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

[albertGQ]

So probably no announcement today since game 2 is tonight right? Unlikely one tomorrow since its Sunday so we're looking at Monday? Unless that is game 3 so maybe even Tuesday?

[Major Major]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

So probably no announcement today since game 2 is tonight right? Unlikely one tomorrow since its Sunday so we're looking at Monday? Unless that is game 3 so maybe even Tuesday?

Don't imagine any announcement is made until after the final.

[bubbsy]

my bet is that if they do change the hockey ops role soon, it won't affect the GM, at least for now.

Biggest draft, perhaps in the history of the franchise, no way they add further distraction to that. especially when the draft hasn't been a glaring weakness of the current leadership.

However, there should be pressure to meet whatever the ownership's targets for success are (ie. positive progress yearly, not stuck in the rebuild rut for 3 years), as the GM should know he either prove himself to his new management, or management will be willing to push to get "their guy".

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by Major Major

Don't imagine any announcement is made until after the final.

That's a long time to wait if they have everything in place with Shanny

Why not announce it in a non game day? Oilers announced the hiring of Eakins. Rangers will announce Vigneault soon too

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

That's a long time to wait if they have everything in place with Shanny

Why not announce it in a non game day? Oilers announced the hiring of Eakins. Rangers will announce Vigneault soon too

Maybe because they still need Shanahan to hand out suspensions? Can't just leave in the middle of the Stanley cup finals.

[Joborule]

If Shannahan get's the job, Feaster's fate will be decided after the draft or he gets one more season.

[VladtheImpaler]

Worst case scenario - they are just adding another clown to the clown car. Best case scenario - Shanahan gets to clean out the lower-ranked clowns. I guess we shall see.

[shermanator]

Lots of talk about Nill, but there are a few other AGM's out there that have been impressive, namely Ron Hextall and Paul Fenton. Why no love for them?

[albertGQ]

Nill is in dallas

[EYE_Overstand]

people are calling for feasters head just like everyone did with the 4 coaches we have had in the last 10 seasons. i look forward to having some stability. The way i look at it, Feaster and company built this team very poorly last year and what did it result in? 3 draft picks which includes the #6 overall. if it wasn't for the last few days of the season we would be picking 3-4. isnt that something we all have wanted?

The past 3 draft picks have been great and has been a great change to previous years and unlike others, i look forward to this draft BECAUSE I HAVE FAITH in this scouting staff and the leadership they have controlling them.

As for Feaster, it is a results game... so i would let him operate till his contract is over. At that point i would re-evaluate him. Also people don't give Weisbrod enough credit.... he is the one calling the shots, and i believe Feaster is just a Smooth talking, SMART, good delegator.

I think showing some stability that this franchise doesn't change everything every 3-5 years would go along way into attracting UFA's and even future Upper Management.

People wanted Nill, but maybe he didn't want to come here. Some people think this is a destination that is an easy YES for people. Ken Holland was on the FAN960 earlier this week and mentioned Nill was being offered positions for the past 5 years. I assume that one of those teams were the flames.

With Shanahan... its just a name on the back of jersey who is the real star. Who knows though, maybe he is ready for KKs position....

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

my bet is that if they do change the hockey ops role soon, it won't affect the GM, at least for now.

Biggest draft, perhaps in the history of the franchise, no way they add further distraction to that. especially when the draft hasn't been a glaring weakness of the current leadership.

However, there should be pressure to meet whatever the ownership's targets for success are (ie. positive progress yearly, not stuck in the rebuild rut for 3 years), as the GM should know he either prove himself to his new management, or management will be willing to push to get "their guy".

I think you are probably correct. Although as far as i can tell, Feasters job in this draft seems to be the guy that will go up to the mic, announce the selection, and then go and talk to TSN.

If for some reason ownership has already said that Weisbrod will be the GM and no further interview service will be needed, then maybe they let Weisbrod be the GM for this draft. I really hope they do a thorough search for the next GM and not just an automatic promotion.

Also has there been any news other than a quote from "sure loss" and the original "dowbiggin"? Would have hoped to hear from one of the "big guns" by now.

[albertGQ]

None of the TSN guys have picked this up. Not even Aaron Ward

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

None of the TSN guys have picked this up. Not even Aaron Ward

It's in the Calgary Sun.

[dustygoon]

Shanahan joined NHL exec offices in 2009 with open ended position. Probably got a look into how 30 teams conduct hockey operations. And as someone said, Murray Edwards probably has interacted with him.

When he was hired in 2009 by NHL:

"In a broad sense, I think obviously, I am going to be another voice in the hockey ops, but at the same time people like John Collins and Gary and Bill are going to allow me and teach me the business of hockey," Shanahan told NHL.com. "What I was excited about in their offer to bring me on board is that it was wide open for me. There was not going to be any room with a closed door and I would be given an opportunity to see and learn. As time goes by there will be some days where my role is more hockey specific and some days where my role is more business or marketing specific."

This is a "president" type role. Not GM.

And in that seat, I would rather have Shanahan with a say in hockey decisions like trades vs Ken King.

Feaster probably has been given some probation time. No way Shanahan takes this job without having option to pick his new guy if Feaster doesn't work out over near term.

And Ken King heading up a new arena (HUGE project), is not exactly constructive dismissal either. Great role for him, his personality and his background.

[AltaGuy]

I find it strange that Feaster already seems like basically a "hockey ops vp" and not a GM already, and yet we hire another?

Feaster has basically said he's not a hockey guy, so why not put him in a position befitting his skillset, which seems to be assembling hockey guys, not being one?

Would prefer to have Feaster go to King's role, which I think would fit him just fine, and hire an actual GM or promote Weisbrod. As it is, hard to tell the difference between Feaster and Shanny's roles.

[Roof-Daddy]

I don't entirely understand the vitriol towards Feaster at this point.

The guy inherited a complete and utter mess....

A nearly completely barren prospect pool to draw from.
A roster devoid of any young "future core" talent.
An aging, past it's prime core.
A payroll that was butted right up against the cap.
One of the worst group of centers in the league.
An low value, asset poor roster.
...and a mantra from ownership to "win now" while Iginla still had a couple decent years left.


So what does he do?

He (in hindsight to this point) gets bent over a little bit trying to clear $7 million of cap space in the Regehr/Kotalik trade, so that he has cap space to improve the team the only way it could have been remotely possible, and that's via free agency......RE the attempt at signing Brad Richards.

Yes, thank goodness that contract never got signed, but given the mantra from ownership, and the lack of valuable assets, what else could he do?

Some of the re-signings he's done are indeed questionable....like the Babchuk deal, the Tangauy deal and the Sarich deal.....but these are minor mistakes, because they didn't cost us any assets, and they didn't cause us to be in cap trouble.

The other big one that folks like to harp on, IE the O'Reilly offer sheet....yeah, in hindsight I'm glad the Avs matched, but I can understand the motive behind it. It was an attempt to land a young stud center (weakest part of our roster) that could have helped at the time, and into the future. Even if we had gotten O'Reilly and still not managed to get things turned around, he still could have blown it up at the deadline and had a 22 year old O'Reilly and two first round picks for the rebuild, from dealing Iggy and JBO.

It's yet to be determined for certain, but it sure does look like the drafting has gotten better under Feaster's watch, let's hope it continues and that the development of these young drafted players also improves, and because of that apparent improvement, and because of the ownership finally allowing this organization to change the mantra, I think it's fair to give the current management group (Feaster et al) a little time to turn this ship around.

[Buck Murdock]

1. Freddy Modin trade
2. Babchuck signing
3. Jankowski draft (might actually be good, but definitely off the board)
4. ROR debacle
5. Iginla/Boston saga
6. Tanguay contract
7. Brad Richards almost mega deal
8. "fool me twice, shame on me"

He's made some good moves as well, but these are the bad ones that come to mind.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by moon

I don't expect us to be winning cups and have the top prospect base but I also don't expect to be the franchise in the worst situation in the league in terms of the combo of roster/prospects, much worse off than when Feaster took over and the joke of the league.

The Flames' roster and prospects pool was the joke of the league when Sutter left. And old non-playoff team, right up against the cap with easily the worst prospect base and group of under 28 players in the NHL.

The prospect pool is much better today. The cap situation is much better. The only edge Sutter had over Feaster is the age of Iginla and Kipper. But Feaster couldn't do much about that until ownership gave him the green light to trade Iginla.

Originally Posted by keenan87

Second worst?? C'mon now. I think he lost his marbles at the end but there was always something exciting happening.

Tanguay
Cammalleri
Jokinen
Bouwmeester

A GM's job isn't to make exciting trades and signings. How many trades does Holland make?

An NHL GMs duties, in order of importance:

1) Surround himself with good off-ice people and manage them effectively.
2) Draft and develop assets.
3) Manage the cap.
4) Make trades and signings to address weaknesses.

Sutter was poor at 1 (Sutter family cronies), terrible at 2, poor at 3, and pretty decent at 4. Overall, a big failure who left a smoking wreck of a team when he was fired.

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

I don't entirely understand the vitriol towards Feaster at this point.

The guy inherited a complete and utter mess....

A nearly completely barren prospect pool to draw from.
A roster devoid of any young "future core" talent.
An aging, past it's prime core.
A payroll that was butted right up against the cap.
One of the worst group of centers in the league.
An low value, asset poor roster.
...and a mantra from ownership to "win now" while Iginla still had a couple decent years left.


So what does he do?

Exactly. He inherits a roster of aging losers. The prospect pool is empty. The cap situation is brutal. Ownership won't let him trade Iginla. What, exactly, was he supposed to do except sweep up the mess Sutter left behind? Anyone who thinks some saviour could have come in and turned this team around with the garbage Sutter left behind is delusional. Ownership delayed the rebuild. Now we're getting it. This is the real start of the post-Sutter era.

[Badgers Nose]

We'll hear all about it tonight methinks. It will get floated on hot stove.

Makes sense except for the fire feaster part, that won't happen this summer. Makes more sense to wait and do a full house cleaning after 13/14. Coaches, scouts, etc.

[Azhouse]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

He (in hindsight to this point) gets bent over a little bit trying to clear $7 million of cap space in the Regehr/Kotalik trade, so that he has cap space to improve the team the only way it could have been remotely possible, and that's via free agency......RE the attempt at signing Brad Richards.

As well to clear up room to lock up star player Alex Tanguay for a fiver.

I hope wherever Jarome goes we can trade him to that team for a 7th rounder.