Management UPDATE: Steve Staios GM and POHO, Dave Poulin Senior VP of Hockey Operations

[Micklebot]

Burke also had Nonis there and Loiselle ... not so sure of the right hand thing.

So left hand man?

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

During the presser did they mention that at some point a permanent GM will be sought after or is Staios that GM?

They didn't mention anything, but it wouldn't surprise me if a 'Best In Class' org eventually had two different people for POHO and GM.

Friedman put over Ryan Bowness pretty big on his podcast. He painted him as someone who might be a GM in the NHL sooner or later, somewhere else or in Ottawa. Keep in mind, that was entirely his opinion/speculation, not a report of a rumour. He characterized the old guard as a leaky one, and said not much comes out of this current ownership/management group so far.

So maybe after Staios builds the team how he sees fit, Bowness takes his spot at GM, and Staios moves back to being the POHO. That would be similar to what happened in Vegas when they didn't want to lose McCrimmon. Obviously, Friedman did not suggest that. He only speculated about the promotion of Bowness and how he might be a GM somewhere sooner rather than later, not that he would take over from Staios or there were any concrete plans.

I think the reason that this was announced now is the failure of the team has forced them into making moves at the TDL that they probably did not expect to have to make. If this was a playoff team, the TDL would be a lot more straight forward. I could be wrong, but I think we are going to see an actual re-tool with an openness to moving a few name players moved who aren't necessarily pending free agents. It's usually a seller's market at the deadline, so if they move some big pieces and get back picks/prospects/long-term cap, that puts them in a position to re-tool in the summer with those assets when it becomes a buyer's market.

 

[coladin]

Isn't it absolutely absurd? We have a guy spinning the same f***ing song and dance for these guys to fall for and they're taking it hook, line and sinker.

Dorion was a talentless buffoon, who bumbled every word he spoke, was super inexperienced and should have never been anywhere near the helm of an organization. Right? But Staios is a bastion of experience, finesse and expertise because of, what, his months on the job as a low-level advisor? Because he speaks clearly?

I honestly don't understand how this board isn't freaking out. They spent the entire time we were going through the sale process dreaming up candidates and ideal scenarios for people to be involved in the most important positions within the organization. And now we have a guy with 0 NHL experience at GM and POHO doing BOTH f***ING POSITIONS. The reaction in here is honestly beyond belief.

This is what you guys wanted? Another guy with no experience taking over? After spending 7 f***ing years talking about how the last guy didn't have any experience either?

You know, 35/100 is significantly and vastly better than 5/100 but it's still 35 out of a f***ing 100. That's where we are now. Our front office is a 35/100 and we're supposed to be leaping for joy at the improvement like this is what "best in class" means.

Brutal. I can't believe how you guys are falling for this shit.

If Melnyk had made this kind of hire - a guy with 0 NHL experience as POHO or GM, doing both roles - you guys would be LOSING YOUR f***ING SHIT right now. Just think about that sentence for a minute so you can understand how little logical consistency there is.

You are so right. It just shows how people here are so desperate to gobble up whatever this ownership does in spite of having a POHO and GM that has zero experience and we will all have to watch him learn on the job?

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

You are so right. It just shows how people here are so desperate to gobble up whatever this ownership does in spite of having a POHO and GM that has zero experience and we will all have to watch him learn on the job?

Except, where are you going to get a high quality GM or POHO in the middle of the season? Most teams won't let their best guys interview for that right now. That's why the original train of thought was to be patient and wait for summer.

And at this point I'm still not 100% sure this will be our management and coaching team in September.

 

[coladin]

Except, where are you going to get a high quality GM or POHO in the middle of the season? Most teams won't let their best guys interview for that right now. That's why the original train of thought was to be patient and wait for summer.

And at this point I'm still not 100% sure this will be our management and coaching team in September.

Then why take the interim tag off?

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

Then why take the interim tag off?

I have no idea.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

I think I've basically just closed the door on Melnyk and Dorion era. Its water under the bridge now so to speak I suppose for me. Thankfully both are gone now, and its a new era.

I'm hoping for the best and will just wait and observe. It will take time for staff to be added and to plug holes. So, I'm not expecting immediate results although that "new coach" bump I guess is in the back of my mind.

Ultimately, I just want to see results. After so many years of waiting, I guess there's some tendency to want to see the "potential" translate into tangible results even though an immediate transformation might be a little too optimistic. I think we are seeing the reprogramming of players into playing a more sound defensive game as a work in progress. I think playoffs are beyond what can be expected for this year, but it would be nice to see improvements and distinct signs and evidence that the transformation is taking shape & place.

As we all should, but it was being brought up. If we're judging the today it's still relevant more so than the new group in place now. I knew those types of posts trying to compare this operation to Melnyk's would come out because of the sour grapes, and probably too soon because they took it so hard on the chin for so long, but I never thought it would be this premature. These guys need to be given a chance. To see someone go so off the rails with it already that stood up for Melnyk & Co. for so many years is obviously just them trying to dump on these guys at the first opportunity.

People are anxious, I get that, I would even say they were too slow to fire DJ, but it's way too soon and those comparisons to Melnyk are absurd and nonsensical. They literally just took over and have no sample size to judge them with. If someone is already drawing radical conclusions and ranting about it, it's basically impossible to be anything but their own bias, considering the sample size and circumstances. If it fails under these guys, it will fail, but it sure as shit hasn't yet. The fingers should still be getting pointed at the previous regime. The same regime that 99% of this board knew were mostly out to lunch the whole damn time.

 

[Micklebot]

You are so right. It just shows how people here are so desperate to gobble up whatever this ownership does in spite of having a POHO and GM that has zero experience and we will all have to watch him learn on the job?

Who where you hoping for as the next GM?

 

[Ghost of Jody Hull]

You are so right. It just shows how people here are so desperate to gobble up whatever this ownership does in spite of having a POHO and GM that has zero experience and we will all have to watch him learn on the job?

Buddy, relax. Andlauer has owned the team for 4 months. Staios has been here for 3.

If this team is still in the basement next January and Staios makes a couple Dorion-esque trades, fans will shit on him just as much as they did the previous regime.

No need for outrage before he even does anything. He might suck. He might be good. We’ll see. That would be true of anyone who got the job.

 

[JD1]

Staois. Poulin. Bowness. Martin. Alfie. Cap.

Having a bunch of guys and collaboration as a working motto will be a big upgrade on the previous regime.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

Isn't it absolutely absurd? We have a guy spinning the same f***ing song and dance for these guys to fall for and they're taking it hook, line and sinker.

Dorion was a talentless buffoon, who bumbled every word he spoke, was super inexperienced and should have never been anywhere near the helm of an organization. Right? But Staios is a bastion of experience, finesse and expertise because of, what, his months on the job as a low-level advisor? Because he speaks clearly?

I honestly don't understand how this board isn't freaking out. They spent the entire time we were going through the sale process dreaming up candidates and ideal scenarios for people to be involved in the most important positions within the organization. And now we have a guy with 0 NHL experience at GM and POHO doing BOTH f***ING POSITIONS. The reaction in here is honestly beyond belief.

This is what you guys wanted? Another guy with no experience taking over? After spending 7 f***ing years talking about how the last guy didn't have any experience either?

You know, 35/100 is significantly and vastly better than 5/100 but it's still 35 out of a f***ing 100. That's where we are now. Our front office is a 35/100 and we're supposed to be leaping for joy at the improvement like this is what "best in class" means.

Brutal. I can't believe how you guys are falling for this shit.

If Melnyk had made this kind of hire - a guy with 0 NHL experience as POHO or GM, doing both roles - you guys would be LOSING YOUR f***ING SHIT right now. Just think about that sentence for a minute so you can understand how little logical consistency there is.

Don't you think the bolded is the important part though? Like isn't that the number one here?

I can't speak for others. I touted experience, which we got in the interim in Martin, but you know what I've wanted more than anything for like a decade or more for this franchise?

For Melnyk not to be involved in or purely making these decisions with autonomy. On who it is. What they're paid. What their responsibilities are. To not be involved and limit candidates. Etc. etc. At least this time our GM candidates didn't include shamed fitness dude Randy Lee. And the coach didn't need to bargain with a drunk in Barbados or walk on water to get the job.

There is no one answer to running a sports team. It's going to be a project without guarantied success no matter who takes over. The guys with experience and success were given a chance somewhere at some point. Now we see if this regime has it in them, but just hiring people without a slam dunk resume is not a guarantee we're heading down the same path. Skepticism is fair, sure, but we're still basically at the start line. Are people lapping it up or simply prepared to give them a chance?

 

[Do Make Say Think]

Then why take the interim tag off?

Because moves need to be made and in order to move forward, a decision making structure has to be established. Andlauer bought a brand full of holes and an underperforming product.

Staios has been linked to Andlauer since the beginning. None of this should be surprising.

 

[Tragedy]

I find she says the same cookie cutter stuff everyone else says.
I would prefer a guy with many cups under his belt

Kevin Lowe has 6 rings, why don't we give him a call

 

[Ghost of Jody Hull]

Kevin Lowe has 6 rings, why don't we give him a call

I think it’s clear that a couple of posters simply want to continue their contrarian takes, and aren’t making any cogent arguments.

If Staios hired Chiarelli, a guy with a Cup ring and years of experience, they also would have freaked out.

And as @Micklebot pointed out, social media fav Mathieu Darche really doesn’t have more “experience” than Ryan Bowness, so I don’t understand how he’d be any more qualified.

Were people expecting Joe Sakic to leave Colorado or something?

This is pretty much what I figured would happen. Staios will be the GM until the 24/25 off-season, at which point Bowness will take over.

I’ll avoid getting outraged until they make a trade worthy of outrage.

 

[DylanSensFan]

You are so right. It just shows how people here are so desperate to gobble up whatever this ownership does in spite of having a POHO and GM that has zero experience and we will all have to watch him learn on the job?

You should have a look at my posts. I in no way think this is best in class from our team. I have complained about Andlauers indecision on many fronts. However, I am willing to give Staios the benefit of the doubt, for one season at least. If we still have a failing team, Andlauer has to take steps to fix it, which may include firing those he recently hired. As a fan I expect results from this team, not the same BS we've seen for the last five seasons.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

So left hand man?

Something like a 2nd Cousin once removed

 

[Cosmix]

It's a little confusing. I thought the plan was to hire a new GM. Is that still the plan?

No. Staois is the permanent GM, based on the media release as his interim label has been removed. However, if he does not get good results in a reasonable timeframe, he could be replaced as the GM.

 

[Loach]

You are so right. It just shows how people here are so desperate to gobble up whatever this ownership does in spite of having a POHO and GM that has zero experience and we will all have to watch him learn on the job?

Why do you hate this new group so much? This almost feels personal. Did you lose something when it all changed?

 

[coladin]

You should have a look at my posts. I in no way think this is best in class from our team. I have complained about Andlauers indecision on many fronts. However, I am willing to give Staios the benefit of the doubt, for one season at least. If we still have a failing team, Andlauer has to take steps to fix it, which may include firing those he recently hired. As a fan I expect results from this team, not the same BS we've seen for the last five seasons.

Not necessarily referencing anyone per se.

 

[coladin]

As we all should, but it was being brought up. If we're judging the today it's still relevant more so than the new group in place now. I knew those types of posts trying to compare this operation to Melnyk's would come out because of the sour grapes, and probably too soon because they took it so hard on the chin for so long, but I never thought it would be this premature. These guys need to be given a chance. To see someone go so off the rails with it already that stood up for Melnyk & Co. for so many years is obviously just them trying to dump on these guys at the first opportunity.

People are anxious, I get that, I would even say they were too slow to fire DJ, but it's way too soon and those comparisons to Melnyk are absurd and nonsensical. They literally just took over and have no sample size to judge them with. If someone is already drawing radical conclusions and ranting about it, it's basically impossible to be anything but their own bias, considering the sample size and circumstances. If it fails under these guys, it will fail, but it sure as shit hasn't yet. The fingers should still be getting pointed at the previous regime. The same regime that 99% of this board knew were mostly out to lunch the whole damn time.

No one is standing up for Melnyk bro what’s wrong with you. We don’t want to see the same things .

McGuire was hired , a local radio darling. We knew Melnyk listened to the radio because he pretty much banned most people from appearing on the station.

Andlauer has hired two guys with regular radio spots.

Melnyk had Dorion be Mr. Everything. Andlauer comes in and says we will have a two headed monster with POHO and GM. Now we have Staios doing both roles.

Yeah yeah, they will get a break from me, I have seen enough by now. But doesn’t mean I like it, nor does it mean that someone who doesn’t share your point of view is now a radical. Childish talk guys. Be better

 

[DylanSensFan]

No one is standing up for Melnyk bro what’s wrong with you. We don’t want to see the same things .

McGuire was hired , a local radio darling. We knew Melnyk listened to the radio because he pretty much banned most people from appearing on the station.

Andlauer has hired two guys with regular radio spots.

Melnyk had Dorion be Mr. Everything. Andlauer comes in and says we will have a two headed monster with POHO and GM. Now we have Staios doing both roles.

Yeah yeah, they will get a break from me, I have seen enough by now. But doesn’t mean I like it, nor does it mean that someone who doesn’t share your point of view is now a radical. Childish talk guys. Be better

It's true that we need more people in more positions rather than less. I agree with this. I don't think you need to add in the radio darlings line to make your point here. Staios is a hockey guy and has been for a while. My perspective is that he is better for this role than much of what we could hire currently. I also don't agree with your position comparing him to McGuire. McGuire has never really been a guy who should be near a team. He's a good radio/tv personality, but he isn't GM or player operation material. I do think that Poulin is more of the radio/tv darling that you describe, but what I see from him is more of a hockey guy than McGuire. I am excited to see some new voice on this team and honestly think that Poulin can help. We do need more people doing more on the management side of the team, but I don't have a problem with these two new hires at the moment.

 

[Cosmix]

I don’t think andlauer understood the point of the question either. (?)

Anyway who cares. Things are moving in a positive direction. Let’s see where we are at the beginning of next season.

I think Andlauer views the POHO/GM and the Senior VP Hockey Ops to be the equivalent of his two headed monster/senior managers.

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

Wasn't the 2 headed thing in reference to wanting to keep Dorion on for the remainder of his contract?

I think we have to give it until the offseason to reasonably evaluate the intended management structure. We very well could still end up with someone else as GM, or Staios could remain with both roles but be assisted by an additional exec in a new role that would not have been created if we didn't have one person now with two different titles. Maybe Jacques Martin and Alfredsson both move to the front office.

It's pretty clear that the plan was never to do this mid season. I think they have decided on who they will keep as part of the core, and know that the best time to get value for the players they aren't keeping might be at the TDL. The failure of this season made it to where they had to establish part of the management structure because they are going to make some very important moves at the TDL, not just Kubalik for a late pick type moves.

 

[Cosmix]

it will be a Staios and Andlauer agree to go seperate ways. Don't think Andluer will go down the Melnyk route of trying to burry people. Also think he would step down as GM first and be just a POHO if things arent going well for a few years.

If Staios fails as a GM and gets replaced by someone else, leaving him as POHO, it would make me sceptical of the organization and its "best in class" aspirations.

Personally I would be more comfortable with an experienced and successful POHO and GM, with experienced assistants. That would be more like "best in class" than what we are seeing at this time.

However, as a few others have said, I am willing to give them a chance to show us what they can do before starting to bitch about it. It did not take too long before Dorion screwed up and should have been replaced much sooner than he was. Same for DJ.

 

[LiseL]

They should pluck Methot from TSN as the next hire to teach some of these guys how to play defense

Or Cheryl Pounder.

Edit: I didn't realize someone had already posted this when I replied.