[News] Flames hire Treliving as GM

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Parallex

I wouldn't really say that's unequivicably true. It's not like there is some industry ranking of AGM talent.

Well Burke polled all his peers who he respected and Treliving was atop or on the list of the guys they thought were up and comers to be GM's. And this was after Burke had identified him as the guy he thought should top his list.

That's about as close to industry ranking of AGM talent as you get.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Well Burke polled all his peers who he respected and Treliving was atop or on the list of the guys they thought were up and comers to be GM's. And this was after Burke had identified him as the guy he thought should top his list.

That's about as close to industry ranking of AGM talent as you get.

We don't have to take Burke's word for it; Treliving (along with Futa and Benning) has been mentioned as a top candidate for every GM vacancy in the last year or so.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

We don't have to take Burke's word for it; Treliving (along with Muta and Benning) has been mentioned as a top candidate for every GM vacancy in the last year or so.

Heh.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by SebC

Heh.

Fixed.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

All you need to do is peruse the dozens of league-wide reactions that positively gush about this hire for the Flames.

But are those just platitudes?

I mean when was the last time someone got hired and it resulted in dozens of league-wide reactions that were tantimont to recoiling in horror about the hire? I mean can you find a date-stamped for the time of the hire example of overwhelmingly negative industry reaction... When everyone is super, no one is.

I've seen enough bad reputations posthumously whitewashed and enough political honeymoons turn into an unsuccessful marriage to not trust solicited media soundbites. I'm cynical that way.

Like I said I'm vaguely positive about the hire (he said all the right things, and/or none of the wrong things, at his presser, and he has sufficiant executive experience). But I'm not gonna call it good (or bad) until he demonstates that himself.

[Bingo]

Have to hand it to the site to find a good solid negative conversation on this one. Would love to say I'm surprised but that would be a fib ... there's always that negative element.

Can only speak for myself but they nailed it out of the park for me. Picked one of the three up and coming guys that were listed back when Feaster was fired, we have an experienced guy to help him so there's no Craig Button fear, and we didn't do either of the two things I really feared ... 1) Hire an ex Flame player 2) Quickly hire a guy that just lost his job somewhere else.

That and I have never seen a Flames move that was so universally applauded.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Parallex

But are those just platitudes?

I mean when was the last time someone got hired and it resulted in dozens of league-wide reactions that were tantimont to recoiling in horror about the hire? I mean can you find a date-stamped for the time of the hire example of overwhelmingly negative industry reaction... When everyone is super, no one is.

I've seen enough bad reputations posthumously whitewashed and enough political honeymoons turn into an unsuccessful marriage to not trust solicited media soundbites. I'm cynical that way.

Like I said I'm vaguely positive about the hire (he said all the right things, and/or none of the wrong things, at his presser, and he has sufficiant executive experience). But I'm not gonna call it good (or bad) until he demonstates that himself.

Craig MacTavish?

There are others too

[Rubicant]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Have to hand it to the site to find a good solid negative conversation on this one. Would love to say I'm surprised but that would be a fib ... there's always that negative element.

Can only speak for myself but they nailed it out of the park for me. Picked one of the three up and coming guys that were listed back when Feaster was fired, we have an experienced guy to help him so there's no Craig Button fear, and we didn't do either of the two things I really feared ... 1) Hire an ex Flame player 2) Quickly hire a guy that just lost his job somewhere else.

That and I have never seen a Flames move that was so universally applauded.

I'm just not sure who those that don't like this move would have wanted to be hired instead.

If it either Futa, Benning, or Fenton, they all would have the same 'unknown' tag attached to them so unless people on this board know something that the rest of us don't that doesn't seem to be much of a difference.

The overall direction of this move is a good one, hopefully it bears fruit down the road.

[liamenator]

Originally Posted by Parallex

But are those just platitudes?

I mean when was the last time someone got hired and it resulted in dozens of league-wide reactions that were tantimont to recoiling in horror about the hire? I mean can you find a date-stamped for the time of the hire example of overwhelmingly negative industry reaction... When everyone is super, no one is.

I've seen enough bad reputations posthumously whitewashed and enough political honeymoons turn into an unsuccessful marriage to not trust solicited media soundbites. I'm cynical that way.

Like I said I'm vaguely positive about the hire (he said all the right things, and/or none of the wrong things, at his presser, and he has sufficiant executive experience). But I'm not gonna call it good (or bad) until he demonstates that himself.

Well of course no one ever recoils in horror--aside form when Garth Snow was hired--but there are lots of examples of hires having lukewarm receptions amongst media types. Off the top of my head I can think of the following: Mike Gillis in Van, Mike Barnett in Phx, Darryl Sutter in Cgy, Jay Feaster in Cgy, Craig McTavish in Edm, Greg Sherman in Col, Brett Hull/Les Jackson in Dal, Andre Savard in Mtl, Brian Lawton in TB, Mike Keenan everywhere.

None of those hires received anything close to the universal consensus Treliving's has. I'd argue a lot of them were received quite negatively.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by liamenator

I'd argue a lot of them were received quite negatively.

Do you have specific examples (with link to same from the time of the hire)? I don't remember widespread horror (or anything approaching condemnation) on any of those from 'on the record' industry people. Sure, there were fans that were tepid at the hires and maybe some media but I don't recall m/any of their peers reacting such (not saying that none did... just that I don't remember many, to say nothing of it being the widespread industry consensus).

The prevailing narrative is almost always at least vaguely positive when someone new gets the job. There is little incentive to do otherwise (and it's actually self-harming to do so).

[steveo]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

I think it's quite achievable.

(Anybody want a peanut?)

Haha oh no don't get me wrong. I'm all for this move. Think it's great. Its nice to see some of the 'realist', 'pessimistic' and some 'negative' posters being positive for once.

But then again some people will always have something to complain or be negative about.

[MissTeeks]

“@JasonGregor: "It is all about making sure the timeline fits. You can't rush. You need to grow and build your team from within." Treliving #Flames”

“@JasonGregor: "You are better to overcook players (be patient) than rush them. We all want players to be good early, but it's a hard league." Treliving”

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Parallex

But are those just platitudes?...

No. They are not. The reaction from media and other NHL personnel from around the League was exceptionally bullish about Treliving—unusually so compared to many other recent GM hires. Besides this, do you doubt that Treliving was widely regarded within the League as one of the top young candidates to be a NHL general manager? It has been widely reported for the past year or more; are these reports also akin to platitudes?

Originally Posted by Parallex

Like I said I'm vaguely positive about the hire (he said all the right things, and/or none of the wrong things, at his presser, and he has sufficiant executive experience). But I'm not gonna call it good (or bad) until he demonstates that himself.

Sure, I get that. But what I really don't understand is why anyone would refuse to recognise his current distinction, which effectively puts him in very good stead to be an excellent GM. Brad Treliving is like a top-three draft pick. Of course, he has not yet accomplished anything at the next level, but his portfolio gives us every reason to expect very good things. It's okay to get excited about that.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

“@JasonGregor: "It is all about making sure the timeline fits. You can't rush. You need to grow and build your team from within." Treliving #Flames”

“@JasonGregor: "You are better to overcook players (be patient) than rush them. We all want players to be good early, but it's a hard league." Treliving”

Good stuff, that's what I want to hear. Patience is a virtue.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Sure, I get that. But what I really don't understand is why anyone would refuse to recognise his current distinction, which effectively puts him in very good stead to be an excellent GM.

Because he's never been an excellent GM (and to be fair he's never been a bad one either). I don't have people start with an "A" grade and then get to lose it... IMO they gotta earn that grade.

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Brad Treliving is like a top-three draft pick.

Except that he's not... more accurately he'd be like a top-three draft pick that you'd never seen play and that had no available individual stats to peruse. If someone went out and drafted a player like that in the top 3 most fanbases would freak-out regardless of whether he had glowing reports or not. Would they quickly change their tune if said player then showed that he was worth the pedigree? Of course they would. By that standard Treliving is getting off easy. Really though their not equivalent situations and I think calling him 'like a top-three draft pick' is a little bit of revisionism... I'm scanning the 'who do we want as GM' thread... not a lot of pining for Treliving so it's not like he was a known commodity ala Nill pre-Dallas.

Sorry, the org hasn't earned the cred lately to go off and make hires and expect an immediate vote of confidence on whomever they hire absent a record. That kind of cred was spent a long long time ago. They gotta earn back.

[djsFlames]

Looks like Gaudreau will likely be spending the year in Abbotsford no matter how good he looks in camp.

By the sounds of it in his presser, Treliving would've sent down Monahan last camp if it were up to him.

[Tyler]

Don't discredit Brian Burke's roll in landing someone like Treliving.

Have to think that he's a lightning rod for convincing people (personnel and players) on the fence to sign here.

[theoforever]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Don't discredit Brian Burke's roll in landing someone like Treliving.

Have to think that he's a lightning rod for convincing people (personnel and players) on the fence to sign here.

Let's see him move that rod and sign Cammy.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by theoforever

Let's see him move that rod and sign Cammy.

That would be Treliving, not Burke.
He's the GM

[theoforever]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

That would be Treliving, not Burke.
He's the GM

Sorry, the power lines are so blurry...