[The Athletic] Jeff Marek was let go because of allegedly leaking draft selections

[Hodge]

He did nothing that anyone truly cares about, unless you work in the league and are mad your secret got out a few minutes early. Boo-hoo.

Doesn't have to be legitimate reporting. What's the loss of any of it? Further, what percentage of people do you think are in favor of suppressing the news?

I'm sure he was given explicit instructions by the league not to leak the picks and he did it anyway. It's a question of trust.

 

[Darcy Tucker]

A leaky boom boom down

 

[PanniniClaus]

I would have thought Rick Westhead would be all over this. Chance to lambast a competitor.

Must have been busy.

 

[BondraTime]

But it doesn't sound like there was even enough time for the leaks to have a gambling implication? Firing just feels so dramatic

It happened in Vegas, that's part of why it's all happening

I have zero doubts that if the draft was in Minnisota, or Ottawa, or any other city in the league, nothing is coming of it.

The Nevada Gaming Commision were involved, so someone in the gambling world was upset by some of the things getting out before they happened, whether people had the ability to use that or not.

One thing I see causing a big ruckus is It was essentially announced that Sennecke was going 3rd overall to the Ducks shortly before the draft, can't remember by who, but sportsbook betting was still open. He was a very big longshot prior to this

Senneck was sitting at +600 or something close 2 hours before the draft, and then shot down to -150 shortly after that was announced. That is an absolutely gigantic, gigantic liabilty for Vegas and sportsbooks, should people get on the line quickly, whether many did or not I have no clue.

The draft, and the way it is monitered, will be changing in this new gambling landscape. The draft being in Vegas just highlighted that by a significant margin.

 

[NyQuil]

I would have thought Rick Westhead would be all over this. Chance to lambast a competitor.

Must have been busy.

I know that I blame the crime reporters for reporting on crime.

If it wasn't for the crime reporters, there would be no crime.

 

[Static]

It happened in Vegas, that's why it's all happening

I have zero doubts that if the draft was in Minnisota, or Ottawa, or any other city in the league, nothing is coming of it.

The Nevada Gaming Commision were involved, so someone in the gambling world was upset by some of the things getting out before they happened, whether people had the ability to use that or not.

It was essentially announced that Sennecke was going 3rd overall to the Ducks shortly before the draft, can't remember by who, but sportsbook betting was still open.

Senneck was sitting at +600 or something close 2 hours before the draft, and then shot down to -150 shortly after that was announced. That is an absolutely gigantic, gigantic liabilty for Vegas and sportsbooks, should people get on the line quickly.

The draft, and the way it is monitered, will be changing in this new gambling landscape. The draft being in Vegas just highlighted that by a significant margin.

Ironically, wasn't it marek who speculated Anaheim was taking buium that caused the odds to shift to him dramatically? This is something that has always been done and has been accepted until suddenly it wasn't.

 

[GreeningOil]

People don't seem to understand the fundamental difference between this and Seravalli leaking the expansion draft or Corey Pronman tweeting the picks out a few minutes early during the Zoom draft.

Marek works for the rights holder and was being informed of the selections by the NHL before they were officially announced in order to facilitate on-air interviews with the prospects. Leaking that information is not legitimate reporting.

This would make sense. 100% a fundamental difference.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I'm sure he was given explicit instructions by the league not to leak the picks and he did it anyway. It's a question of trust.

The NHL insider business is riddled with conflicts of interest and shady tactics and violations of trust.

Let's say Friedman hears about a potential trade from someone in the business. He isn't sure about it, but has heard speculation. Then an agent of the player being traded tells him about it, but asks him to not share it (because this is a tactic any smart agent would do as it comes off as gaining trust and potentially gets your business not leaked early). Yet, Friedman hears from another few sources about the trade. Additionally, his sources expect him to then report on it through their leaks to him and to gain credibility with him through that.

What is he supposed to do in that situation, not report the news? But he might violate the trust of the agent of the player who asked him not to leak the story? He could also potentially lose sources. If they're gonna tell him something, they want to know the information they provided was of value.

It's the news. If you don't want it to be leaked early, announce it yourself quicker without telling people about it, or don't go through with it. Sorry, I have no sympathy for anyone mad that the literal news might be reported before you want it to be released.

 

[BondraTime]

Ironically, wasn't it marek who speculated Anaheim was taking buium that caused the odds to shift to him dramatically? This is something that has always been done and has been accepted until suddenly it wasn't.

Was just about to post that

He did a 32 thoughts podcast on draft day, and stated that:

"from all the rumblings I've heard, the Ducks will be taking Buium at 3"

32 Thoughts: The Podcast

Hockey fans already know the name, but this is not the blog. From Sportsnet, 32 Thoughts: The Podcast with NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman & Kyle Bukauskas is a weekly deep dive into the biggest news and interviews from the hockey world.

www.sportsnet.ca

Like you said, Buium was sitting at +1000ish, and then ended up at -150 about an hour or two later.

I'm sure many people cashed out their bets at a very high profit before the draft even started, and I'm sure Vegas isn't pleased with that type of info being given when they are giving out so many betting odds and options about the draft.

Betting has opened up a gigantic can of worms on things that are usually commonplace and normal. Undoubtedly what he said shifted lines in Vegas, no question there. But he's just doing his job there on the podcast

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I would have thought Rick Westhead would be all over this. Chance to lambast a competitor.

Must have been busy.

He was busy trying to ruin the lives of the Canadian women's soccer team for doing something every team in the world does.

 

[Static]

He was busy trying to ruin the lives of the Canadian women's soccer team for doing something every team in the world does.

When presented the opportunity to blame the messenger or the facts, always blame the messenger.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Everyone leaks draft picks.

lol
Who does that, when they are told the picks, so he can do his job. Leaking that has got him in trouble with the authorities, especially if someone took the info and placed a bet.
Seravalli wasn’t part of the broadcast rights, so he was totally different, and the NHL wasn’t get gambling sponsor money then.

 

[Crede777]

But how would that even work with trades?

Trades have to be queued up in advance too so the league office can process and approve them. Everything you see happening at the draft, whether it be selections or trades, actually was finalized a few minutes before it's announced.

 

[PanniniClaus]

I know that I blame the crime reporters for reporting on crime.

If it wasn't for the crime reporters, there would be no crime.

We share a love of soccer. I do believe we are allowed to have differing opinions on the worth and credibility of a particular journalist. I am not one of those blasting him on social media or messaging him personally.

I think he would sell out his own family to get ahead. This story must not have been big enough for him.

 

[Brodeur]

Who the hell is giving Marek their draft selections in the first place?

Our local media at times doesn't have an idea what our team is doing let alone a guy out of market like Marek

Just to reiterate what the article and several posters have said, teams enter their picks at the table and basically wait for the green light from the TV production people to go on stage and make the announcement. When a team is on the clock, there'll be a crew member standing nearby who'll relay when the broadcast wrapped up interviewing the previous prospect, or has come back from commercial, etc. In a lot of cases, the three minute timer is an artificial thing as the team is just waiting to be allowed on stage.

With the extra minute or two, the camera operators can also scan the designated prospect sections and get the reaction shot. This is how the camera was ready for unexpected picks like Beckett Sennecke (or Mark Visentin in 2010). I remember walking by the cameras in 2015 and it had a giant sheet of the player photos. In Marek's case, the extra time could allow him some last minute prep to re-read notes on what to ask during the interview.

When I went to the 2017 Draft, I had seats right behind the NBCSN crew. As the Devils were on the clock, I was standing up with nameplates for Nico Hischier and Nolan Patrick. One of the crew members turned around and told me it was going to be Hischier. Later he apologized if he spoiled it for me, but he wanted to help me get on TV (ironically I made the Canadian broadcast but not theirs).

Later in the draft, I seem to recall looking down and I could see them prepping highlights for a prospect before he was selected. It got to the point where I had to remember not to look down at what they were doing.

 

[Bizz]

The Athletic is trash anyways. Marek can and will find a better employer.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

When presented the opportunity to blame the messenger or the facts, always blame the messenger.

You can't be naive enough to believe every piece of journalism is straight up. No bias. No framing. Not a contextual situation. Just straight news.

He's a "reporter" that reports with a specific bent. He has a history of framing things in a way that is overly dramatic and exaggerated, in the most generous interpretation.

 

[ItWasJustified]

Hope he goes to jail for this

A life time in prison seems appropriate, where he has time think about what he's done and atone for his crimes.

 

[BondraTime]

The Athletic is trash anyways. Marek can and will find a better employer.

Marek worked for Sportsnet

 

[Static]

You can't be naive enough to believe every piece of journalism is straight up. No bias. No framing. Not a contextual situation. Just straight news.

He's a "reporter" that reports with a specific bent. He has a history of framing things in a way that is overly dramatic and exaggerated, in the most generous interpretation.

Acknowledging the existence of bias requires you to confront your own. You don't like what he writes because it makes you feel bad about things you like.

 

[Bizz]

Marek worked for Sportsnet

ah, well they're almost as bad.

 

[Brodeur]

Trades have to be queued up in advance too so the league office can process and approve them. Everything you see happening at the draft, whether it be selections or trades, actually was finalized a few minutes before it's announced.

It was a different setup this year, but usually Central Registry is situated by the stage. In past years, team reps from both teams would have to walk over and verify the trade. As we've seen in some trade call videos, that can be more meticulous and time consuming than expected. I went to the Sphere this year but rewatched some footage. I seem to recall some random NHL employee running up a sheet of paper to Bettman to announce the various pick trades.

I remember the Sens/Devils did a relatively small pick trade in 2015 but it took forever to get the thumbs up from Central Registry. The Devils traded pick #36 to Ottawa for #42 and the Devils choice of either #109 or a 3rd rounder in 2016. But maybe because there was a conditional pick involved it caused a speed bump.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

I dont personally care about what Marek did and it sucks that he lost his job, but I’m surprised at the sentiment that this is over the top. Marek could be made an example of and face intense legal scrutiny if the league so chooses, and he really wouldnt have a leg to stand on as far as I can tell

 

[PositiveCashFlow]

Hope he goes to jail for this

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Acknowledging the existence of bias requires you to confront your own. You don't like what he writes because it makes you feel bad about things you like.

Well no, I actually have an open mind.

Some things he reports on I think aren't any sort of real issue and other things are.

I am fair to him based on the quality of his work. I am not a fan of a journalist where I back anything they say. I judge them on their work. He has some good journalism and then some activism.