News Article: Rachel Doerrie has left the Canucks

[timw33]

Drance has dumped a fresh article on the Athletic and one interesting tidbit is this quote about the analytics department:

“Aiden Fox has been working on adding to our analytics department,” Rutherford told The Athletic. “He’s been working on a plan here for a number of weeks now as to where we want to go. We’re really looking at doubling the size of the analytics department.”​

Sounds like there could be at least two more hires and Fox must have the inside track on being promoted to head up analytics.

I'm really encouraged by JR's management style of identifying the smart internal people, hearing their vision, and then empowering them to build out their departments to accomplish that vision.

An absolute quantum leap forward in terms of basic management principals.

So what exactly happened to her in New Jersey?

They restructured the analytics department with a new VP, and eliminated her job as part of the restructuring.

 

[F A N]

What on earth.

Again, this isn't some sort of polar dichotomy where a) Hughes was on an IV or b) Sekeres is making up stories that are total lies.

There was a Canuck on an IV (Sutter). *BY FAR* the most likely explanation is that Sekeres' source got the name of the Canuck on the IV wrong and that he ran with it too quickly without vetting.

The notion that he would just invent that story - about someone he sees on a regular basis and which would be easily denied/disproven if not true, making him look bad and not credible - is nonsense. And makes no sense at all. He ran that story because he believed it was true. Guaranteed. But he's a bad reporter who reported bad information.

Again. You're now just backtracking and offering an explanation that Sekeres might have made a mistake.

Usually when reporters or journalists etc. make a mistake they correct the record. If what you said is true, this would have been the easiest correction to make. "My mistake, it was actually Sutter who was on IV and not Hughes." That's not what he did. Certainly, Sekeres had no time for your "most likely explanation." By staying silent he implicitly sticks with his original reporting and looks bad and not credible. So even if in your mind he didn't make things up, are you able to say that Sekeres gave a false report and refused to correct the record?

I don't understand why people don't feel the need to be skeptical of what these journalists or pretend journalists say. When Sekeres is the only one reporting on it and it isn't true you know it's fake.

Our local media is a small group. When something is true, it usually gets confirmed quickly. The fact that a lot of things Sekeres says doesn't get confirmed, but outright denied, should tell you something.

 

[MS]

Again. You're now just backtracking and offering an explanation that Sekeres might have made a mistake.

Usually when reporters or journalists etc. make a mistake they correct the record. If what you said is true, this would have been the easiest correction to make. "My mistake, it was actually Sutter who was on IV and not Hughes." That's not what he did. Certainly, Sekeres had no time for your "most likely explanation." By staying silent he implicitly sticks with his original reporting and looks bad and not credible. So even if in your mind he didn't make things up, are you able to say that Sekeres gave a false report and refused to correct the record?

I don't understand why people don't feel the need to be skeptical of what these journalists or pretend journalists say. When Sekeres is the only one reporting on it and it isn't true you know it's fake.

Our local media is a small group. When something is true, it usually gets confirmed quickly. The fact that a lot of things Sekeres says doesn't get confirmed, but outright denied, should tell you something.

How the hell am I backtracking? I literally said that that was the most likely explanation right from the very start. You must not have been reading what I was posting?

Again : sloppy reporting is a thing. There is a lot of pressure to be 'first' to a scoop and absolutely people run with stories without vetting them well enough or flushing them out well enough. Things can get reported which are wrong as a result.

Making up stories is not a thing. And it's absolutely f***ing bizarre that people think it is a thing.

There is nothing wrong with being skeptical of a story if the evidence suggests that it might not be true or not the full story. However, a story can be wrong without the reporter maliciously inventing nonsense. You can believe you're getting it right and your chain of evidence just might not be what you thought it was.

More likely something may have been mixed up in the information he received and it was a different player (Sutter?) who had to have an IV.

Information that passed through two or three sources may have gotten garbled.

I have no idea if Sekeres issued a retraction, honestly. But if he didn't, again the most likely reason is that he's embarrassed and doesn't want to bring it back up. Or maybe he still believes his source was correct and the denial is BS.

But I will 100% guarantee you that Sekeres didn't wake up one morning and decide to invent an oddly specific and easily deniable report about a Quinn Hughes IV .... and then have an absolute lucky fluke happen that a different Canuck happened to be on an IV. He was reporting what someone told him.

Believing that Sekeres invented that story is absolutely crazy. There is zero logic behind it. I can't say this strongly enough and I'm endlessly baffled that people think that this is a thing.

 

[mriswith]

I'm really encouraged by JR's management style of identifying the smart internal people, hearing their vision, and then empowering them to build out their departments to accomplish that vision.

An absolute quantum leap forward in terms of basic management principals.



They restructured the analytics department with a new VP, and eliminated her job as part of the restructuring.

I can't like this enough. There's a long way to go but so far this is the dream - a poho with this mentality who wants to be poho and not a gm, but who is also blue blooded OBC through and through enough to keep Aqua at arms length away from hockey ops while they do their thing.

 

[F A N]

I have no idea if Sekeres issued a retraction, honestly. But if he didn't, again the most likely reason is that he's embarrassed and doesn't want to bring it back up.

I think I am done with the back and forth here so let's just agree on the things we can agree on.

Agree that Sekeres was embarassed and his ego got hurt so he can't get himself to bring it back up.

But I will 100% guarantee you that Sekeres didn't wake up one morning and decide to invent an oddly specific and easily deniable report about a Quinn Hughes IV

You seem so sure. Must be really close to him. I'll take your word for it. Maybe he didn't wake up and decide to invent a story. But invented a story during his morning coffee.

 

[MS]

I think I am done with the back and forth here so let's just agree on the things we can agree on.

Agree that Sekeres was embarassed and his ego got hurt so he can't get himself to bring it back up.



You seem so sure. Must be really close to him. I'll take your word for it. Maybe he didn't wake up and decide to invent a story. But invented a story during his morning coffee.

I'm sure because it makes no sense.

If you were going to invent a story you wouldn't invent something that was tied to a specific player and so easily deniable when the player was bound to be asked about it a few days later. It would be sociopathic career suicide to act like that. The only possible end result would be embarrassment.

Conversely, there is an incredibly logical explanation, which is that somewhere in the information chain the player who was IV was confused between Sutter and Hughes.

 

[Melvin]

I can't like this enough. There's a long way to go but so far this is the dream - a poho with this mentality who wants to be poho and not a gm, but who is also blue blooded OBC through and through enough to keep Aqua at arms length away from hockey ops while they do their thing.

yeah. So far it’s everything I asked for

 

[Snatcher Demko]

I like that Rutherford didn't see her tweet as disqualifying. Perhaps he even agrees with her and is less concerned with the optics. That's a big plus.

 

[MS]

yeah. So far it’s everything I asked for

In 6 weeks we've gone from having Jim Benning as this team's GM to hiring people who are on record openly mocking Benning as being a total imbecile. It's incredible.

 

[F A N]

I'm sure because it makes no sense.

If you were going to invent a story you wouldn't invent something that was tied to a specific player and so easily deniable when the player was bound to be asked about it a few days later. It would be sociopathic career suicide to act like that. The only possible end result would be embarrassment.

Conversely, there is an incredibly logical explanation, which is that somewhere in the information chain the player who was IV was confused between Sutter and Hughes.

Well reporting that Sutter was on IVs would not have been a story. His father was already on radio saying he's worried about his son by then. But ya, I'm sure that a week after everyone reported that Sutter was hit hard, somehow Sekeres confused Sutter with Hughes. Only logical explanation lol.

 

[MS]

Well reporting that Sutter was on IVs would not have been a story. His father was already on radio saying he's worried about his son by then. But ya, I'm sure that a week after everyone reported that Sutter was hit hard, somehow Sekeres confused Sutter with Hughes. Only logical explanation lol.

Yes, it's by far the most logical explanation. I don't know how this is even a debate.

There is a 0% chance that Sekeres made up such a specific and easily deniable report (which could only end very badly for him) and also fluked having the same information be true about a different Canuck player. Nada. None.

 

[Peen]

Her comment about Luke was pretty striking though. The one I heard she starts off saying Luke is like #1 on her do not draft list (I take that to mean among the top prospects and not the entire draft). That is fine. Usually that is followed by reasons whether that is skills based or worst interview ever, bad body language, yells at his teammates etc. Her comments about Luke is only vague because she doesn't dive into any of that. She didn't say she talked to a former teammate or a former coach who wants to remain anonymous etc. Not even a "I know a guy who went to high school with him..."

I think her wording afterwards (and I paraphrase) was that she did a "character and injury" recon and the only ones that had something good to say were people close to him and people who have something gained from it.

That's as close to saying that the guy is a piece of sh**, his injury is serious, and anybody who says otherwise are his friends and family or have something to gain from it. I'm all for strong opinions but this is shock jock territory.

I posted her transcribed report of Luke Hughes. Nothing she says is ridiculous.

It’s clear that the reasons for being #1 on the DND list are a combination of the ACL injury he sustained and the reports on his character

 

[MS]

I posted her transcribed report of Luke Hughes. Nothing she says is ridiculous.

It’s clear that the reasons for being #1 on the DND list are a combination of the ACL injury he sustained and the reports on his character

If she would have said that exact stuff about Fedor Svechkov nobody would have batted an eye but there seem to be rules about which draft prospects are allowed to be criticized.

 

[F A N]

I posted her transcribed report of Luke Hughes. Nothing she says is ridiculous.

It’s clear that the reasons for being #1 on the DND list are a combination of the ACL injury he sustained and the reports on his character

Vouched in these terms (from your transcriptions with brackets removed): "I have done quite a bit of character recon and injury recon and I have not heard a single person say a good thing who isn't related to him or has something to gain."

She's saying this, in no uncertain terms, that essentially those who had good things to say about Luke is either related to him or has something to gain.

 

[F A N]

Yes, it's by far the most logical explanation. I don't know how this is even a debate.

There is a 0% chance that Sekeres made up such a specific and easily deniable report (which could only end very badly for him) and also fluked having the same information be true about a different Canuck player. Nada. None.

You didn't answer my question. Do you believe everything that Tucker Carlson says as well?

 

[mathonwy]

I had a feeling people were just talking bullshit, and it turns out, unsurprisingly, they were. Nothing she is saying here is ridiculous.

To be honest, the most interesting thing is the amount of times she has made comments referring to the Aquilini meddling ownership. Which again, isn’t surprising.

it’s a good thing when you think about it because she’s turned down other opportunities and said she was really picky about her next destination. She must have some faith that Aqua is not going to be meddling.

Everything about this hiring gives good vibes. She’s incredibly smart. I personally like the fact that she didn’t spend the last few years kissing ass and not trying to hurt people’s feelings. Instead, she just called it as she saw it.

If she’s turning down other opps and she actually came to her conclusions on her own then that implies that she’s concluded that the Canucks are the org where she can advance her own career the fastest and that bodes well for everyone.

Org structure-wise, the Canucks were catastrophically bad.

I postulate a high probability of Petey coming to the same conclusion.

 

[krutovsdonut]

So what exactly happened to her in New Jersey?

she was abruptly fired shortly before shero was let go because of a "change in direction". that could mean a lot of things. if it means she got herself fired, i would not necessarily hold it against her. she is outspoken and awfully young and there are a lot of ways that could get you fired from a business with a public profile without it being a big deal.

go to the devils board and search her name and you will get a lot of mild criticism of her as not handling herself well after the firing (lacking judgment and being immature about the departure). it is hard to follow because all the tweet links are deleted, but it looks like she bore a grudge and was a big john hynes fan.

my feeling at this point is that this is a very young person who is smart, ambitious, well spoken and with some media skills, likes to cultivates attention, lacks a filter, and holds a grudge. kudos to her for actually developing a hockey relevant skill set and trying to have a hockey ops career instead of taking the easy route of being a talking head with her skill set. also kudos to her for going back to college. she seems busy and hardworking.

hockey needs more people with those talents and with her skill set, brian burke should be mentoring her.

but i am not sure she will thrive in the new job even if she is really good at it. she's either going to have to abandon the public profile she has worked hard to build and put those talents on a shelf, or figure out a way to square it with an entry level hockey job. the latter will be a challenge because she does seem to lack a filter, and does seem prone to get into gossip. she will be at high risk of a blaze of glory departure.

bottom line, we make allowances for 40 year old ex pros who become hockey media folks and have to figure it out. i think we can make allowances for a 25 year old. i will be rooting for her.

 

[MS]

You didn't answer my question. Do you believe everything that Tucker Carlson says as well?

You're confusing news reporting with editorialism. And also confusing 'believing it's true' with 'believing it wasn't made up with no sources corroborating it'. And also making a false equivalency between the absolutely insane US political scene and the comparatively benign reporting on a Canadian hockey team.

If Tucker Carlson was on air reporting that the Governor of Minnesota was on an IV for COVID, yes, I would believe that he had a source telling him that that was the case and didn't just decide to make it up for no reason.

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

She recently made a great point on her podcast about the Oilers
With 3 years remaining on Draisaitl’s contract,the oilers should trade away any assets that aren’t gonna help them with in the next 3 seasons for immediate help, yet Ken Holland doesn’t want to trade away his first round picks.

 

[MarkMM]

Vouched in these terms (from your transcriptions with brackets removed): "I have done quite a bit of character recon and injury recon and I have not heard a single person say a good thing who isn't related to him or has something to gain."

She's saying this, in no uncertain terms, that essentially those who had good things to say about Luke is either related to him or has something to gain.

If that's what she heard, then thanks to her for sharing for those of us without the connections. Don't see the catastrophe of these comments.

 

[MS]

She recently made a great point on her podcast about the Oilers
With 3 years remaining on Draisaitl’s contract,the oilers should trade away any assets that aren’t gonna help them with in the next 3 seasons for immediate help, yet Ken Holland doesn’t want to trade away his first round picks.

This has been the weirdest thing in Edmonton since Holland took over.

They need to improve their blueline/goaltending/depth. They are the least desirable UFA destination in the NHL. To add good players, they need to move futures. But they've just steadfastly refused and just keep drafting guys with their top picks who aren't going to help them for years.

It's doubly weird because Detroit constantly traded #1 picks when Holland was there.

 

[F A N]

If that's what she heard, then thanks to her for sharing for those of us without the connections. Don't see the catastrophe of these comments.

I think these type of comments about a 17 year old require more information and clarification, otherwise it is very careless and does amount to character assassination.

This isn't something we need to agree here.

 

[Melvin]

This is the dumbest argument I've ever half-seen.

Apparently they are looking to double the size of Analytics and Player Development? Did JR Read my GM Wish List thread? Cause damn.

 

[krutovsdonut]

If that's what she heard, then thanks to her for sharing for those of us without the connections. Don't see the catastrophe of these comments.

but you cannot go around bluntly saying words to the effect of "i have talked to lots of people and everybody not related to this person thinks they are of bad character" on a media broadcast, even if it is just a podcast. flat out saying stuff like that is slander and hughes could sue her at which point, unless those people she talked to are willing to testify they told her that in a court case and thus expose themselves to damages or unless she can prove it is true, she's liable to him for damages. it signals she's inexperienced. you cannot go down those alleys except in the most gentle and circumspect way possible. typically media build on reports of other media over time to create those kind of narratives.

you make allowances for her doing that as a 23 year old with no media training not appreciating the limits of a podcast, but she needs to learn not to do that pretty much immediately. she will lose her job in seconds if she says something like that on the record while she is a canuck employee because she exposes her employer to liability.

 

[MS]

I think these type of comments about a 17 year old require more information and clarification, otherwise it is very careless and does amount to character assassination.

This isn't something we need to agree here.

Comments like this are made by media about a couple players in every draft and this has been the case forever. This is nothing compared to what was written about Ryan Merkley, or even Anthony Mantha.

The only different thing here is that people didn't like who the comments were about, and that that player was very connected around the NHL.