Confirmed with Link: Avs GM Chris MacFarland to Preds as President of Hockey Operations

[AtlantaWhaler]

They have not hired anyone. Someone, maybe @Scoresberg brought up his name and we started discussing.

No, he's just kind of the "flavor of the minute" in terms of next coach discussions. Since he just won the Memorial Cup recently.

Although that said, he has been "low key hyped" as a potential future NHL head coach for at least a couple years already, even before the Memorial Cup.

Gotcha...thanks

 

[bdub24]

Ashokas doesn’t get enough attention. He is helluva coach. Expect he will be in nhl sooner than later.

Pretty good with dual lightsabers too

 

[bdub24]

I was typing Ahokas into the search bar to figure out exactly who he is and the Star Wars character was a suggested search.

Uh huh…sure..

 

[nine_inch_fang]

Uh huh…sure..

I mean, I didn't catch the name at first but I've watched all the Star Wars shows....my memory just sucks and didn't make the connection, I should have known.

 

[Armourboy]

I wonder how we much we, as fans, have to unlearn in regards to our own expectations we've based upon the years and years of different ownership, different management, and different coaching.

Haslam got to see up close how the prior regime (ownership, management, and coaching) did things.

There are three things that really stood out to me in McFarland's news conference:

1. His question to Haslam as to whether he's in it as owner to win drove home that he came here because Haslam wanted to win and was going to provide the control and financial resources to do what was necessary.
2. When acknowledging that generational players come from the draft more times than not, he also pointed out that type of player doesn't grow on trees and being a bad enough team to put yourself in position to draft one won't mean one is available. I wonder if that was foreshadowing that the draft was not going to be the only, or even primary, way he was going to rebuild this team.
3. The last thing that stood out was the influence and involvement of Nick Saban in the process. Haslam and Henry answered the question, but when you consider Saban's career and his drive to win - how he won by embracing different and emerging offensive philosophies while other defensive-minded coaches wouldn't, for example; there was no path the rules would allow that Saban wouldn't try to maximize to achieve his goal of winning.

I wonder what the next few weeks will bring and what the draft would bring. Given McFarland's natural aggressiveness, it will be interesting ride.

I think, top to bottom, the approach will be very different whatever the outcome may ultimately be.

One thing we have got to stop with is " this team has never developed X ". There is no connection from the previous 28 years to the next. We can not blame the new GM for problems that started 10 years ago. It is no longer a valid argument other than to discuss that given time period.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

One thing we have got to stop with is " this team has never developed X ". There is no connection from the previous 28 years to the next. We can not blame the new GM for problems that started 10 years ago. It is no longer a valid argument other than to discuss that given time period.

Although... at least as of today...

Our Milwaukee organization is exactly the same. Our AGMs, Kealty and Nichol are the same, our whole scouting and player development teams are the same. Perhaps most importantly, our Head Coach is the same.

So... while I do still expect some of these things will change... they haven't yet. Trotz and Poile are still "advisors" too. We have Poile Jr. out only. Right?

 

[Armourboy]

Although... at least as of today...

Our Milwaukee organization is exactly the same. Our AGMs, Kealty and Nichol are the same, our whole scouting and player development teams are the same. Perhaps most importantly, our Head Coach is the same.

So... while I do still expect some of these things will change... they haven't yet. Trotz and Poile are still "advisors" too. We have Poile Jr. out only. Right?

I'd say Trotz and Poile are about as much advisors as you and I are. I would suspect the AHL direction is something a bit down the list when it comes to changing. Entirely possible he needs to wait on certain people to become available before he changes direction there.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

I'd say Trotz and Poile are about as much advisors as you and I are. I would suspect the AHL direction is something a bit down the list when it comes to changing. Entirely possible he needs to wait on certain people to become available before he changes direction there.

I know. But still. The point is there ARE still significant connections as of today.

 

[Armourboy]

I know. But still. The point is there ARE still significant connections as of today.

It's just June 11th, we have a long way to go before training camp. Until we get there I wouldn't say anyone is all that connected the moment. They could all be dead men walking.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

It's just June 11th, we have a long way to go before training camp. Until we get there I wouldn't say anyone is all that connected the moment. They could all be dead men walking.

Or... not. Again, the point is we don't know yet.

 

[glenngineer]

I wonder how we much we, as fans, have to unlearn in regards to our own expectations we've based upon the years and years of different ownership, different management, and different coaching.

Haslam got to see up close how the prior regime (ownership, management, and coaching) did things.

There are three things that really stood out to me in McFarland's news conference:

1. His question to Haslam as to whether he's in it as owner to win drove home that he came here because Haslam wanted to win and was going to provide the control and financial resources to do what was necessary.
2. When acknowledging that generational players come from the draft more times than not, he also pointed out that type of player doesn't grow on trees and being a bad enough team to put yourself in position to draft one won't mean one is available. I wonder if that was foreshadowing that the draft was not going to be the only, or even primary, way he was going to rebuild this team.
3. The last thing that stood out was the influence and involvement of Nick Saban in the process. Haslam and Henry answered the question, but when you consider Saban's career and his drive to win - how he won by embracing different and emerging offensive philosophies while other defensive-minded coaches wouldn't, for example; there was no path the rules would allow that Saban wouldn't try to maximize to achieve his goal of winning.

I wonder what the next few weeks will bring and what the draft would bring. Given McFarland's natural aggressiveness, it will be interesting ride.

I think, top to bottom, the approach will be very different whatever the outcome may ultimately be.

Good to see you post. It's been a while. Great points.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

This quote from new Canucks GM Ryan Johnson is I think illustrative of how macfarland will impact our drafting:

“There’s a level of shaping guidance and setting the foundation of what the organization values and what you want to see in your team moving forward, but you can’t influence a staff that has 50 viewings of a player by outlandishly forming an opinion based on just a couple of views.

The important thing is to bring an aspect of conversation. You try to make sure that everything is talked about and that every stone is turned over.

You give your thoughts about the direction you want to see the team go in, and how you’d like to see it, but you have a director of amateur scouting for a reason. I trust him to make the best decisions based on the information they’ve gathered and the information that I’ve given them.”

 

[Predsfan4life]

I honestly can't wait for a future Surin-Pinchuck line---and I'm throwing in a request for Mac to go D at #10 unless we can move up to get a Bjorck. The UFA marker is not that great, so here's hoping we get involved in trades here in the offseason.

 

[Legionnaire11]

I'd be happy with D as well if that's BPA in our spot. I know that the D first approach was always the bane of our existence, but seeing how far the defensive group has fallen off is painful.

 

[Armourboy]

I'd be happy with D as well if that's BPA in our spot. I know that the D first approach was always the bane of our existence, but seeing how far the defensive group has fallen off is painful.

Yeah we have become much more like the rest of the league in needing good Dmen overall. That said, its mainly because we aren't burning 4-7 picks on Dmen every season or 7 out 9 like out early years.

 

[JD86]

If he keeps Brunette, I'll probably check out on the upcoming season before it even starts. Other than a few game hot streak from Wood, I can't think of a single young player that you could even argue Brunette helped at all. MAYBE Evangelista, but really I just think Brunette held him back and then FINALLY played him more than 13 minutes this season. I'll watch a bad team if you give me some young guys to follow, but I won't watch an old bad team with no hope.