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

[Zoidberg Jesus]

Check today's Puck Daddy. I think that's where I just saw it

Thanks. Definitely troubling if it's true, although as Liberati0n said it would be nice to hear something more definite than "talk."

 

[Calicaps]

I would like to see it substantiated somehow. I don't think anyone's ever hinted at it before. If it's true, that's kind of sad. Two years of Oates could've been avoided. If it's true and "knowing the market" was a reason they wanted Oates, I don't even know. There are no words.

Thanks. Definitely troubling if it's true, although as Liberati0n said it would be nice to hear something more definite than "talk."

Anyway, it's another rookie. Cooper's done well, but it doesn't change my opinion of McPhee one bit. He clearly never wanted someone with experience who might challenge him.

 

[Langway]

If the Oates/ownership report is true it puts both the timing in firing Oates rather than leaving it up to the next GM as well as their not ruling out hiring a coach prior to a GM in different lights. The first tells you it was a move that had to happen based on feedback received and their continued support was untenable. But the later is hugely concerning if that report is true and shows they still may not fundamentally get it. They really need to hire a hockey guy that can make these decisions for them, back the **** up and let that person go to work. Only then will they progress. Enough time has been wasted doing it their way. Meddling never works.

 

[swimmer77]

Is everyone convinced that GMGM had no guidelines that he had to follow in regards to coach selection, and that the selections were his and his only? Who picked Johansson and Kolzig?

I'm not even convinced that the McPhee separation isn't actually a mutual parting of ways. There is really no way to know that.

I am having trouble believing that McPhee built a pretty good roster only to hire rookie coaches (ex-Caps) to clear the final hurdle.

 

[g00n]

Is everyone convinced that GMGM had no guidelines that he had to follow in regards to coach selection, and that the selections were his and his only? Who picked Johansson and Kolzig?

I'm not even convinced that the McPhee separation isn't actually a mutual parting of ways. There is really no way to know that.

I am having trouble believing that McPhee built a pretty good roster only to hire rookie coaches (ex-Caps) to clear the final hurdle.

If I remember correctly Patrick said in the press conference that McPhee wanted to stay and had no plans to leave. This comes as a total surprise to me and several others because we believed McPhee was looking for work elsewhere from the start. That may still be true and Patrick may just be trying to save face a little But then it looks like you're throwing your general manager under the bus.bit.

 

[Calicaps]

The most concerning part of yesterday's pressed for me was the disconnect between believing they can contend next year and not feeling urgency to hire. I think that's insane. Any GM candidate worth his salt will disabuse them of their still-rosy glasses, but I don't know if they can hear it.

This team needs work, and it will take time. Starting now might be enough, but mid June or later? No way.

 

[txpd]

Is everyone convinced that GMGM had no guidelines that he had to follow in regards to coach selection, and that the selections were his and his only? Who picked Johansson and Kolzig?

I'm not even convinced that the McPhee separation isn't actually a mutual parting of ways. There is really no way to know that.

I am having trouble believing that McPhee built a pretty good roster only to hire rookie coaches (ex-Caps) to clear the final hurdle.

iirc prior picked kolzig as a successor trainee.

 

[Calicaps]

iirc prior picked kolzig as a successor trainee.

yeah, though it's not clear that he intended to be replaced quite so soon.

 

[usiel]

yeah, though it's not clear that he intended to be replaced quite so soon.

I have nothing to back this up but I suspect that Oates steam rolled Kolzig based on the info that both Holtby/Kolzig seem to admit they went back to what worked.

 

[txpd]

yeah, though it's not clear that he intended to be replaced quite so soon.

no...for sure. kolzig was a disciple of prior. kolzig was hired to learn the trade and carry on prior's goaltending program. oates dismissed prior's program and then dismissed prior. kolzig basically had a choice to do what oates demanded or get canned himself.

if you read holtby's comments it appears that kolzig there to help all he could to make the best of bad orders from oates. holtby is a kolzig style goalie. they are a good match. grubauer the same way. grubauer is kolzig's work. so....

 

[Sam Spade]

I wanted Benning as the best choice but pretty sure he is a done deal in Vancouver.

 

[Addison Rae]

Honestly you guys should look long and hard at Gillis. Yes, I know he gets a bad reputation for clueless idiots on TSN cough Dreger cough (mainly because he took his cousins job) but IMO he's great at surrounding a core with the right supplementary pieces. He came to a Vancouver team in a worse position than you guys are in and took them to game 7 of the finals in a mere 3 years.

 

[Zoidberg Jesus]

Honestly you guys should look long and hard at Gillis. Yes, I know he gets a bad reputation for clueless idiots on TSN cough Dreger cough (mainly because he took his cousins job) but IMO he's great at surrounding a core with the right supplementary pieces. He came to a Vancouver team in a worse position than you guys are in and took them to game 7 of the finals in a mere 3 years.

Is he really? He gets some credit for Hamhuis and Garrison, but those guys wanted to be close to home - not an advantage he'd have in Washington. Otherwise, who are his big additions? Ehrhoff was great for two years, before Gillis had to let him walk. Booth and Ballard have both been spectacular failures. He managed to move Schneider and Luongo without benefiting his current team in the slightest. As far as I can recall, the biggest forward acquisition he's made is Chris Higgins. Or speaking of another bad trade, maybe it's Kassian. Santorelli, perhaps? Sort of unrelated, but I also love how he doled out so many no trade clauses that he's effectively handicapped his successor in any attempts at fixing the team.

I dunno, I don't follow the Canucks a lot so maybe I'm missing stuff, but Gillis seems to me like he walked into a great situation with the Sedins, Kesler, Burrows, Edler, Bieksa, Luongo, and Schneider, and managed to do just enough not to **** it up for a few years. He seems like a carbon copy of what we've had in McPhee for the past 7 years.

 

[RandyHolt]

If the Oates/ownership report is true it puts both the timing in firing Oates rather than leaving it up to the next GM as well as their not ruling out hiring a coach prior to a GM in different lights. The first tells you it was a move that had to happen based on feedback received and their continued support was untenable. But the later is hugely concerning if that report is true and shows they still may not fundamentally get it. They really need to hire a hockey guy that can make these decisions for them, back the **** up and let that person go to work. Only then will they progress. Enough time has been wasted doing it their way. Meddling never works.

Great post. Dick Patrick has emerged from behind the curtain and certainly looks to have been a meddlin'.

Its hard to differentiate how much of that was related to George's incompetence, however. He may well have wanted to be hands off and sit back and count cash, but couldn't take it anymore.

While they are slow out of the gate to get a replacement in place, at least they finally made a move.

Let's just hope Patrick is not the problem. It may be wise for the new GM to insist on full powers, like Mike Shanahan did with the Redskins. I think.

 

[Kegger]

My vote goes to Scott Howson. I do like Ron Hextall as my 2nd choice, but man....would sure feel dirty having him be GM of the Caps....

 

[g00n]

Great post. Dick Patrick has emerged from behind the curtain and certainly looks to have been a meddlin'.

Its hard to differentiate how much of that was related to George's incompetence, however. He may well have wanted to be hands off and sit back and count cash, but couldn't take it anymore.

While they are slow out of the gate to get a replacement in place, at least they finally made a move.

Let's just hope Patrick is not the problem. It may be wise for the new GM to insist on full powers, like Mike Shanahan did with the Redskins. I think.

The more I think about it the more I wonder if a Poile/Trotz homecoming is in store, and that DP is behind it. It would fit the bloodline pattern. And it could be easily reasoned that Poile would thrive with Ted's wallet instead of Abe's, and some top scoring potential he rarely had already in place. The defense would be rebuilt back to the Cup Finals era standard and a non-Jagr Jagr would already be captain.

Putting the band back together. Again.


This may be what Locker and Koken have in mind when they say the situation is good. They may be looking back to pre-GMGM trends and seeing just a few holes and plenty of opportunity.

 

[RandyHolt]

We have had dealings with Nashville. Maybe Poile is coming home with a big fat checkbook. Heck, the Redskins got the band back together in their recent retool. And indeed, Ted does love his marketing splashes in bringing in known names.

Who said that!

 

[PucktotheHead]

Is Poile's contract up in Nash?? I don't see it being Poile and I would prefer it not be anyway. Poile and Trotz were together a long time in Nash and didn't win anything so why would they here? I don't know, maybe it would be different but it seems they would just put together Nashville East and the club would be stuck in mediocrity.

I would think Trotz, if he came here, would not want to be paired with Poile again. It would be a fresh start for him to show what he can do with a new GM in place.

 

[Capsman]

I'm just completely flabbergasted that the Caps would wait the "1-2 months" Gormley mentioned this morning on the radio to get a GM. He also said he wouldn't be surprised if they hired a coach first. Ugh.

 

[RandyHolt]

Is Poile's contract up in Nash??...

Isn't it common place for GMs to be under contract for the upcoming season, regardless?

It would seem George closing out the year without an extension signed, is rather rare in GMing circles.

They are nearly always under contract.

 

[BrooklynCapsFan]

I'm just completely flabbergasted that the Caps would wait the "1-2 months" Gormley mentioned this morning on the radio to get a GM. He also said he wouldn't be surprised if they hired a coach first. Ugh.

This happened? They do know that the draft is on 6/26 and that it's a really good time to move players, right?

 

[Langway]

I'm just completely flabbergasted that the Caps would wait the "1-2 months" Gormley mentioned this morning on the radio to get a GM. He also said he wouldn't be surprised if they hired a coach first. Ugh.

It's Gormley.

Phoenix's AGM Treliving hired as Calgary's next GM.

 

[NobodyBeatsTheWiz]

Damn, I wanted George in Calgary coveting 'his guys'.

Vancouver would work as well.

 

[Tobi Wan Kenobi]

Gillis should be your guy. He took a Canucks franchise worth just over 200 to 800 million in six years. When he took over the Canucks had missed the playoffs and from 08 to 2013 his record speaks for itself 3rd(conference), 3rd(conference), 1st(presidents trophy), 1st (president trophy) and 3rd in the conference before missing the playoffs this season largely because of massive injuries to our top players. I was upset when he was fired. He did good here. He would no doubt change the culture there in a heartbeat. He thinks outside the box and leaves no stone unturned. Say goodbye to your Russian drafting though, which would be a good thing. The Capitals would be my second team if he was hired.

 

[fedfed]

Gillis should be your guy. He took a Canucks franchise worth just over 200 to 800 million in six years. I was upset when he was fired. He did good here. He would no doubt change the culture there in a heartbeat. He thinks outside the box and leaves no stone unturned. Say goodbye to your Russian drafting though, which would be a good thing.

One thing about the Caps org that the new GM better not touch at all is drafting.

But I think if director of amateur scouting and team president sit with him and explain that he shouldn't fix what ain't broke, they may get their way.

Anyway, there's been a buzz about a Sharks director of scouting, I'd really like that guy.