sabres past decision of hiring ex employees, but i have absolutely zero faith that benning will be the man hired. i fully expect who PLF thinks is the CORRECT person for the job will be hired. and if benning is the correct person, then heck yeah. great. ehhhh...whatever. i just miss when posters were more positive on this board. it is so sad and angry.

[Hoss]

Koomkie: you're late to the party. The pitchforks are already put away. No need to try and create your own attack and restart it.

 

Also, I'll help save you a little time on the randomly selected insults: douche is the only one that might be appropriate. The age guess was offline and the length of my member also inaccurate. I'll DM you some photos, if you'd like proof. Of my age that is.

 

Meh.

[LGR4GM]

Nashville is bottom-5 in payroll most years. The GM job down here is to do what you can with fewer resources than in bigger markets. With an owner who will spend to the cap, that opens up possibilities for a guy like Fenton.

 

On another note, David Poille with retire within the next few years (said so himself). So I wonder if the Preds plan to promote Fenton when that happens.

Thats the thing with Fenton is he has done a lot with very little. Botteril intrigues me for obvious reasons as well but honestly Benning just feels like a retread. Sure Boston won a cup, I wouldn't take that away from him, I think I just want more of an unknown and Benning feels like the safe good old boys pick. Just a gut reaction nothing more.

 

Seriously what the f##k is going on in the rest of this thread? Half the posts are like licking a poop flavored lollipop, you think it will be good but hell are you wrong.

[nfreeman]

 

Benning is a winner though. Five years after arriving in Buffalo, we were in the Cup finals, and five years after arriving in Boston they won the Cup. My biggest issue with Paul Fenton is, he worked side-by-side with one of the most respected hockey minds in the league in Poile, yet, in 16 years they were only able to advance past the first round just once. Talk about mediocrity.

 

Good post.

 

FWIW, I think Benning's credentials are quite strong and I'd be happy with him as GM. He joined the Bruins with Chiarelli in 2006, when the Bruins were a franchise adrift (1 playoff series win since 1994 and 25th overall in 2005-06). They rebuilt that franchise from the ground up, with good drafting, trades and FA acquisitions. Now they're a perennial contender, strong at every position and very tough. And they did it without a Crosby/Malkin miracle in the draft.

 

[WildCard]

Thats the thing with Fenton is he has done a lot with very little. Botteril intrigues me for obvious reasons as well but honestly Benning just feels like a retread. Sure Boston won a cup, I wouldn't take that away from him, I think I just want more of an unknown and Benning feels like the safe good old boys pick. Just a gut reaction nothing more.

 

Seriously what the f##k is going on in the rest of this thread? Half the posts are like licking a poop flavored lollipop, you think it will be good but hell are you wrong.

Why would you ever think that that will be good? :huh:

[nfreeman]

 

Like I didn't see everybody disagreeing with me coming.

 

I'm not the antichrist you guys really want me to be.

 

If you see something wrong with it, it's just because you're just on the bandwagon of always taking a side against me.

 

Holy self-absorption Batman!

 

I assure you: there is no conspiracy here to gang up on you. You elicit similar responses from a wide range of posters entirely on your own "merit."

 

Again: if you're continually getting into beefs with other people -- many, many other people -- the problem isn't with the other people.

 

Why don't you go back and read your posts in this thread that ticked everyone off and ask yourself the following question: if you were sitting in a room with a bunch of people that you didn't know, and a conversation began, and one of them spoke the words you wrote, would you have any desire to speak with him? Or would you think his manners were so poor as to overshadow the substance he was trying to convey?

[Two or less]

Good post.

 

FWIW, I think Benning's credentials are quite strong and I'd be happy with him as GM. He joined the Bruins with Chiarelli in 2006, when the Bruins were a franchise adrift (1 playoff series win since 1994 and 25th overall in 2005-06). They rebuilt that franchise from the ground up, with good drafting, trades and FA acquisitions. Now they're a perennial contender, strong at every position and very tough. And they did it without a Crosby/Malkin miracle in the draft.

 

Exactly. I think people focus on some of Benning's big misses in the first round while he was with Buffalo as a major turn-off. He drafted well, overall, in his time here and failed in the first round often. But the scouting in hockey was terrible and has improved drastically over the last several years. For example, people point out that he drafted Barett Heiston. Look at that entire first round and it's filled with nobodies and guys who never even played a game in the NHL. Furthermore, Benning would be coming to a team with a league-high number of scouts and would be given (i'm guessing) any resources he would want to improve or add on to that scouting list.

 

Benning also drafted Daniel Paille with Buffalo, and when Ruff misused him, and Paille was a "bust", Benning got him to Boston where, he was used right and he was developed into a pretty solid defensive forward that played a role in the Bruins winning the Cup.

[Hoss]

Despite my preference otherwise, I'm willing to get excited about whoever we hire. I'll give this regime a chance.

[Wyldnwoody44]

I feel like this thread is a mix of anticipation tossed in with the braveheart scene right before all hell breaks loose..... Who's running this mob with the blue face paint?!?! REVEAL YOURSELF!!!!

 

and actually on topic, I literally have Zero knowledge on any front office men so I can't really put my 1.5 cents in.... I just want a GM not named Darcy and one that doesn't sound like a programmed soft spoken robot.

[Koomkie]

Koomkie: you're late to the party. The pitchforks are already put away. No need to try and create your own attack and restart it.

 

Also, I'll help save you a little time on the randomly selected insults: douche is the only one that might be appropriate. The age guess was offline and the length of my member also inaccurate. I'll DM you some photos, if you'd like proof. Of my age that is.

 

Meh.

nah. you're a douche...that never seems late with you. i give it five more posts and you are right back into flipping out for no reason. moving on.

[Eleven]

You know, a bunch of you guys need some real problems to focus on.

[beerme1]

 

 

Good post.

 

FWIW, I think Benning's credentials are quite strong and I'd be happy with him as GM. He joined the Bruins with Chiarelli in 2006, when the Bruins were a franchise adrift (1 playoff series win since 1994 and 25th overall in 2005-06). They rebuilt that franchise from the ground up, with good drafting, trades and FA acquisitions. Now they're a perennial contender, strong at every position and very tough. And they did it without a Crosby/Malkin miracle in the draft.

 

Pay it forward.

This is a good post also. A lot of us have a negative feeling about Benning. Thanks for bringing some positive info.

Seems like a better fit than most would think and if he gets results here than that is ALL that matters.

[sicknfla]

You know, a bunch of you guys need some real problems to focus on.

 

No doubt. With 3 boys I listen to arguing and name calling all day long. PLEASE don't make me have to deal with it here also.

 

Yep one of them just called the other a douchbag in the background. That is the one that makes my wife snap. Zit face, ######, looser, dickweed, stupid, shitstain, little weiner, all acceptable. Douchbag usually gets mom yelling. I actually think it's a great word.

[LGR4GM]

Why would you ever think that that will be good? :huh:

Because lollipops are delicious... but poop flavored, well they taste pretty sh##ty

 

No doubt. With 3 boys I listen to arguing and name calling all day long. PLEASE don't make me have to deal with it here also.

 

Yep one of them just called the other a douchbag in the background. That is the one that makes my wife snap. Zit face, ######, looser, dickweed, stupid, shitstain, little weiner, all acceptable. Douchbag usually gets mom yelling. I actually think it's a great word.

fun fact, "shitstain" is not filtered. this fun fact is brought to you by Beer. Beer if you drink enough of it your wife will look hot again. Beer, available at fine retailers near you today!

 

Side effects of Beer include waking up next to fat ugly women, hangovers, wake up next to fat ugly men, and the beer shitstain

[darksabre]

Because lollipops are delicious... but poop flavored, well they taste pretty sh##ty

 

 

fun fact, "shitstain" is not filtered. this fun fact is brought to you by Beer. Beer if you drink enough of it your wife will look hot again. Beer, available at fine retailers near you today!

 

Side effects of Beer include waking up next to fat ugly women, hangovers, wake up next to fat ugly men, and the beer shitstain, and hitting on the female moderator of your favorite forum!

 

Fixed that for you. :P

[Taro T]

Gah! He has the stink of Darcy on him. Burn the heretic!

:lol:

 

The flip side of that is that he left DR's side and ended up part of a management team that's been extremely solid since he got there.

[MattPie]

I assure you: there is no conspiracy here to gang up on you. You elicit similar responses from a wide range of posters entirely on your own "merit."

 

Crap, did we forget you on the meeting invite? :)

[Derrico]

So, who's going to be the next GM? Maybe we should go via the Buccaneer route and have the coach (edited) make all the roster decisions.