[Rumour] Dowbiggin is reporting a new head of hockey ops

[Knut]

Negative Nancy's are here now. Get what they want and still complain.

You guys only happy if there are new owners?

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

They were all freakin terrible. Feaster is terrible, Button was beyond terrible and the worst GM ever, Sutter is a great coach but a nightmare as a GM, and Risebrough was a moron. They all sucked.

Actually that explains a lot!

[kyuss275]

If Feaster is also gone like Down tweeted, does that mean Hartley is out the door as well?

[DazzlinDino]

Being in a leadership role Shannahan adds some credibility. He has had the opportunity to communicate with key people around the league. Having connections means more opportunities to attract other key people. He was a player himself, plus came from a winning organization. I think this is a good move over KK and gives us someone with a better perspective of the on ice product.

[puckluck2]

Here's hoping for this statement in the future "hi I'm Brendan Shanahan from the Calgary Flames hockey operations department. Last night and almost every other night, an incident occurred where Chris Butler was made to look like a pylon. He is a repeat offender and we have decided to suspend him for 82 games and the playoffs".

[Matty81]

Really hope this happens, Shanny has always come across as capable to me and has had the best possible apprenticeship for an NHL executive job possible. Love that we'd have a hockey mind managing the club and somebody with no loyalty to Feaster who needs an objective boss to take him to task if he ever pulls an O'Reilly again.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

Here's hoping for this statement in the future "hi I'm Brendan Shanahan from the Calgary Flames hockey operations department. Last night and almost every other night, an incident occurred where Chris Butler was made to look like a pylon. He is a repeat offender and we have decided to suspend him for 82 games and the playoffs".

Kind of impressive how you managed to shat on Butler in this thread. Well done.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

What does "hockey mind" mean? Does it simply mean that you've played the game before at the NHL level?

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

What does "hockey mind" mean? Does it simply mean that you've played the game before at the NHL level?

Someone whose professional exeprience is as a pro hockey executive, even better but totally not a baseline necessity if they have played the game as well... As opposed to King (who I like but think has taken us as far as he can) who is a very solid businessman. The guy holding the hammer on player moves needs to be someone who knows the game.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Matty81

Someone whose professional exeprience is as a pro hockey executive, even better but totally not a baseline necessity if they have played the game as well... As opposed to King (who I like but think has taken us as far as he can) who is a very solid businessman. The guy holding the hammer on player moves needs to be someone who knows the game.

Does Shanny meet that definition?

[Azhouse]

I find this to be exhilarating news. Being a true fan I try to buy into the management that this team has assembled but I think we all know inside what a disaster it is.

IMO Feester should have been let go after the ROR debacle. In big business (outside of hockey) a management decision such as that would have resulted in someones head on a platter.

With the level of die hard fan support in Alberta it is a disgrace how both provincial franchises have been wandering in the woods for over two decades now. I am ready for this team to move forward.

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

Does Shanny meet that definition?

For me watching the NHL from a distance to claim I know that he is a brilliant hockey mind definatively would be bull####...

That said he's come across as having some smarts whenever I've seen him speak and since he's retired he's spent his time watching and analyzing the game full time as a senior exec with the league. I can't think of too many better apprenticeships for a young head of hockey ops.

I think having success on the ice can be overvalued (gretzky, yzerman, etc) in executives but I do think that having been involved as a player a the pro level is an asset. Another angle and years more experience in the industry.

[dammage79]

Does anyone know if there is any credibility to Lee Snowden?

[Red John]

Shanahan and Murray Edwards are quite close. This makes sense.

Just hope Shanahan does his due diligence when hand picking his GM. Enough of the buddy-buddy hirings in this organization already.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

Just wondering does Shanahan have any connections to Calgary, the ownership group, or anything to do with the Flames? Or is he just going to take the first team that gives him a shot in a management/executive position.

Murray Edwards is a key member of the Board of Governors, they likely have worked closely together over the last 2 years.

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

I'd be willing to see how Shanahan would do, but very surprised to see how many "finally going in the right direction" comments on here. Very surprised at how many are simply excited by the name. The guy hasn't proven anything from an executive / off ice point of view. Fair enough he needs the chance, but how does us hiring an executive virgin = trending in the right direction? We aren't a struggling US market that needs to bring in famous names to our management team to trick the public into buying tickets.

Flames rollingnthe dice on a rookie exec. / former player seems like reaching again, I'd much prefer if they were bringing folks with proven track records to run this club.

Shanahan has been a high level executive for the NHL for the past 2 seasons, while it's different work he is still not a "virgin" to being an executive.

[Bar-Down]

I dont know why people are freaking out.

Shanahan would be the head of hockey ops/president. NOT GM.

He has experience being an executive and has been in management and the NHL for years. He has experience and I think would be a great candidate to replace KK.

KK is perfect to overlook the entire Flames organization (stamps, flames, hitmen, roughnecks, arena etc.)

President/hockey ops - Brendan Shanahan
GM - Weisbrod

Weisbrod has been apart of winning teams for years (Bruins etc.) and he has really gotten to know our prospects and changed our drafting philosophy, which so far (I know its early) looks a lot better than it has in 20 years.

I'd be happy with that duo. We cant really bring in a whole new GM team since it is so close to the draft and these guys have already been interviewing prospects and inviting them out, starting fresh now wouldn't be wise.

I agree changes are needed, but we have some good people here now (Conroy, Weisbrod, Goulet), just need to make the right tweaks to make it stronger.

Hartley and Feaster should go but thats just my opinion.

[The Swedish Flame]

Those hoping for Feaster to exit shouldn't get their hopes up too high. I just don't see that happening now/this close to the draft.

Now, if the King/Shanahan business is the real deal we might be seeing some action on the GM front later, all depending on what Shanahan himself thinks of Feaster and the GM position.

Then again, I'm a person on an internet board. What the hell do I know!

[JohnnyB]

Shanahan seems a strange choice. Burke is a choice I could have confidence in, but I don't see what qualifies Shanahan. No reason to think he will be better than King, who has not been awful. I expect Shanahan to be worse.

[really?]

If Feaster is in fact shown the door I would think his expulsion is deserved, but I also believe history will reveal that his moves over the past 6 months, and his recent drafts turned the Flames into contenders sooner rather than later. His fault was that he could not recognize that the veteran laden Flames were in a death spiral, and he did not dismantle this thing when he came on board. Now it seems he will not get to witness the rebirth of the Flames. This was outcome was noted by a few on these boards a couple of years ago. The O'Reilly signing was likely the final straw as it was a move of absolute desperation and for Feaster detractors it is their parade moment. I personally find Feaster's honesty about his limitations refreshing and believe if he gets another shot, with the lessons he has learned here he will become a next level manager.

Feaster's fate aside, it would be disappointing if Weisbrod was let go. If Feaster is asked to leave and Weisbrod is as well, then this rebuild may be extended. I don't believe the Flames need a new direction, just patience. They are on a positive path with the group of prospects they are acquiring and it appears that Weisbrod has played a significant part in this process. If the owners find Feaster expendable, so be it, but totally cleaning house is only necessary when you need a new direction. I believe in the direction the Flames are heading in.

[PeteLFan]

Don't mind it if its true, would be rather embarrassing we fire a entire staff just prior to the draft and free agency.

You do this stuff prior, not a few weeks out b

If its just king leaving that's great news. With jay, and John need to take us through this draft then punt them.