NY Islanders Sale Talk Part II

[Doshell Propivo]

We currently have a back-up goalie as GM and a penny pinching crook as owner. If we had the opportunity to bring in the greatest hockey player of all time for the front office, I'd be all for it.

 

[13th Floor]

We currently have a back-up goalie as GM and a penny pinching crook as owner. If we had the opportunity to bring in the greatest hockey player of all time for the front office, I'd be all for it.

Why do people think that a great hockey player would be a great GM? There's absolutely ZERO correlation.

 

[Doshell Propivo]

Why do people think that a great hockey player would be a great GM? There's absolutely ZERO correlation.

I wouldn't want him as GM. Team President under a new owner and with new GM? Sure! Look what JD did with the Blues and now Columbus. Look what Neely has done in Boston. Figure heads to an extent but it brings a certain level of panache to the org and a big step in changing the culture.

 

[scott99]

I wouldn't want him as GM. Team President under a new owner and with new GM? Sure! Look what JD did with the Blues and now Columbus. Look what Neely has done in Boston. Figure heads to an extent but it brings a certain level of panache to the org and a big step in changing the culture.

JD has a track record though of doing an amazing job. I wish our new owner would bring him here. He turned St Louis around, and turned Columbus from something similar to the Isles to a playoff team. He knows how to assemble teams of guys who know what their doing when it comes to drafting and building teams.

 

[JeffNYI]

I just came from the Vanek thread in to this one... so now some of us are opting to "thanks but no thanks" on Wayne Gretzky??????????

Some are worried about him offering his analysis on HOCKEY PLAYERS to our GM -- in my world that'd be an ASSET..

Follow the dominos.. He's probably learned a ton from Phoenix.. Do you not realize Wayne Gretzky is not gonna TAKE a job with any team unless they're gonna ice a lineup HE can be proud of -- which in our case means no more cap floor?

It's going to be so much easier to get sponsor dollars, media attention, etc..

Guys it's okay to have high expectations.. but come on..

 

[PWJunior]

I just came from the Vanek thread in to this one... so now some of us are opting to "thanks but no thanks" on Wayne Gretzky??????????

Some are worried about him offering his analysis on HOCKEY PLAYERS to our GM -- in my world that'd be an ASSET..

Follow the dominos.. He's probably learned a ton from Phoenix.. Do you not realize Wayne Gretzky is not gonna TAKE a job with any team unless they're gonna ice a lineup HE can be proud of -- which in our case means no more cap floor?

It's going to be so much easier to get sponsor dollars, media attention, etc..

Guys it's okay to have high expectations.. but come on..

I think Crew's point about wanting to pursue experienced and qualified people rather than the names like Wayne Gretzky is on point. He was one of the greats, a legend... on the ice. We could collect a cavalcade of ex-greats to join the organization, but it doesn't mean squat if they have the name and not the ability. Michael Jordan was one of the greats on the court, he had no idea what he was doing in a managerial role. Isiah Thomas... let's not even go there when he was running the Knicks.

If Wayne learned from his past experience and has the ability to help us, I'd welcome it. Accepting him just because of who he is/was... not much interest. I feel that way for pretty much all of those guys out there in a similar situation.

 

[PK Cronin]

I just came from the Vanek thread in to this one... so now some of us are opting to "thanks but no thanks" on Wayne Gretzky??????????

Some are worried about him offering his analysis on HOCKEY PLAYERS to our GM -- in my world that'd be an ASSET..

Follow the dominos.. He's probably learned a ton from Phoenix.. Do you not realize Wayne Gretzky is not gonna TAKE a job with any team unless they're gonna ice a lineup HE can be proud of -- which in our case means no more cap floor?

It's going to be so much easier to get sponsor dollars, media attention, etc..

Guys it's okay to have high expectations.. but come on..

Gretzky was a terrible coach and I don't trust him to be any better at running a team. Just because he's a big name and a great player doesn't mean he's good at the business side or evaluating talent. I don't even know if he's involved with hockey at all beyond being an ambassador and making appearances. The only absolute positive thing that would happen if Gretzky was involved with the Islanders is there would be an increased chance of seeing Paulina Gretzky at Islanders stuff, maybe.

 

[Felix Unger]

Follow the dominos.. He's probably learned a ton from Phoenix.. Do you not realize Wayne Gretzky is not gonna TAKE a job with any team unless they're gonna ice a lineup HE can be proud of -- which in our case means no more cap floor?

It's going to be so much easier to get sponsor dollars, media attention, etc..

Guys it's okay to have high expectations.. but come on..

You make very good points, but I'm not sure about the bolded. I mean, those Phoenix teams he coached were Shane Doan and a bunch of nobodies and has-beens. He has the reputation, deserved or not, of not doing well with young players probably as the result of the Turris fiasco.

 

[A Pointed Stick]

We currently have a back-up goalie as GM and a penny pinching crook as owner. If we had the opportunity to bring in the greatest hockey player of all time for the front office, I'd be all for it.

Without supporting evidence of solid GM abilities it would be the perfect setup for utter failure.

IMO, it is important to bring someone in who earns it on paper (doing GM related duties) who you can also terminate for poor performance. Terminating Wayne Gretzky would not be a 1,2,3 move if he sucked, and based on his coaching ability being ranked amongst some of the worst coaches ever in the NHL historically, I see no reason to think he would do anything but suck in a more demanding position. If you want to park a figurehead in a nonessential position, go for it, but whoever gets the call for GM should have a resume that says he's worth looking at.

 

[JKP]

You guys are all missing the model now. He wouldn't be a GM. He would be the president. Totally different role. It's like the GM duties are being split into two around the league and the GM is more tactical and Prez more strategic and outward-facing.

I'd take Gretz as president in a heart-beat. And I'd keep Garth as GM. I think they'd be a good combo. Anyone saying he doesn't have front-office experience is forgetting about all his work as the primary exec for Team Canada for a bunch of years.

He brings instant credibility to a franchise that could use a credibility boost. I think it would be awesome.

 

[PK Cronin]

You guys are all missing the model now. He wouldn't be a GM. He would be the president. Totally different role. It's like the GM duties are being split into two around the league and the GM is more tactical and Prez more strategic and outward-facing.

I'd take Gretz as president in a heart-beat. And I'd keep Garth as GM. I think they'd be a good combo. Anyone saying he doesn't have front-office experience is forgetting about all his work as the primary exec for Team Canada for a bunch of years.

He brings instant credibility to a franchise that could use a credibility boost. I think it would be awesome.

Doing front office work for Team Canada is a hell of a lot different than doing front office work within the NHL. Have you noticed that teams are targeting lower ranked management guys from successful organizations? That's how the Islanders need to approach things. The same thing happens in baseball and football. A bunch of the guys who have won Superbowls lately as management or coaches can be traced back to Bill Parcells, and that's not a coincidence. Grab guys from Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles, or Boston if you can. Not old stars, regardless of who they are, just to add credibility for a season before they mess it all up.

 

[CREW99AW]

I just came from the Vanek thread in to this one... so now some of us are opting to "thanks but no thanks" on Wayne Gretzky??????????

Some are worried about him offering his analysis on HOCKEY PLAYERS to our GM -- in my world that'd be an ASSET..

Follow the dominos.. He's probably learned a ton from Phoenix.. Do you not realize Wayne Gretzky is not gonna TAKE a job with any team unless they're gonna ice a lineup HE can be proud of -- which in our case means no more cap floor?

It's going to be so much easier to get sponsor dollars, media attention, etc..

Guys it's okay to have high expectations.. but come on..

We saw Yormark take the Nets and double their franchise value in two years, after moving from NJ to Brooklyn. Yormark has a proven track record in that dept. I am not worried that the isles won't get heavily hyped to the media or sponsors. Barclays has too much invested in the franchise, to not to aggressively push the team.

What makes you think Gretzky learned a lot from Phoenix?


Btw, I read today that Gretzky wants to be part owner of any team he goes to work for. Hopefully, that nixes any interest the next Isles owner may have in him.

 

[Riseonfire]

We saw Yormark take the Nets and double their franchise value in two years, after moving from NJ to Brooklyn. Yormark has a proven track record in that dept. I am not worried that the isles won't get heavily hyped to the media or sponsors. Barclays has too much invested in the franchise, to not to aggressively push the team.

What makes you think Gretzky learned a lot from Phoenix?


Btw, I read today that Gretzky wants to be part owner of any team he goes to work for. Hopefully, that nixes any interest the next Isles owner may have in him.

Couldn't Gretzky be one of Barroway's investors? We all know he didn't have the cash himself, he needed help.

Regardless, THIS is all speculation here. On top of more speculation.... haha

 

[ScaredStreit]

Gretzky has no reason whatsoever to take over the NHL red-headed step child. Let's be honest here: there's no remote chance that Gretzky comes to the Isles organization in any way.

 

[JKP]

Doing front office work for Team Canada is a hell of a lot different than doing front office work within the NHL. Have you noticed that teams are targeting lower ranked management guys from successful organizations? That's how the Islanders need to approach things. The same thing happens in baseball and football. A bunch of the guys who have won Superbowls lately as management or coaches can be traced back to Bill Parcells, and that's not a coincidence. Grab guys from Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles, or Boston if you can. Not old stars, regardless of who they are, just to add credibility for a season before they mess it all up.

Front office work for Team Canada is far more pressure-packed than any NHL job, I can assure you that. 15 million Canadians watched the 2014 gold medal game. Our country's population is 34 million. That's nearly half the country. In the NHL you can whiff and reload. In Canada, if we don't get gold there are public commissions.

Lower ranked guys? For President? Like Linden and Shanahan? And Linden hasn't even been in hockey for like 6 years.

 

[doublechili]

Heresy I know, but I never liked Gretzky even a little bit. And he doesn't strike me as being the sharpest knife in the drawer. I'll pass.

 

[Mavericknyc1980]

@ChrisBottaNHL: I asked Gary Bettman about #Isles sale. Bettman: "Charles (Wang) is still deciding what he wants to do. No decision has been made."

 

[PK Cronin]

Front office work for Team Canada is far more pressure-packed than any NHL job, I can assure you that. 15 million Canadians watched the 2014 gold medal game. Our country's population is 34 million. That's nearly half the country. In the NHL you can whiff and reload. In Canada, if we don't get gold there are public commissions.

Lower ranked guys? For President? Like Linden and Shanahan? And Linden hasn't even been in hockey for like 6 years.

Working the front office for Team Canada is different in the sense that they aren't competing for players against other organizations. They are simply choosing who they want to be on the team. It's a lot different.

I can't recall off the top of my head, but I believe one of the Boston guys is being courted by organizations and so is another guy from either Chicago or Detroit...but I can't recall off the top of my head.

 

[OlTimeHockey]

We currently have a back-up goalie as GM and a penny pinching crook as owner. If we had the opportunity to bring in the greatest hockey player of all time for the front office, I'd be all for it.

Why do people think that a great hockey player would be a great GM? There's absolutely ZERO correlation.

Bobby Orr is perfectly content in his career endeavors. Gordie Howe doesn't want the job either.

 

[BillD]

@ChrisBottaNHL: I asked Gary Bettman about #Isles sale. Bettman: "Charles (Wang) is still deciding what he wants to do. No decision has been made."

I would say that is the stock answer right now, which means nothing at all.
Bettman would not tell Botta if he knew the deal was signed, upstaging the two parties.
Bettman would not tell Botta there was no deal until the parties announced it.
All Bettman will tell Botta is the deal is pending whether he knows it is signed or not.
Not slighting Botta, but Bettman is not a good source for releasing information on this.

 

[JKP]

I would say that is the stock answer right now, which means nothing at all.
Bettman would not tell Botta if he knew the deal was signed, upstaging the two parties.
Bettman would not tell Botta there was no deal until the parties announced it.
All Bettman will tell Botta is the deal is pending whether he knows it is signed or not.
Not slighting Botta, but Bettman is not a good source for releasing information on this.

At least it proves Botta had a source he can name.

 

[lazycop]

I just came from the Vanek thread in to this one... so now some of us are opting to "thanks but no thanks" on Wayne Gretzky??????????

Some are worried about him offering his analysis on HOCKEY PLAYERS to our GM -- in my world that'd be an ASSET..

Follow the dominos.. He's probably learned a ton from Phoenix.. Do you not realize Wayne Gretzky is not gonna TAKE a job with any team unless they're gonna ice a lineup HE can be proud of -- which in our case means no more cap floor?

It's going to be so much easier to get sponsor dollars, media attention, etc..

Guys it's okay to have high expectations.. but come on..

I have high expectations, which is why I want a great GM and a great coach, not just a great name. Gretzkys proven nothing as a coach/GM/advisor. Nothing.

 

[JeffNYI]

I have high expectations, which is why I want a great GM and a great coach, not just a great name. Gretzkys proven nothing as a coach/GM/advisor. Nothing.

And I don't want Gretzky to be our goalie. Just because he could put the puck in the net doesn't mean he can keep the pucks out of them.

 

[JeffNYI]

You guys are all missing the model now. He wouldn't be a GM. He would be the president. Totally different role. It's like the GM duties are being split into two around the league and the GM is more tactical and Prez more strategic and outward-facing.

EXACTLY.

Nobody's saying we want Gretzky in charge of hockey ops.. but there's more to a team than that in 2014.. Having Gretzky show up brings cameras and credibility..

We all decry the treatment we get from the media.. from the league.. Gretzky as part of the operation would help in those areas.. he's taken very seriously..

But honestly my point wasn't even about Gretzky or no Gretzky.. it was about the fact that some of us have so lost touch with reality that we won't accept any upgrades in any area unless it's complete and total perfection..

Every multi-billionaire who wants to buy the New York Islanders and hand over control of the hockey end to HFBoard's GM of choice while insisting we increase payroll substantially has the opportunity RIGHT NOW to buy the team.

Meanwhile, at the end of this upcoming season Mike Babcock can leave the Red Wings and become our coach.. in fact if he told the Red Wings he'd like to just go ahead and leave NOW and take over the Islanders they'd probably let him..

So you guys wait for those things.. you guys wait for the billionaire who is happy to sit in a box and watch games and be worried to give his opinion to his GM because it's not his place and because we would frown on that..

I'm sure they're lining up to take the Isles off Wang's hands for $400,000,000 and not have any input..

It's not 1980 guys.

 

[Felix Unger]

Sources inside the NHL have indicated that a surprising executive could be appointed if Andrew Barroway completes a deal to purchase the New York Islanders from Charles Wang. Barroway was a behind the scenes advisor and confidant for the Hunter brothers in their purchase of the London Knights in 2000. This source believes that Dale Hunter's passion and success as an owner of a hockey franchise inspired Barroway's drive to own a team.

The New York Islanders and Dale Hunter have a complex history. In 1993 Hunter notoriously injured Islander's star Pierre Turgeon with a check seconds after Turgeon scored a goal in a playoff game, receiving an unprecedented 21 game suspension the following season. On the other hand, Hunter traded for and coached Islander Captain John Tavares in his last season in the OHL resulting in a deep run in the OHL playoffs.

http://sportsbusinesshumbug/hockey/hunter_bs.htm