Speculation: Hockey Ops Roulette (The Chayka Syndrome)

[Schemp]

...and bring in Ulfie as an assistant.
Love the Whaler connection between all 3.
I also think Sean Burke will be the new GM.

 

[Mosby]

Pierre LeBrun says:

• Rick Tocchet, Arizona. Geez, who knows what the future holds there, right? The Coyotes did briefly talk to Tocchet about an extension before Return to Play, I’m told, but both sides decided to wait until after the season to re-convene. Since then, GM John Chayka and the club parted ways rather acrimoniously. So until a new GM is hired, who knows on the coaching front, but also, who knows what Tocchet himself wants? The Coyotes might be in player payroll cutting mode, it might not be the best coaching gig out there over the next few years.

 

[Neighborhood Coyote]

Pierre LeBrun says:

• Rick Tocchet, Arizona. Geez, who knows what the future holds there, right? The Coyotes did briefly talk to Tocchet about an extension before Return to Play, I’m told, but both sides decided to wait until after the season to re-convene. Since then, GM John Chayka and the club parted ways rather acrimoniously. So until a new GM is hired, who knows on the coaching front, but also, who knows what Tocchet himself wants? The Coyotes might be in player payroll cutting mode, it might not be the best coaching gig out there over the next few years.

Talked extension? Chayka was really really trying to screw the Coyotes before he bailed!

I'm being over the top... But it's insane to me that was on the table. Freaking joke.

 

[Mosby]

Not just any coach can finish 12th in the conference you know.

 

[rt]

John Chayka is a f***ing clown.

 

[XX]

I can't get over the media treating Tocchet like he has earned the right to bail on a team. Those two rings as a cheerleader have really done a number on everyone.

 

[rt]

I can't get over the media treating Tocchet like he has earned the right to bail on a team. Those two rings as a cheerleader have really done a number on everyone.

It’s unbelievable. He’s a terrible head coach. It couldn’t be more obvious. And yet...

 

[TheLegend]

I’m so nervous about McGuire interviewing twice. McGuire seemed irritated with the question when interviewed so hopefully that’s a good sign. If not, he has a really good poker face.

I don't think he interviewed with just us twice..... I think it really was Florida and us.

 

[RABBIT]

I don't think he interviewed with just us twice..... I think it really was Florida and us.

according to Chris Johnston on headlines there was a banner that appeared when the topic was brought up and it said he interviewed twice.

 

[rt]

according to Chris Johnston on headlines there was a banner that appeared when the topic was brought up and it said he interviewed twice.

Yeah. He was emphatic. And Craig concurred.

 

[RABBIT]

I have a feeling we’ll find out more info today

 

[RABBIT]

Per Craig:


Sean Burke, Jason Karmanos, Pierre McGuire and Bill Zito (hired by the Panthers) have interviewed for the job. He’s also heard Bill Armstrong, Kevin Weekes, Mike Futa, Al Murray, Chris MacFarland, Ron Hextall, Mark Hunter and Ed Olczyk are connected to the job.

Only new name is Chris MacFarland. I’m hoping that Ron Hextall has in fact interviewed for the job and Craig just doesn’t know about it yet, because waiting too much longer might be shooting yourself in the foot. Interview him right away.

 

[Mosby]

Of those 3 (minus Zito), it's gotta be Burke.

MacFarland is the Avs AGM. I think he interviewed for a few jobs previously like Minnesota and maybe Seattle.

 

[rt]

It seems to me that MacFarland is another Laurence Gilman type. Meaning he represents the team in collective bargaining matters, General CBA understanding and compliance. Also player contract research and negotiations. As well as salary cap management and understanding the dollars and cents of things. He’s an attorney and plays the role of front-office lawyer on the executive team.

It’s good to have these guys around. But I’m not sure he’s likely to be a great General Manager in a traditional sense. He’d certainly need a VERY strong staff around him.

I view MacFarland and Gilman as the flipside of the Futa and Armstrong coin. The one pair is legal, business, negotiations, CBA and cap management while the latter pair is all about having an eye for player talent and understanding he deeper details and nuances of the game.

Bill Zito is both. Florida is lucky.

 

[Mosby]

The idea of cheapening out on the GM spot to save costs is absurdity. It's the most important position in the organization and the long-term costs could be far, far more.

 

[Jakey53]

Not just any coach can finish 12th in the conference you know.

Yep, it takes a special skill set, one of incompetence.

 

[Jakey53]

John Chayka is a f***ing clown.

The more we hear the worse it gets. What scares me is that Meruelo liked Chayka and RT. Mind you, many on these boards liked Chayka also.

 

[rt]

The idea of cheapening out on the GM spot to save costs is absurdity. It's the most important position in the organization and the long-term costs could be far, far more.

Why not “cheap-out” by hiring the best candidate who won’t need a full staff of hand-holders with executive titles? While with the Flyers, Ron Hextall was Executive VP of Hockey Ops while he was also simultaneously NHL GM and AHL GM.

Hiring Hextall replaces Chayka AND Sullivan in one shot, while eliminating the need to look at a Chiarelli or Tallon type as President to make sure some Green Horn GM doesn’t f*** up.

Hextall is surely the most expensive candidate for the GM job. But he’s also the only candidate that can fill three executive roles at once.

 

[hbk]

The more we hear the worse it gets. What scares me is that Meruelo liked Chayka and RT. Mind you, many on these boards liked Chayka also.

I think most of us weren’t prepared to give a final grade on Chayka. Many of us understood how weak the 2017 draft was and the need to bridge the gap until our prospects developed. I wanted to see how successful the prospect scouting changes were going to be before I made my call for a replacement. I thought the selections of Hayton and Soderstrom were going to be the tests. If they planned out as impact players then I was willing to give him further rope. I’m also on record on being intrigued by his contract philosophy and locking up players for their prime years. Not everything Chayka did was bad; however there’s certainly 1-2 uncomfortable contracts today that he handed out. His reputation is ruined now though.

 

[rt]

Scott Burnside’s take in the Athletic is an absolute f***ing rollercoaster. Lol:

“Some would say locking up pending unrestricted free agent Taylor Hall long-term is key for the long-suffering desert dogs. Disagree. If Hall wants to stay in Arizona at a reasonable number and term, fine. But the key for this team is to ensure that whoever takes over for GM John Chayka is ready for the significant challenge that awaits. If it’s long-time executive and assistant GM Steve Sullivan, that’s fine. But it can’t or shouldn’t be Sullivan because he’s convenient and/or cheap.

Populating the Coyotes hockey ops department with smart hockey folk is especially critical in the wake of the severe punishment handed down by the league for cheating on the draft combine testing, which leaves the Coyotes without a second-round draft pick in 2020 and a first-round pick in 2021. Having already shipped this year’s first-round pick to New Jersey in the Hall deal, the team is going to need bold action, including possibly trading a Vezina-caliber goaltender like Darcy Kuemper, who has two years left on his deal.

So, ownership has to act quickly and decisively. And that means getting Shane Doan back into the organization at a senior level. And it means taking a hard look at a guy like Sean Burke, who interviewed for the vacant Florida job and knows the marketplace well. Kevin Weekes, another candidate for the Florida job, is also in the mix, and perhaps it’s a combination of those sharp hockey minds that ultimately comes together in Arizona. The bottom line is you can’t fix what’s on the ice if you don’t fix what’s in the boardroom. Simple as that.”

NHL offseason priorities: What to expect from all 31 teams
NHL offseason priorities: What to expect from all 31 teams

 

[The Feckless Puck]

Mind you, many on these boards liked Chayka also.

I am willing to change my opinion on something, given new facts.

 

[rt]

I am willing to change my opinion on something, given new facts.

We’ve received a lot more access to critical supporting details surrounding existing facts that we’ve been able to establish wholly new context.

Some people’s brains are binary, though. No room for anything grey. It’s all black or white.

 

[Jakey53]

Scott Burnside’s take in the Athletic is an absolute f***ing rollercoaster. Lol:

“Some would say locking up pending unrestricted free agent Taylor Hall long-term is key for the long-suffering desert dogs. Disagree. If Hall wants to stay in Arizona at a reasonable number and term, fine. But the key for this team is to ensure that whoever takes over for GM John Chayka is ready for the significant challenge that awaits. If it’s long-time executive and assistant GM Steve Sullivan, that’s fine. But it can’t or shouldn’t be Sullivan because he’s convenient and/or cheap.

Populating the Coyotes hockey ops department with smart hockey folk is especially critical in the wake of the severe punishment handed down by the league for cheating on the draft combine testing, which leaves the Coyotes without a second-round draft pick in 2020 and a first-round pick in 2021. Having already shipped this year’s first-round pick to New Jersey in the Hall deal, the team is going to need bold action, including possibly trading a Vezina-caliber goaltender like Darcy Kuemper, who has two years left on his deal.

So, ownership has to act quickly and decisively. And that means getting Shane Doan back into the organization at a senior level. And it means taking a hard look at a guy like Sean Burke, who interviewed for the vacant Florida job and knows the marketplace well. Kevin Weekes, another candidate for the Florida job, is also in the mix, and perhaps it’s a combination of those sharp hockey minds that ultimately comes together in Arizona. The bottom line is you can’t fix what’s on the ice if you don’t fix what’s in the boardroom. Simple as that.”

NHL offseason priorities: What to expect from all 31 teams
NHL offseason priorities: What to expect from all 31 teams

Why is Kevin Weeks name even in the conversation for a GM position? What has he done to be considered for such role?

 

[Grimes]

Weekes in a hockey ops type position could be interesting. He just can't have any control over the roster.

 

[Mosby]

What is this obsession with getting Shane Doan back in the organization? Fine if it happens but it shouldn’t be a focal point, especially right now.