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

[guzzy]

I don't understand the hatred for King on here. Yes he may have had too much influence over decisions over the years but he is the guy that turned this franchise around. He is not, and never was, a hockey guy. He is a businessman with more corporate contacts than CP membership combined.

He will do a great job spearheading the new arena and running the corporate side of the business. I think by looking for someone to run the hockey side is a great move by King.

Don't forget the Flames franchise is much more than just a hockey team. Charities, Hitmen, Stamps, Roughnecks. King is the right person to be running the corporate side of this business. If anyone can present an argument that there is a better and more connected person in Calgary, please present it. His position needs to be a person with corporate ties to Calgary.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Good article by Johnson and can't disagree with anything he is saying in Shanny being a good move for the flames.

The one part i do disagree with is that he is implying that Shanny is taking over KK's role and KK is going to look after the arena. I read in an interview with KK that he is not leaving his position, giving up any power, and will still be the guy between ownership and management. He also said that he has no plans to just go look after the arena. It makes sense considering everything i have read says KK loves power. I don't see him giving up any of that.

I bet Ken King also loves money and the Flames have made him a wealthy man (I imagine). He'll do what they tell him to do.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I bet Ken King also loves money and the Flames have made him a wealthy man (I imagine). He'll do what they tell him to do.

Considering how much money KK has made for ownerhsip, not hard to imagine that he earned every penny. I don't think KK is the type of guy that would go for " he'll do what they tell him to do". If anything i get the impression that if he felt he was losing power and did not like it, he would probably leave. It would not take more than 5 minutes for KK to get another very high paying job.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I don't think that King will keep his existing duties - by all accounts, he will (and has been) very busy with the new arena and overseeing the Flames' other businesses.

Let's say it is true and that King will retain all his current responsibilities (which doesn't exactly make sense btw). Adding another voice in Shanahan is probably a positive step anyways. He seems intelligent and articulate, and will bring fresh perspective to the organization. Another voice and differing ideas to the hockey ops department. He hasn't ever been a president of a team, so I am sure he will be leaning on King for the first while of his tenure anyways - to expect different would almost be foolish - but to say he will have no power and no say I think is a bit ridiculous. He will slowly take over that position and make it his. Nothing wrong with that I think. It isn't like the Flames are getting a very experienced executive, they are getting a guy in who has had different experiences in executive roles and who will bring a fresh perspective to the organization, and I think that is a plus in itself.

[PeteLFan]

George Johnson has terrible articles they are hard to read, he doesn't get to the point and it's just rambles on.

[calumniate]

Well, I guess it is not 'the end of the road for Shanahan'. lol

[icarus]

Shanahan’s a sharp guy, obviously, so here’s no reason to believe he wouldn’t understand that he’s in an on-the-job training situation and lean, heavily, on the hockey staff already assembled — Feaster, assistant GM John Weisbrod and assistant to the GM Craig Conroy.

Are these actual titles or is Johnson making a veiled comparison of Craig Conroy to Dwight Shrute?

[browna]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

That's unfortunate. If they do bring Shanahan in, and King's position remains unchanged, the Flames management structure will look like the Leafs' from a few years ago; a sprawling committee of unclear and competing roles.

And Johnson tempers his enthusiasm by noting Shanahan has no management experience to speak of. He hasn't even run a junior team.

You'd hope Shanahan does some due dillegence and asks around what he could be getting into with the Flames current hierarchy. From that, it would be wise of him to have his contract written up with his specific areas of responsiblity and autonomy.

This, so that if even official titles and supposed areas of focus change of others in that heirarchy as a result of his hire, he doesn't get here and realize he's just another voice in the same current decision making model (but don't call it meddling) currently used.

[moon]

Originally Posted by icarus

Are these actual titles or is Johnson making a veiled comparison of Craig Conroy to Dwight Shrute?

I think Conroy is actually the special assistant to the GM but other than missing the special yes those are actual titles.

[Ashasx]

Conroy doesn't have that title anymore... he's overseeing Abbotsford now.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Conroy doesn't have that title anymore... he's overseeing Abbotsford now.

I thought he still had the "Special Assistant to the GM" title, in addition to becoming the GM of the Heat. I could be wrong though.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I thought he still had the "Special Assistant to the GM" title, in addition to becoming the GM of the Heat. I could be wrong though.

No, you are right. Still works out of CGY and still has his title. Just has the added duties of being the Heats GM now.

[jschick88]

King was just on primetime sports. He said with the floodings it will not delay the hiring of the new position. Feaster left for Newark this morning but mostly talked about the Saddledome.

[trublmaker]

Originally Posted by browna

You'd hope Shanahan does some due dillegence and asks around what he could be getting into with the Flames current hierarchy. From that, it would be wise of him to have his contract written up with his specific areas of responsiblity and autonomy.

This, so that if even official titles and supposed areas of focus change of others in that heirarchy as a result of his hire, he doesn't get here and realize he's just another voice in the same current decision making model (but don't call it meddling) currently used.

I'm betting Shanahan will know exactly what he's getting himself in to.

[bucksmasher]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

I'd imagine one aspect to adding a still relatively young, former NHL great like Shanahan to our front office is it would likely improve our recruiting of high profile college FA's, etc.

Gotta be something to having a guy like that sitting in the room when trying to lure a young kid to your organization no? Look at how many hi profile college FA's Stevie Y has brought to Tampa since arriving there.

Good point, I don't think feaster could relate in as meaningful a way as an ex-player to close deals with FA's. Sutter lured in a few....

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I don't think that King will keep his existing duties - by all accounts, he will (and has been) very busy with the new arena and overseeing the Flames' other businesses.

Let's say it is true and that King will retain all his current responsibilities (which doesn't exactly make sense btw). Adding another voice in Shanahan is probably a positive step anyways. He seems intelligent and articulate, and will bring fresh perspective to the organization. Another voice and differing ideas to the hockey ops department. He hasn't ever been a president of a team, so I am sure he will be leaning on King for the first while of his tenure anyways - to expect different would almost be foolish - but to say he will have no power and no say I think is a bit ridiculous. He will slowly take over that position and make it his. Nothing wrong with that I think. It isn't like the Flames are getting a very experienced executive, they are getting a guy in who has had different experiences in executive roles and who will bring a fresh perspective to the organization, and I think that is a plus in itself.

Yea, he can go get Calgary an NBA and MLS team.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by bucksmasher

Good point, I don't think feaster could relate in as meaningful a way as an ex-player to close deals with FA's. Sutter lured in a few....

Yeah Sutter and Iginla helped to sign a few. Feaster and the rest just don't have the cachet.

[bucksmasher]

Originally Posted by browna

You'd hope Shanahan does some due dillegence and asks around what he could be getting into with the Flames current hierarchy. From that, it would be wise of him to have his contract written up with his specific areas of responsiblity and autonomy.

This, so that if even official titles and supposed areas of focus change of others in that heirarchy as a result of his hire, he doesn't get here and realize he's just another voice in the same current decision making model (but don't call it meddling) currently used.

You'd think someone would notice a trend like:

-Flames GM is making questionable decisions.

-Flames brass hire an "accessory" GM for the GM that is already in place.

-Senior GM gets turfed and "accessory" GM is already to step in and take over screwing up the franchise.

[BigFlameDog]

I'm no expert but I'm pretty sure a trend has to consist of a larger sample size than once in a row.......

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by BigFlameDog

I'm no expert but I'm pretty sure a trend has to consist of a larger sample size than once in a row.......

Well Sutter was hired as the coach but it's rumoured he was calling the shots before he got the GM position. So it's happened the last two times and should be an omen for Feaster.