Changes in Carolina

[Hanna Sniper]

HURRICANES BEGIN SWEEP; FIRE GAETZ

The Carolina Hurricanes begin to make sweeping changes, dismissing long-time Head Scout Link Gaetz.

Gaetz was hired on by the rookie GM Hanna Sniper as an intern in the club's public relations department in 2003-04 season, by the end of that season Gaetz had joined the scouting department and then eventually took over the Head Scouting duties before the 2004 CPHL Entry Draft.

Nearly two weeks ago, the Hurricanes were stepping up to the microphone in the most recent draft with dreams of selecting the future cornerstone that will form the foundation of the Hurricanes core for the next coming seasons. With a game plan in hand the Hurricanes implemented their “Small and Staal” strategy to go with the current trend in the ‘New CPHL.

Fearing his own job and reputation on stake, Hurricanes GM Hanna decided it was best to dismiss Gaetz of any duties with the ‘Canes. It’s seems the Hurricane GM had lost faith in his chief scout when highly touted 2nd round selection Kruise Reddick went undrafted in the NHL entry draft one week later.

Gaetz’s Past 1st Round Selections.
2004 25th overall Bruce Graham
2005 6th Overall Guillaume Latendresse
2005 24th Overall Michael Blunden
2006 22nd Overall Ivan Vishnevsky
2007 4th Overall Sam Gagner
2007 9th Overall Angelo Esposito
2007 29th Overall Maxime Tanguay
2008 10th Overall Zack Boychuk
2008 20th Overall Jared Staal

[Hanna Sniper]

Ok, if no one else is going to say it


HAHA!

[Prototype]

Slow news day in Carolina...

[CMPunk]

Originally Posted by Hanna Sniper

Ok, if no one else is going to say it


HAHA!

Isn't laughing at your own posts bad taste?

[Hanna Sniper]

Yes/No

It was more just out of curiosity. It's something that is really had to judge in the CPHL. If you take a team like the Oilers under the guidance of Speeds who had 10 top 20 picks... then of course he would have great rewards, it was like shooting fish in a barrel. Looking at my track record here.... outside of picking a guy top 6 I haven't picked one guy to crack the NHL lineup, forget about making an impact.

I still like a lot of my picks, I really like Blunden to be honest, and with Vishnevsky I drafted for my teams weakness and he was the best offensive defenceman at the time. When I took over the Hurricanes the GM before me lived in the now and didn't carry to much weight in the draft. I remember making the trade in 2003 to acquire a first rounder from the Capitals to make the Hurricanes first ever selection in the 1st round (Graham) and since that day I have tried to rebuild this team without crippling the ECHL team in the process. A job that I believe I've starting to show the rewards for.

I just thought it would be great to look back at each selection and grade myself on how well I've been able to take advantage of my top selections...
Obviously firing my scout tells me I'm not too happy about it, so with that I'm going to have to re examen how I draft and try to adjust it for next year

[Hanna Sniper]

Originally Posted by CMPunk

Isn't laughing at your own posts bad taste?

Don't know about that, but someone had too.... plus we needed some sort of press happening in the CPHL till the nest stage unfolds

[Slava]

I think that this is funny. Although as another GM here I think I speak for a lot of us when I say that I was hoping that you would keep the scouting staff intact!


(Not that my drafting is anything to write home about!)

[Prototype]

Ahhh...

So basically what you're trying to say is that you're the Darryl Sutter of the CPHL? A good pick here and there, but basically nothing to write home about with the others?

[Hanna Sniper]

Pretty much, would make sense... after all he's on the payroll of the Hurricanes as well.

This just follows along with something that Grant mentioned once, that we only hear GM's bragging about the great steals in the draft. Plus I couldn't resist the chance to create another personality in my persona and blaming someone else for this sounded a lot better then blaming myself. and Gaetz was the missing link

[MJK]

Please tell me you are making the switch from Fender to Gibson...then people might actually start paying attention to your posts. Just look at KG, one post about The Brian Holzinger and people are posting up a storm. Is it a coincidence that he is a Gibson guy? I think not!

[Sylvanfan]

Any time Link Gaetz gets fired. I have two words.....Good riddance!

Don't worry Doug, unless I'm picking int the top two picks my drafting record is god awful as well. So far I've unloaded all my 09 picks save my 1st and I intend to have all my 2010 picks after the first round out of my hands sooner than later.

[Prototype]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Any time Gretzky gets fired. I have two words.....Good riddance!

When did Gretzky get fired? We're talking about Swinging Link Gatez!

[Hanna Sniper]

The funny thing about drafting Kruise Reddick who wasn't drafted by the NHL... is odds are I'm going to protect him anyways because I think I found the gem all other NHL scouts overlooked.

It's the Dylan Hunter project V.2

Gibsons are for girls that can't bend a string... hows that gibson playing axel

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Hanna Sniper

The funny thing about drafting Kruise Reddick who wasn't drafted by the NHL... is odds are I'm going to protect him anyways because I think I found the gem all other NHL scouts overlooked.

I had Reddick pretty high on my "board" and was darn surprised he completely didn't go drafted. Wonder if there's more to it then we know?

Another interesting fact: I had Vishnevski just ahead of Patrick Berglund on my list - you took Vish just a couple spots ahead of me otherwise I would have taken him myself.

Sometimes good drafting isn't good drafting, but rather just good fortunate that the dumber pick you were going to make already is gone.

Same thing happened the year before - I really wanted Ryan O'Mara and would have taken him at my spot. He went just before and I took Marek Zagarapan instead.

Neither are looking so hot now I guess.

[notoepik]

Originally Posted by Hanna Sniper

2006 22nd Overall Ivan Vishnevsky

You just need to give Ivan a little more time. Maybe this season. He is young and the Stars are taking their time grooming him.

[nyrcrisfer]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Another interesting fact: I had Vishnevski just ahead of Patrick Berglund on my list - you took Vish just a couple spots ahead of me otherwise I would have taken him myself.

Sometimes good drafting isn't good drafting, but rather just good fortunate that the dumber pick you were going to make already is gone.

And I really wanted Berglund, but you picked him right in front of me and I ended up taking Ondrej Fiala. Damnit Doug..

Anyway sad to see Gaetz go, just having a scout shows the Canes cared more about their prospects than most teams here, even if he sucked.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by nyrcrisfer

And I really wanted Berglund, but you picked him right in front of me and I ended up taking Ondrej Fiala. Damnit Doug..

And to complete the big circle - Fiala was the third guy in line. So if Berglund had also gone - Fiala was the guy I would have picked instead.