Speculation: Who should be the new GM of the Washington Capitals?

[Koized]

If I were betting on who
would become GM I would say Shero forsure. He has some faults but I think he is solid overall as long as they keep Mahoney.

 

[NobodyBeatsTheWiz]

Shero was employed in an NHL personnel role well before he was hired for the Pens job. I'd be shocked if he didn't have significant involvement in the draft in Nashville. So it's unlikely he was coming into that draft cold.

 

[strungout]

Looking at the poll...I totally forgot about Darcy Regier being out there.

 

[ChibiPooky]

I'm still on the Joe Will train, but if the Caps are leaning toward a guy with NHL GM experience, Scott Howson is a guy I give a long look. He transformed the Blue Jackets from a complete dumpster fire into a team with an identity and playoff berth in a pretty short time.

 

[strungout]

I went with Fenton on the poll.

Sticking with him and Trotz.

 

[msrulo]

I went with Shero, even though that would be an awkard hire.

 

[Langway]

Once again, I'm skeptical of the chemistry between Mahoney and Shero. If Shero defers to Mahoney, sure. If Shero takes the philosophy he used while leading Pittsburgh, I'm more worried. Shero's teams spent more draft picks (six) on players out of US high schools than European leagues (five, none earlier than the 3rd round). Beau Bennett (one of Shero's four BCHL picks) is the only 1st rounder he drafted outside of the CHL.

Mahoney, on the other hand, earned much of his pay with his work with Swedish and Russian scouts (and having a GM willing to spend early picks on European groomed players). In the span that Shero was in charge in Pittsburgh, the Capitals picked just three CHL players in the first round (Carlson, Alzner, Wilson), but five Swedes(Backstrom, Johansson, Forsberg, Burakovsky, Gustafsson) and two Russians (Kuznetsov, Varlamov). The difference in draft philisophies is pretty stark.

I would guess that ownership influence would result in Mahoney having continued heavy influence (perhaps with some tweaks) and that there would have to be a strong working relationship there. If Mahoney were to leave I wouldn't have much confidence in Shero being able to pick a capable successor. Given ownership's organizational imperatives it's definitely an area that would give me pause when considering him regardless of who is currently on staff.

Shero was working for Nashville and overseeing their amateur/pro scouts but that was also the year they made the Witt trade at the deadline. While they still would have been prepared I don't know the extent of his personal involvement to the point where he would have been well-versed on the very top-end of the draft when that team wasn't going to be picking anywhere close to there. That pick may have been symptomatic of his tendencies generally in player evaluation so to me it's more concerning in light of that overall context than individually.

 

[Devil Dancer]

Every GM is going to have faults. The franchise can go in two directions. Either try to go for it, which we have a good enough core to do, and get a guy like Shero. He's not afraid to make a trade and make some signings to fill holes. Or try to retool, in which case maybe you go for a rookie GM?

I think ownership is probably leaning towards the first choice. And it's not a bad thing. For all the flaws this team has had over the years they have a pretty good foundation. They have 2 point per game forwards, a top 3 forward prospect in the NHL, a top pair 60 point Dman when unleashed, a great 2nd pairing, and a young goaltender that is capable of being elite. If Shero, or whoever the new GM is, can acquire a 2C, a good top 6 winger, and a top pairing Dman, this team will being a legitimate contender next year. It's easier said than done but Shero could very well do that.

I don't disagree that the Caps should try to win in the near term with something like their current core, but that is an awfully rosy analysis of this team, especially the defense and goaltending.

 

[third man in]

Man really don't want shero.

 

[Raikkonen]

Isn't Mahoney's work is to provide a list of players and their good/bad info? I believe different GM can do different picks from the same prepared list.

 

[Brian23]

Isn't Mahoney's work is to provide a list of players and their good/bad info? I believe different GM can do different picks from the same prepared list.

If its anything like Football they should have a big board made up long before the draft with something akin to HF's rating policy (6.5B) attached to them and what round they have them valued in.

From their its the GM, Coaching Staff, and Scouting department looking at the board during the picks and debating who'd be best value at that point.

 

[Langway]

@Hope_Smoke: McKenzie "I think Shero could motor down the interstate to Wash real fast. Wouldn't surprise me if that happened"

Eh. I'd be surprised if any national type has a pipeline into ownership's thinking. Could be true. Who knows.

@Hope_Smoke: McKenzie "I think the Van process is too far along for this news to impact it"

@Hope_Smoke: McKenzie "Benning had his second interview with Vancouver over the last 24 hours."

‏@Hope_Smoke: McKenzie "it may or may not be an issue if the Bruins want to release Benning prior to or after the draft"

He also talked up Jeff Gorton, AGM for NYR, as a GM candidate. A poll-worthy option I think.

Re: draft prep. there are preparatory meetings involving the entire scouting staff and typically the AGM or GM as they compile their board. That's when they really dig into each player. They also typically meet again as a staff a few times the week before the draft to finalize things. At the draft there's leeway to improvise, whether it's moving up/down or opting at some point to listen to a particular area scout if they're banging on the table for a player.

 

[Carlzner]

Bleh. I wanted Benning, looks like he's headed for Vancouver though. Not too excited about Shero...

 

[usiel]

Isn't Mahoney's work is to provide a list of players and their good/bad info? I believe different GM can do different picks from the same prepared list.

My recollection (and IMO) from that one Capitals behind the scenes of one of the drafts as well as the comments by GMGM post a draft over years that Mahoney & Co are the ones that really drive the draft and not like hand a bunch of data to GMGM and let him pick. Like the times they have traded up or back in a draft that is on the behest of Mahoney and then GMGM goes to work.

 

[Dr John Carlson]

I like Benning and Howson.

 

[Blades Ov Steel]

I picked Shero, ok with trotz or byslma behind bench.

 

[NoMoreChoking]

Shero and Trotz would be pretty good. But if it's Byslma I am going to kick many puppies

 

[Koized]

Will would be my choice.

 

[caps4cup]

I don't disagree that the Caps should try to win in the near term with something like their current core, but that is an awfully rosy analysis of this team, especially the defense and goaltending.

I don't really think I am being too rosy. Calling Ovechkin and Backstrom point per game forwards is being generous. They are expected to produce more. Kuznetsov was widely considered as a top 3 prospect that wasn't in the NHL.


As for the defense and goaltending... Green has averaged 59.85 points per full season since the beginning of the 07-08 season. He was the teams best possession player last season which isn't saying much. But he's still very good and needs a good partner to play with... I don't know if there's a 2nd D pairing left in the playoffs that I would take over Alzner-Carlson right now. They're mediocre as a top pair but as the 2nd pair they're great. As for Holtby he has a career .919 save percentage which is very good. His save percentage in the playoffs is .931. Last season he had a .920 save percentage, 10th among all starting goalies that year. IMO he should have a save percentage between .920-.925 next year and it wouldn't surprise me at all to see him as a top 10 goalie.

The Caps do not have it that bad. This team with a few key additions could win the division next year. No question. But the right people need to be brought in as GM and coach first.

 

[RandyHolt]

Jim Rutherford seems off the radar

I want a GM with a big enough sack to try a significant trade

 

[Langway]

Sweeney at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference. IINM Sweeney & Fishman were the only NHL types there this year.

 

[Hivemind]

A lot of the more analytically inclined teams opt not to send reps to the Sloan conference. Teams are pretty protective about their analytics currently.

 

[txpd]

bobby mac's comment sounds to me more like what bob is thinking not based on sourced activity. if it happened I would not be surprised either.

 

[SimplySensational]

So apparently the Penguins are looking at Pat Brisson, an agent.

Not sure why though, yeah he was involved with quite a few first overalls(Crosby, Johnson, Kane, and MacKinnon), but that doesn't seem like anything you should think would make a good GM, just great at convincing top prospects to allow him to be their agent. Though technically with Kane I would guess if he doesn't have the job he could suggest he would be willing to give Kane a big contract to play in Pittsburgh...

 

[Roughing]

Bleh. I wanted Benning, looks like he's headed for Vancouver though.

Well, they're doing silly things like interviewing candidates and stuff.