Trevor Linden or Brenden Shanahan?

[ForeverFlameFan]

Sportsnet 960 the Fan was talking about these two, and I want to hear input from CP.

Two inexperienced people that are now President of Hockey Operations for two Canadian franchises.

Who do you think is better off? Which one is going to have more trouble with the organization?

My guess is Toronto will be better off with Shanahan because he has Nonis who has really good experience as a GM.

Good luck to Linden, because I feel that a lot of Vancouver fans are going to expect a lot out of Trevor to pick the right GM and get Vancouver going again. It's funny, because they are going the exact route the Flames went a few years ago.

[irrevocable]

Shanny gets my vote. I have more confidence in him. I think he'll do well.

[FanIn80]

Who cares?

Neither organization is worth the energy it would take to debate this.

[Envitro]

I think that Trevor is more natuarally intelligent, but I think that Shanny would be a better executive. But only time will tell...

[Dion]

Both will surround themselves will hockey people to help them with their positions.

[trackercowe]

Yeah Shanny has at least been involved in the game for the past few years, and has connections with the league. I am not sure what Linden has been doing, but modeling glasses doesn't seem to compare to working for the league.

[moon]

Shannahan is a better choice in a neutral environment but Linden makes sense in Vancouver.

[19Yzerman19]

Linden has been running private businesses, I have no idea what they are.

It should be noted that Linden is only in charge of the hockey side, whereas Shanahan is in charge of the whole organization.

Really, the answer is "depends who they hire". Nonis has been godawful as Toronto's GM, so if he stays on, Shanny's already got that anchor around his feet.

[McG]

I think alot depends upon support structure. Seriously, Shanahan runs ALL business and hockey operations? People spend their lives training for one of those things, never mind running both...so he needs to have a strong support structure. Linden only has hockey operations, and he is only replacing one GM (and maybe a coach and his staff haha), so i think that Linden will be better off.

I just don't know enough about the support structures in either franchise...but whichever is strongest will get up to speed quickest.

[Scoutski]

Shanahan seems to be coming in to a more stable environment. I also dislike Vancouver so I'm a touch biased, but Linden seems a bit more on his own which could be dangerous.

[Dagger]

I think Shanahan can potentially look better quicker as I'm not sure the Leafs as a team are as bad as their record and have a good skeleton but need a new coach to change the atmosphere and philosophy of how the team play. Personnel wise, I think you're pretty much stuck with that core for the next few years, as it's going to be impossible to justify another retool to fans.

Linden is better set up in the long run, as he'll hire a new GM and coach who can mould the team as they like. Fans want a retool, and there are some very good assets there that can be converted into the younger players and picks(Kesler and Edler) and speed up that rebuild. They have some good young pieces already that they can bring up and bed in with some veteran players. Honestly, if they get it right they shouldn't be out of the playoffs for more than 2 years as two top 10 selections(assuming they're not great next year either) and the trade pieces they have should allow them to turnover that roster quickly. Additionally, as poorly as Gillis did with Schneider and Luongo, two down years will allow them to see what they have with Lack and Markstrom - if one of them pans out they have their number 1 goalie which can't be understated for a young team.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Who cares?

Neither organization is worth the energy it would take to debate this.

No one asked you to click on this thread. I am pretty sure with the title, you had an idea that it wouldn't be about the Flames whatsoever.

[Dagger]

Originally Posted by 19Yzerman19

Linden has been running private businesses, I have no idea what they are.

It should be noted that Linden is only in charge of the hockey side, whereas Shanahan is in charge of the whole organization.

Really, the answer is "depends who they hire". Nonis has been godawful as Toronto's GM, so if he stays on, Shanny's already got that anchor around his feet.

He's got his name on some prominent fitness clubs and an eyewear company I believe. Both are doing very well it appears.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Shanahan by a mile. He has been working in the NHL front offices for a number of years before becoming the director of discipline or whatever that post was called. He was legitimately looked upon as a future GM/President. Linden kind of came out of nowhere, though it is understandable why Vancouver hired him.

[FireGilbert]

I didn't notice the spelling mistake but Wikipedia found it after I copied part of the thread to get more info on Shanahan.

Did you mean: Brendan Shanahan

On topic neither team is better off in this situation as both presidents are figureheads. The Leafs at least have an existing GM but Nonis might not be there long. It will all depend on who Linden and Shanahan hire as the next GM. If they hire a good hockey guy and give him all the power things could turn around but if they hire a puppet things will be bad for a long time

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by Dagger

He's got his name on some prominent fitness clubs and an eyewear company I believe. Both are doing very well it appears.

I'm not sure if he still does it, be he was also in real estate development, partnering with The Airey Group. He was with the project 601 Herald in Victoria and one other, which I believe is Blanc, on 2nd Avenue in Vancouver. They had some funky elements, such as the bedrooms weren't traditional, and instead had sliding/retractable walls where most places had permanent walls.

[PeteMoss]

Shanahan by a country mile. He's been in the game and knows what is going on in the game currently. He was also a big part of the rule changes post lockout.

Who knows what Linden knows about the game now? He nearly certainly doesn't know as Shanahan.

Linden is also apparently best buds with Dallas Eakins.. which is a strike against him.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

I didn't notice the spelling mistake but Wikipedia found it after I copied part of the thread to get more info on Shanahan.

Did you mean: Brendan Shanahan

On topic neither team is better off in this situation as both presidents are figureheads. The Leafs at least have an existing GM but Nonis might not be there long. It will all depend on who Linden and Shanahan hire as the next GM. If they hire a good hockey guy and give him all the power things could turn around but if they hire a puppet things will be bad for a long time

I did mean that... Tried fixing it 5 minutes after I made the thread, and not sure how to. But thanks again.

[Cuz]

Surprised that no one thus far has mentioned Linden's time as president of the NHLPA....

[FAN]

I think Linden is much better off. Linden isn't inheriting a GM. He can bring in his own guy right away. Shanahan is inheriting a GM and a management team that has quite frankly failed Leafs fans. The chances are Shanahan is in a no win situation right now. He keeps the management team and some aren't going to be happy. He fires Nonis and some aren't going to happy. Linden doesn't have this problem unless he hires Gilman because Canucks fans want a regime change.

Of course it is ultimately all about the product on the ice and so it really depends on the perceived role of President. It all comes down to how much the President defers to the General Manager and who he hires/keeps as the General Manager. As far as hockey operations decisions, neither guy has proven anything so there's really no telling. But as far as the business side of things, Linden makes a lot more sense. He's a beloved player for the organization, he knows the community, has a ton of business connections in BC, and he instantly fits right in as the face of the organization like he was for many years. Shanahan? He was never a Leaf. It's like if Iginla had retired and started his own fitness club for a few years here in Calgary. Who is better off as President? Iginla for the Flames or Shanahan for the Leafs?