Speculation: GM Search: Part II (Tim Murray to be named GM)

[Ethan Edwards]

I'm sure Patty will only speak in positive terms about all the applicants, and take the position that Murray stood out from the pack. That's certainly the safest position to take.

There's no doubt that's true, and I've been saying it myself all along, but I do expect to hear some details eventually. Still, he can provide some details on other candidates without disparaging them, but my bet is he sticks to the "let's focus on Tim Murray today" angle. That would be understandable, but I hope he goes into a bit more detail. I do expect to hear about the plan, a plan, however general or specific it may be, as I'm sure he (Murray) has one. I want to hear his philosophy directly from him. I like what I've heard so far.

 

[Ethan Edwards]

Hopefully the local media can focus on actually asking pertinent questions, like who was on the initial short list.

Let's hope so, though judging from Gleason's "Murray/Trust" column, things could still go astray.

 

[Revelate]

Let's hope so, though judging from Gleason's "Murray/Trust" column, things could still go astray.

Yeah, i was going to say don't get your hopes up.

 

[Zip15]

Let's hope so, though judging from Gleason's "Murray/Trust" column, things could still go astray.

I thought that was a characteristically poor article by Gleason. Intimating that talks should break off with Murray when it was leaked he was in the running or even the lead candidate? Maybe it was one of McKenzie's sources in the Sabres' front office--or, more likely, an agent--who gave up the news. Gleason is an idiot.

Also, the undercurrent of the article is that Gleason wanted Benning as the GM. The second half of the column makes that clear to me, what with the theme of "why not wait, you're not going to get much for a lot of these guys at the deadline, anyways." Not surprising. I've thought for some time that Benning (and Luce) were among the individuals "around the league" that Gleason called sources who repeatedly ripped into Regier--for obvious reasons.

 

[joshjull]

Let's hope so, though judging from Gleason's "Murray/Trust" column, things could still go astray.

That's true. A typically pathetic effort from Bucky that oozes personal backstory.

 

[ZZamboni]

I highly doubt Patty L. will comment at all about who interviewed, and/or why they were not picked. It's simply not the appropriate time to comment on the ones not choosen. And frankly, none of the fans business who was or was not interviewed, what was said and why they didn't get the job. At the end of the day, that info changes nothing, and does nothing constructive.

Now that it's official, and not just speculation, congrats to Tim Murray

 

[HamiltonOHL]

my main thing to look for in the PC is the words... The style i want the sabres to play is ?????

 

[Ruckus007]

I also want Nolan kept because of what he has done and can still do going forward. And of course his previous history will play a role in fans opinions. But 1997 was an entirely different animal and I don't see parallels between the situations.

Brand new GM has to make a long-term decision on a popular coach who is also Ted Nolan. You really don't see any parallels?

He has been willing to make moves that needed to be made. So I don't see the issue you do.

My issue is that this GM hire seems like the first major staffing decision that has had any semblance of a vetting (I supported keeping Ruff and Regier under the assumption there was some sort of vetting process, subsequent actions make me suspicious there way).

 

[joshjull]

Josh, you can see in this thread and others that there is certainly a pull to retain Nolan, I'm even a part of that. Partly it's for the work he's done (though I think the compete level is more of an indictment on the previous two coaches), but you have to admit that his previous history with the organization is a part of this, right? If Joe Sacco was the interim, with the exact same results as Nolan, do you believe there would be the same amount of interest in Sacco being retained? I don't. Nolan's success, IMO, creates complications for Murray. It doesn't doom him. Just creates complications.






Pat LaFontaine became president of hockey ops after a dinner with Pegula.

Ted Nolan became the head coach a day after he was in town watching his son.

Pegula is obviously sentimental about this team, we've known that since Feb 22, 2011. It's been repeated in actions and comments. I hope I'm overestimating this quality, but for now I'm not going to underestimate it.

Coming back to these two things.

Patty L. was hired a few weeks after the dinner and after some back and forth discussions between the parties.

And I have no idea what Nolan has to do with Pegula's sentimentality when that hire was Patty's idea. Not to mention Nolan was hired before he was in town for that game.

You make it sound as if he meets Patty and hired him on the spot. Then saw Nolan in the building and hired him immediately too.

You're trying too hard to be paranoid about this based on your dislike of how the Lafontaine hire happened.

 

[sjci]

3 chairs

 

[sjci]

Columbus?!

 

[HamiltonOHL]

Columbus?!

i can understand the ottawa comment but why columbus

 

[joshjull]

Columbus?!

i can understand the ottawa comment but why columbus

I believe Patrick was with Columbus

 

[SamuraiArt]

Craig Patrick Special Assistant/Advisor? Didn't see that coming.

Some quotes from when CP was hired by Columbus:

"The Detroit, Michigan native served as an Assistant General Manager and Assistant Coach under Herb Brooks for the 1980 United States Olympic Gold Medal, miracle on ice team.
[...]
the architect of the Penguins' Stanley Cup champions in 1991 and '92

Responsible for drafting the likes of Jaromir Jagr, Marc-Andre Fleury, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Sidney Crosby."

 

[ogoaltrop]

Best Murray quote so far...... " This teams in last place, anybody can be traded"

 

[Ruckus007]

Coming back to these two things.

Patty L. was hired a few weeks after the dinner and some back and forth discussions between the parties.

And I have no idea what Nolan has to do with Pegula's sentimentality when that hire was Patty's idea. Not to mention Nolan was hired before he was in town for that game.

You make it sounds as if he meets Patty and hired him on the spot. Then saw Nolan in the building and hired him immediately too.

You're trying to hard to be paranoid about this.

Regarding LaFontaine: as the story goes Pegula was meeting LaFontaine about some league-related items, correct? Pegula came out of the meeting impressed with LaFontaine and created the President of Hockey Ops position anew. Pegula wasn't looking at making that position. The origin of it is a concern to me.

Regarding Nolan: Rolston and Regier were fired after the LA game that Ted was present for. Unless I have the chronology wrong because they weren't fired before it. Nolan's presence there always seemed like a major convenience for me.

I'm not paranoid, I don't think. I'm suspicious about Pegula's ownership. I'm hopeful that Murray will be a truly new direction (note, I just turned on the presser so if new information has come up, I missed it).

 

[Dubi Doo]

Best Murray quote so far...... " This teams in last place, anybody can be traded"

That scares me. This will be an interesting year. That's for sure.

 

[Ruckus007]

That scares me. This will be an interesting year. That's for sure.

Not me, I don't think there is an untouchable player in this organization (hard to touch, sure, but none untouchable).

 

[ZZamboni]

Ugh Sullivan is there. Useless POS

 

[HamiltonOHL]

Atleast Murray went on to say he would be a agressive GM and that he is not affraid to make mistakes... Also he still didnt answer the question about style of players he would run with this team i know he said this team will be built through the draft which is a good sign..

 

[ogoaltrop]

Craig Patrick Special Assistant/Advisor? Didn't see that coming.

Some quotes from when CP was hired by Columbus:

"The Detroit, Michigan native served as an Assistant General Manager and Assistant Coach under Herb Brooks for the 1980 United States Olympic Gold Medal, miracle on ice team.
[...]
the architect of the Penguins' Stanley Cup champions in 1991 and '92

Responsible for drafting the likes of Jaromir Jagr, Marc-Andre Fleury, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Sidney Crosby."

To get started, go and watch... MIRACLE the movie.

 

[ogoaltrop]

Not me, I don't think there is an untouchable player in this organization (hard to touch, sure, but non-untouchable).

Exactly !

 

[joshjull]

Regarding LaFontaine: as the story goes Pegula was meeting LaFontaine about some league-related items, correct? Pegula came out of the meeting impressed with LaFontaine and created the President of Hockey Ops position anew. Pegula wasn't looking at making that position. The origin of it is a concern to me.

No, Pegula was impressed with Patty after the meal. They had some more back and forth over a few weeks and then position of President of hockey ops was created.

Basically it was a gut feeling hire. I know you don't like it but they do happen. Nothing really unusual about that.

Regarding Nolan: Rolston and Regier were fired after the LA game that Ted was present for. Unless I have the chronology wrong because they weren't fired before it. Nolan's presence there always seemed like a major convenience for me.

Nolan was Patty choice to coach before he even came over here for that game. Patty had called him about a surprise he had for him (or words to that effect) while he was still in Latvia. Nolan watched the game knowing he was already the new head coach.

That you think Nolan was hired because he was at the game is absurd.

I'm not paranoid, I don't think. I'm suspicious about Pegula's ownership. I'm hopeful that Murray will be a truly new direction (note, I just turned on the presser so if new information has come up, I missed it).

You are paranoid.
Suspicious? Of what exactly?

 

[vcv]

Not sure where to put this (doesn't deserve it's own thread).

Lindy Ruff's son, Brett Ruff, works for the Sabres as "Hockey Operations Assistant" (according to Sabres.com) / "Hockey Analytics Assistant " (according to his LinkedIn). Not sure if this is new.

 

[26CornerBlitz]

Craig Patrick on WGR now.