Who do we hope ends up GM?

[hariton]

Originally Posted by macrov

Totally a brian burke guy. He knows how to play big and bang hard

Taking this path could though mean more strikes and breaks due to health issues and even more serious conditions than concussions...

[OzSome]

It doesn't matter who Burkie hires, he'll be running the team anyways whether we have a GM or not. He might hire someone before Christmas or by January and let the new GM run the team until he's done with the US Olympic team, then it's back to Burke again. Whoever he hires is going to be his puppet just like when Dave Nonis was working for him.

[hariton]

Originally Posted by Hockeyboy2

If we can have Donald Trump be our GM we can have the following reality TV segments with him sitting at his table talking to his players:

"Your Traded"
"Your Waived"
"Your Going To Abbotsford"
"Your Fired" The Coach Edition

What a solution to finances !

And if Ramsay is available...

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by OzSome

It doesn't matter who Burkie hires, he'll be running the team anyways whether we have a GM or not. He might hire someone before Christmas or by January and let the new GM run the team until he's done with the US Olympic team, then it's back to Burke again. Whoever he hires is going to be his puppet just like when Dave Nonis was working for him.

All of this puppet talk I do not understand. Reality is that this is a business, and corporations have philosophies and strategies. The responsibility for these roll up to senior management. In what business would an executive set a vision and have a GM that is not philosophically aligned?

Now the interesting thing about Burke is that as a GM, he demanded autonomy and responsibility. So I see it in that regard.

Ownership and management in Calgary always would have to approve major transactions as far as I know.

Now Burke is in place as a presumably competent approver. This is a franchise that for over a decade had a very marketable face of the franchise, a player that up until recently was on a playoff team, and regularly in the top of statistical categories. Big change to a business letting a franchise player go. Ownership was able to coast in a sense for a few years as Iggy and friends guaranteed butts in seats. After 3-4 years of shortcoming, the major shakeup introduced a challenge beyond the hockey ops depth of ownership involvement.

So there is a new structure, where Burke has likely more infłuence and power to supplant or support that of ownership/KK previously. They have a successful business but are out of their depth hockey wise.

Doesn't make the new GM a lame duck

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Hockeyboy2

Not sure how long Buttons contract runs, but I think Brian Burke hinted pretty strongly that he was not a fan on the scouting staff and how the whole scouting staff department is being run.

Absolutely he should be let go after the draft, and I would suspect that he will be let go after the draft.

I don't quite agree.

Calgary's drafting was nothing short of putrid for a long time. I so wanted Button to be axed, it wasn't even funny.

I am not sure if he was incompetent at the time, or perhaps did not fight for his 'guys' at the draft table enough, and got over-ruled. I would say that the last few years' worth of work has been improving drastically.

I hope they add to the scouting department, maybe replace a couple of scouts that are not quite getting enough 'hits' from their respective areas that they are responsible for drafting (while other teams are in those said geographical areas), but Button to me strikes me as a very shrewd evaluator of talent now. I think he is really good now actually - which is funny since I can't emphasize enough how much I wanted him turfed years ago.

I hope they bring in a guy like Ryan Jankowski (yes, yes.. wouldn't that be kind of funny in a way) who did really great work for the NYI. You would have to assume scouting was also affected by Wang's cost-cutting, which makes his work even more impressive. Drafting was one of their bright spots there - cost-cutting and mismanagement was the issue why the Islanders I think have been a bubble team at best in the last 10 years. Not sure if there is any way to pry him from Hockey Canada, but I would like to.

I hope Button survives whatever moves are made. Will be interesting to see if he does, and only time will tell. I really think the new GM will be the one that ends up deciding his fate.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by OzSome

It doesn't matter who Burkie hires, he'll be running the team anyways whether we have a GM or not. He might hire someone before Christmas or by January and let the new GM run the team until he's done with the US Olympic team, then it's back to Burke again. Whoever he hires is going to be his puppet just like when Dave Nonis was working for him.

This makes no sense whatsoever. Everything about the timing of this decision authenticates the fact that Burke has pointed to all along: that they have targeted a candidate to assume this position whom they do not wish to lose to the Buffalo Sabres.

If Burke really merely wanted a puppet, then the change in management does not occur until season's end. No, there is someone specific that he wants to become the next Flames GM, and with this sort of urgency, I can't for a moment imagine that it is just an echo chamber for Burke to hear the sound of his own voice. He wants a contender.

[hariton]

OT thanks for the link , critic, if anything outside the Facebook keep coming..

[sureLoss]

Wes Gilbertson takes a look at the names he has been hearing on the rumor mill:
http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/12/14...e-in-gm-search

Jim Benning, Boston Bruins

Paul Fenton, Nashville Predators

Michael Futa, Los Angeles Kings

Claude Loiselle, Toronto Maple Leafs

Brad Treliving, Phoenix Coyotes

Read the article for more info on each one.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

If the Kings refused Buffalo permission to talk to Futa I doubt they let Burke.

Which brings up the question, if you are Futa do you become bitter toward the Kings franchise? I mean that is a hell of an opportunity and most franchises let their employees go for such a promotion as it shows gratitude and appreciation to that individual. I understand the Kings want to keep him for what he brings but blocking him from possibly making such a promotion seems like a dick move. I know if I was Futa I would be pissed.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Which brings up the question, if you are Futa do you become bitter toward the Kings franchise? I mean that is a hell of an opportunity and most franchises let their employees go for such a promotion as it shows gratitude and appreciation to that individual. I understand the Kings want to keep him for what he brings but blocking him from possibly making such a promotion seems like a dick move. I know if I was Futa I would be pissed.

Don't be surprised if the Kings give Futa a bump in salary if he misses out. Unlike player contracts, NHL executive contracts can be re-negotiated.

In fact it wouldn't surprise me if one of the reasons besides the draft is the Kings are planning on making an offer to keep Futa in the organization.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Which brings up the question, if you are Futa do you become bitter toward the Kings franchise? I mean that is a hell of an opportunity and most franchises let their employees go for such a promotion as it shows gratitude and appreciation to that individual. I understand the Kings want to keep him for what he brings but blocking him from possibly making such a promotion seems like a dick move. I know if I was Futa I would be pissed.

Don't all employees in the admin. have a window at season's end in which they can interview for competing positions? You may be right, but on the other hand, it has to be very flattering for Futa to know that his employer—a recent Stanley Cup championship team, and presently one of the best teams in the NHL—thinks so highly of him as to want to do their utmost to keep him in the organisation. We have no ideas how the conversation went between the Kings and Futa; depending upon how he was approached with their decision, it could actually have been quite positively received.

In any case, I don't think for a chance that this closes any window of opportunity. Burke had mentioned in one of his press conferences that the Flames were prepared to wait for the right candidate, if they were contractually prevented from pursuing him now. If Futa is at the top of their list, then he is almost certain to have the chance to interview for the job in the spring or summer, if not immediately.

[Alberta_Beef]

I'm not sure Darcy Regier is a bad idea. I know people don't want re-treads and all but he makes some excellent trades, might be too patient for Burke though.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

I'm not sure Darcy Regier is a bad idea. I know people don't want re-treads and all but he makes some excellent trades, might be too patient for Burke though.

Based on what we know, even if Regier is on Burke's short list, he is almost certainly not at the top of it. It looks like Burke has a candidate in mind, and I very much doubt that candidate is Regier.

[clancy]

Someone with a strong scouting and player development track record

[Fire]

I'm hoping for Bennings. He looks like the best fit.

[nik-]

Loiselle is the least desirable of those choices ... so knowing our luck, it's going to be him.

[PeteLFan]

Good bet it's Paul Fenton.

[trackercowe]

If Burke only wants a "puppet GM" then why doesn't he just take the position himself? They offered it to him, and he could easily have just slid in once Feaster left. So it doesn't make a whole lot of sense when he seems to be happy to be in the position he's already in.

[PeteLFan]

Whoever it is better be ready to be involved in every trade talk and getting this turned around quick. Brian will get this team in a position via trades to be competing for a playoff spot soon, and then plugging in younger drafted players.

His interview with tsn drives seems to indicate he thinks fester sat on his ass too long.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

If Burke only wants a "puppet GM" then why doesn't he just take the position himself? They offered it to him, and he could easily have just slid in once Feaster left. So it doesn't make a whole lot of sense when he seems to be happy to be in the position he's already in.

I don't think that Burke wants a puppet GM. I believe him when he says he doesn't want the job ... I think he just wants a GM that has similar ideas as he does when it comes to how to build the team. Unlike Feaster, who obviously acquired a lot of small players.