Review of the 15 first min. I have to run and will edit and add the rest if I can find time later
- Discussion on how being an agent help him as a GM. Feel like arriving with knowledge of the player and being able to communicate with them is key. He wanted to develop relations with players. That was also a key asset he wanted in a coach.
-Discussed MLS hiring: Hiring MSL is, thus far, the decision he's the most happy about. Getting him on an interim basis was the best way to bring him over and ensure the decision would be better received by outsiders.
- Discussion on how rumors are started. lots of attention on MTL, some are trues but lots of wrong. He can't deny them all the time... no win situation. He shared a case where he call a media person that was spreading a false rumor and told him to call him instead of doing shit like that. Share that some GM do use the media as a negotiating tactic.
- Discussion on his 1st draft. He feel like being a GM in MTL your like a politician... your approval rating will go up and down. You can only judge your work once you are done. share his decision making process on accepting the job in MTL. Confirm that they spent lots of time looking at prospect and his agent job gave him some insight on some prospect. He defer to the team ultimately but it was an unanimous choice to go with Slaf.
Edit:
- Discussion on USDP and how Hutson was the best player on the team at that moment. He didn't focus on Hutson before the draft. they really put more time on the top 15 guys. Explain that he trusted the recruiting team to draft him in the best spot. This get him to admit they did the same with Fowler, liked him alot but waited to the best spot to draft him. He added that he was interested in Brindley too. He followed up with the story about AVS wanting to draft Fowler in the second round as they not traded their pick. he admitted that would they not have traded for newhook, col would have use their pick for fowler.
- Quick discussion about Snake looking to bring Ken's son in Valdor and Kent to explain that they preferred to play in the US for family reasons.
- Discussion on a "regular day" as a GM. Similar to a player agent, you can't plan you day/week. Very reactive. Explain that from the outside looks like its all hockey, but his job is managing lots of other stuff like interpersonal relation, operation, etc.
- Discussion on development (as part of the team strategy). He define development as ensuring that a player get to play at his best that he can. Each player as a different curve and limit. Speak to communication and how this is important. Give the example of his discussion with Slaf: don't play like Jack Hugues, play like you. Focus on 3 elements: can the player want to learn. can he understand, and can they incorporate it on his game in a very reactive game. Give the example of Brad Marchant being the best player to learn and improve.
- Discussion on how much he's involved in the development of player. He admit it's not common but he has lots of experience in coaching in the pass and he's patinate about helping younger one to improve. He learn a lot about how to manage players. Give the example of Levavalier having hard time with Torts and how he manage to get Lecavalier to change is approach to the game, but more importantly how he also learn how to manage it's relation with the player, including having empathy. Brunet compared Slaf to Lecavalier in term development. Explain that they they barely spoke with Slaf the first year. They know he needed to improve his read, but they didn't want him to play in a level where he would dominate physically.
- Speak to the role of Reinbacher. See him as something like Carrier. He explained that he believe that before the Carrier trade, they had more trouble with pressure then with physical play on defense. See a big difference since Carrier's trade.
- Discussion on public scouting list. Team list are often different then public list.
- Discussion quantity of picks being a good approach. give the chance to find hidden gem or do trade
- Discussion on staggering end of contract. KH explain that contracts ending at the same time give lost of power on the players. Quick discussion on if you expect players to take a discount at some point, you should expect to give a bit more when you have that flexibility (ok... that to me was interesting and telling about what could happen with Evans!!!)
- Snake raise nepotism as a way to hire in the NHL: KH explain it's more about having confidence that someone can do the job. interview rarely bring that level of knowledge. KH like to debate idea and strategy. in 2023, there was little unknown at the draft so they didn't expect to make a decision at the table. in 2024, there was lots of uncertainty and a decision at the table was a strong possibility. He task the 2 scouts (no Nick and Martin could participate) to look at 2 guys. They estimated that Demidov had a 50% change to be available. he was their no1.
- Discussion on what he learn thus far as MTL GM: Learn a lot about hockey ops, but more about the relation between the management team and coaching staff. Coach want to win, management want player development over wins.
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