Speculation: Hockey Ops Roulette (The Chayka Syndrome)

Mosby

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Feb 16, 2012
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1. Hextall
2. Sullivan
3. Futa (GM experience at OHL level)
4. Armstrong
5. Burke
6. Olcyzk
7. Karmanos
8. Weekes
9. McGuire

I think that's how I'd rank them in order of preference. I only listed the guys who I think have interviewed. Missing anyone?
 

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Do we have a solid, concrete list of candidates that have interviewed?
 

rt

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Here’s a good article on how these things work:

A chat with Sean Burke, the least-mentioned big name in the Canadiens' front office

Basically, Burke is popular and well-liked for being a “good guy”. His great buddy Scott Mellanby tells his good buddy/boss Marc Bergevin (another “good guy”) that they should make a job for Burke.

Bergie thinks this is a great idea and calls up Burke and offers him a scouting job. Burke literally tells him he doesn’t have any scouting experience but that he might as well give it a shot because it’ll be good for his resume. LOOOL and Bergie thinks this is a fine response and hires him anyway because he’s a “good guy”.

Here’s a quote from the article:

“Everyone in hockey knows Sean Burke. He’s an alumnus of the Canadian Olympic hockey program, and made a splashy entrance to the NHL toward the tail end of the 1980s. He never quite lived up to the initial hype, but that didn’t prevent the 6-foot-4 netminder from playing in the NHL for 19 seasons, spread across nine teams.

He’s an affable and highly-respected hockey lifer, an executive with a vast network of contacts (a little like his boss, actually).”

Listen, I think it’s great that Steve Sullivan used his connections from his plying career to get his foot in the door as a development coach. I really respected the way he continued to work his way up and showed success along the way.

This Sean Burke thing, to me, is not the same. It stinks. It’s like Rick Tocchet, honestly, but without the two cups as assistant coach.

Having said all of that, Sean Burke might turn out to be a fantastic GM. People give him chances for a reason. He’s highly thought of for a reason. He very well might be great. But he absolutely does NOT DESERVE this opportunity and had absolutely not EARNED it.

Which is okay. It happens like this a lot. And it often works out. Avs fans are pretty happy with Joe Sakic as an example. Steve Yzerman is looking really good. Sometimes this stuff works out great.

Sometimes you get Wayne Gretzky. Lol.
 

Mosby

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Feb 16, 2012
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Just piecing together what has been reported from social media and the talking heads.
 

hbk

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1. Hextall
2. Sullivan
3. Futa (GM experience at OHL level)
4. Armstrong
5. Burke
6. Olcyzk
7. Karmanos
8. Weekes
9. McGuire

I think that's how I'd rank them in order of preference. I only listed the guys who I think have interviewed. Missing anyone?
Hunter should be top 5. I’d have Olczyk last. He has what for scouting expertise? Contract negotiation background?
 

Mosby

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Sully is working his ass off. I believe he's still in the bubble, scouting all day long. He wants the job. He's also saying all the right things (need more draft picks, etc.). As long as he's not connected to stretchgate he is a very deserving candidate.
 
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Mosby

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Hunter should be top 5. I’d have Olczyk last. He has what for scouting expertise? Contract negotiation background?

Not sure Hunter has actually interviewed?

The bottom three I have ranked from least to most embarrassing for the organization.
 

hbk

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Sully is working his ass off. I believe he's still in the bubble, scouting all day long. He wants the job. He's also saying all the right things (need more draft picks, etc.). As long as he's not connected to stretchgate he is a very deserving candidate.
If we are going cheap go with the guy who knows the organization.
 

hbk

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Not sure Hunter has actually interviewed?

The bottom three I have ranked from least to most embarrassing for the organization.
I don’t know. Apparently if we win the cup Olczyk said it’s going to Winnipeg.
 

Mosby

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I kinda wonder if we liked Zito and got caught with our pants down. Florida went from second round candidates (Gillis etc) to making a decision very fast. Maybe they scooped Zito before we could.
 

rt

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1. Hextall
2. Sullivan
3. Futa (GM experience at OHL level)
4. Armstrong
5. Burke
6. Olcyzk
7. Karmanos
8. Weekes
9. McGuire

I think that's how I'd rank them in order of preference. I only listed the guys who I think have interviewed. Missing anyone?
I’d flip 6/7 but otherwise totally agree.

If it’s any of 6-9, I quit.

#1 is the only one that actually makes me happy.

#2 makes me feel adequately comfortable

#3-5 make me nervous but not angry or anything really.
 
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Dead Coyote

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Hunter is unlikely to leave London, he specifically left because he wanted to go back to London. Would love to have him if I could. Doubt it happens. Honestly if McGuire is hired I'm just done with the NHL. I can't think of a single team I actually give a f*** about. Maybe eventually when I move to FLA I'd support tampa or something.
 

hbk

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Hunter is unlikely to leave London, he specifically left because he wanted to go back to London. Would love to have him if I could. Doubt it happens. Honestly if McGuire is hired I'm just done with the NHL. I can't think of a single team I actually give a f*** about. Maybe eventually when I move to FLA I'd support tampa or something.
He left because they gave job to Dubas. He was Shanahans guy.
 
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rt

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Very interesting Burke article:

‘Hard to please, but easy to work for’: How Sean Burke’s philosophy as a GM would benefit the Oilers
‘Hard to please, but easy to work for’: How Sean Burke’s philosophy as a GM would benefit the Oilers

Interesting quotes from Scott Walker who’s currently in the Coyotes front office. Also from Dave King and Brad Treliving who were formerly Coyotes execs.

Ordinarily I’d scoff and dismiss Team Canada Exec. It’s like being the best coach in the history of the All Star game. Who cares? But this article is very detailed about the unique challenges faced.

Also dived into his eye for talent and ability as a scout somewhat.

All very qualitative stuff, but interesting nonetheless.
 

hbk

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Yes but he could have kept on or gone to a different team. He went back to OHL.
If he was offered another GM job I think he would have taken it. He’s got a very good thing going on in London. He’s not coming cheap.
 

Mosby

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I think Burke has an interesting combination of experience. I think he is more than a goalie coach and some guy who hung around Don Maloney. I’m talking the prospect development title and stuff like that. But, I think he’s less experienced than Sullivan. I think Sullivan’s experience running Tucson, and having a lot of success with it, can be a key qualification.

Also on Burke, I don’t really care about the Team Canada stuff. IIRC he didn’t rack up a bunch of gold medals either so it’s even less impressive.

At the pro level, there has to be all kinds of guys with a very similar resume to Burke. So it’s hard to imagine that had Burke not played for and worked for the franchise previously that he would even be considered right now.
 
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