Speculation: Who would you actually want as the next GM?

[Chardo]

Garth.

 

[Isles72]

Ray Shero would feel like a safe place to start .

I'd imagine he'd at least hire some younger up and coming minds as advisors / AGM's

 

[periferal]

Art Staple at the Athletic asked this very question. There is no immediate answer to it other than it should be someone who has some experience in running a team. He cautioned against a rookie GM for this team. Right now the list of names is short.

Literally why? Why would you need a GM with experience running a team when the first thing that needs to happen is shipping off of multiple veterans to gain valuable picks/prospects and open up cap space?

Ken Holland is 69 years old and a name with some pedigree. He has recent NHL expertise. 3 Stanley Cups. At his age he falls into the I doubt he wants to still be doing this category.

Dean Lombardi is 66 and again might be done. He has a few cups but has not been a GM since the 2016-17 season. Is he still suited to today's game?

Doug Wilson is 67 and a former long time GM but has no championships.

George McPhee is 67 and has been out of the NHL since 2018-19.

Ray Shero was last GM in 2019-2020. He is 62 years old and has a cup.

Chuck Fletcher was last GM in 2022-23. He is 57. No championships.

No, no, no, no, no, and no. Aside from the fact I think most all of the guys on that list are overrated, we don't want anyone who's been out of the league for a while. We need someone who is 100% up on all that's going on as of today in the NHL as they need to hit the ground running.

I have no idea who the up-and-comers in the GM/President of hockey Ops field would be but as mentioned — from my perspective — do we want a rookie GM to untangle this mess?

Again why is everyone so afarid of a rookie GM? What matters is WHO is choosing the GM. There's a massive difference between an inept charles wang hiring an inept rookie GM in garth snow vs a good owner choosing the next great GM who has had front office experience.

Well wang is gone, so don't have PTSD over hiring a first time GM let us eliminate a pool of NHL executives where there is probably a really great candidate.

I do not believe they need a total rebuild. They need someone to go in smartly and carefully to make some tough moves. Trading nelson would be painful but necessary. Same with Palmieri. Trading a 1st round pick to salvage a sinking ship is stupid. My concern is LL will try to trade that pick for help now and another vet for pick/younger asset. We are too old and too slow as it is. Its 4th and 20 and they need to punt on this season. Retool on the fly and prep for next year with some youth and cap space.

People keep saying the Isles "don't need a total rebuild," but I've yet to hear a reasonable scenario where they can get a core group of these players back to Cup contention.

Think about it...An injection of talented youth is desperately needed on this roster. The Isles don't have a prospect pool, or CAP SPACE, to make deals where they could take on some 23 year old stud - Not that those guys get dealt that much if ever anyway. So there's almost no way for the Isles to get that talented/youth injection without going through the draft.

However the Isles aren't bad enough to get a top 3 pick where that player might play right away as an 18 year old. So even if we draft a top 10 prospect (and a few over multiple years), they're going to need time to develop. During that time our "core" will all be in their 30's - Certainly on the backside of their prime which is where you want them.

No more rookie GM's. Been there, done that with middling results.

Again...wang hiring snow is waaaay different than Malkin doing research and finding a quality assistant GM/front office exec who is deserving of the job.

Remember...BillTorrey was once a rookie GM. Are we going to eliminate the possibility of the next great NHL GM just because some idiot previous owners scarred us?

I sure how you're braver than that.

Not Roy, he's done nothing to prove he'd be an adequate GM for an NHL team

I do agree with that. Roy has got some of that "Milbury madness" to him. And it's not like he's doing a great job at his current position.

I don't know any people in particular, but someone that actually has GM experience, young enough to not be set in his/her ways and is current on the modern NHL, and not arrogant where he/she doesn't listen to other members of their staff.

Minus the fact that you mention someone needing "GM experience," it seems that everything else you want would point to a rookie GM.

Definitely not an easy position to succeed in or to fill with a qualified individual. I sincerely hope that Malkin has been on the hunt for a qualified person for a while now and is closing in on a person that can give this franchise a new direction, instill confidence in staff and players, and mostly, give the fans hope.

Yes - Praying Malkin has a list of names ready to go and has already planted the seeds that Lou is on his way out.

To run this thing back in 25-26 with Lou running the show would be very scary because it would show that Malkin really doesn't have his finger on the pulse.

What Malkin really needs is to find a great NHL Team President - Let that guy run everything including hiring the next GM. Unfortunately Lou holds all those titles now so he doesn't have to listen to anyone, and obviously isn't because he not only thinks he knows best, but we can see by the results that outside input is needed.

Jeff Gorton is an interesting name, would he leave Montreal to be the man in charge? I would think so.

Montreal has done nothing since Gorton has takent over and are a total disappointment. Despite injecting lots of youth that group is showing basically no signs of development. And St. Louis looks like a failuer as coach. Just not sure what you're seeing that would make you think he's a good president/GM.

 

[The Real JT]

Josh Ho Sang

If he says no, there’s always Ryan Pilon.

 

[Isles Junkie]

Eric Fichaud

He was always our future.

 

[Glory Days]

Not sure why most posters here don’t understand Malkin’s perspective. Malkin is here for a real estate play and an increased valuation. He is not a hockey fan and cheerleader like Ledecky. Lou getting the team into the playoffs and bounced in the first round likely makes for a profitable year financially. Malkin likely won’t get concerned until the team consistently misses the playoffs and has operating losses. IMO Malkin isn’t in this for the long game. Malkin counts on Lou to be the steward of his franchise until such time he decides to sell. Anyone wanting a new GM should likely hope Malkin sells a majority interest in the team. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Jerseyislander]

Hey there Islander Family Merry Christmas and happy Holidays to you ALL.
My three favorite GM wishes we be:
Mathieu Darche only 45 years old and a ton of experience.
Ray Whitney still young and has scouting and executive background.
Brad Holland son of Ken, comes with Operations and scouting knowledge.
Isles organization needs to start having this kind thinking and experience in the front office.
Would be a nice little gift for us.... Enjoy your day All... And LGI!!!!

 

[leeroggy]

Literally why? Why would you need a GM with experience running a team when the first thing that needs to happen is shipping off of multiple veterans to gain valuable picks/prospects and open up cap space?




No, no, no, no, no, and no. Aside from the fact I think most all of the guys on that list are overrated, we don't want anyone who's been out of the league for a while. We need someone who is 100% up on all that's going on as of today in the NHL as they need to hit the ground running.




Again why is everyone so afarid of a rookie GM? What matters is WHO is choosing the GM. There's a massive difference between an inept charles wang hiring an inept rookie GM in garth snow vs a good owner choosing the next great GM who has had front office experience.

Well wang is gone, so don't have PTSD over hiring a first time GM let us eliminate a pool of NHL executives where there is probably a really great candidate.





People keep saying the Isles "don't need a total rebuild," but I've yet to hear a reasonable scenario where they can get a core group of these players back to Cup contention.

Think about it...An injection of talented youth is desperately needed on this roster. The Isles don't have a prospect pool, or CAP SPACE, to make deals where they could take on some 23 year old stud - Not that those guys get dealt that much if ever anyway. So there's almost no way for the Isles to get that talented/youth injection without going through the draft.

However the Isles aren't bad enough to get a top 3 pick where that player might play right away as an 18 year old. So even if we draft a top 10 prospect (and a few over multiple years), they're going to need time to develop. During that time our "core" will all be in their 30's - Certainly on the backside of their prime which is where you want them.




Again...wang hiring snow is waaaay different than Malkin doing research and finding a quality assistant GM/front office exec who is deserving of the job.

Remember...BillTorrey was once a rookie GM. Are we going to eliminate the possibility of the next great NHL GM just because some idiot previous owners scarred us?

I sure how you're braver than that.




I do agree with that. Roy has got some of that "Milbury madness" to him. And it's not like he's doing a great job at his current position.




Minus the fact that you mention someone needing "GM experience," it seems that everything else you want would point to a rookie GM.





Yes - Praying Malkin has a list of names ready to go and has already planted the seeds that Lou is on his way out.

To run this thing back in 25-26 with Lou running the show would be very scary because it would show that Malkin really doesn't have his finger on the pulse.

What Malkin really needs is to find a great NHL Team President - Let that guy run everything including hiring the next GM. Unfortunately Lou holds all those titles now so he doesn't have to listen to anyone, and obviously isn't because he not only thinks he knows best, but we can see by the results that outside input is needed.




Montreal has done nothing since Gorton has takent over and are a total disappointment. Despite injecting lots of youth that group is showing basically no signs of development. And St. Louis looks like a failuer as coach. Just not sure what you're seeing that would make you think he's a good president/GM.

Happy Holidays!
But what the heck did you eat for breakfast? Nails?

 

[Big L]

I guess Sonja Henie is out. I'll take Danny Noonan.

 

[Jerseyislander]

Danny Noonan

The Caddy... LOL

 

[The Real JT]

A look back at Islander history.

Bill Torrey died at age 83. He had been retired for 17 years and spent the prior 8 years in some capacity with the Florida Panthers.

Just a frame of reference if you get my drift.

 

[HajdukSplit]

Darche from the Lightning but my guess this ownership will go for a more experienced GM (Shero comes to mind)

 

[Torrey Redux]

Darche from the Lightning but my guess this ownership will go for a more experienced GM (Shero comes to mind)

I agree. I don't know anything about the man other than what I just read on Wikipedia but anyone who has worked at a senior level within the general management and hockey ops dept of the Lightning should be strongly considered. The Lightning are generally acknowledged to be one of the best run organizations in all of professional sports and their history of player development is second to none. The Isles could sure use some of that.

 

[Fist of Fury]

Joshua Bailey or Marko Kiprusoff.

 

[LeapOnOver]

Thomas Hickey should be given a management position in the organization. Assistant GM. He is a bright guy who I think would do well once he learns the business side of the game.

Was going to say this as a joke, but agree with your assessment.

Incidentally, watched highlights of him doing an Amazon Prime game and he was SOOO good. Had way more chances to speak as a color commentator and was miles better than Butchie. I know Butchie has earned his spot, but Hickey will 100% be hired as a full-time color commentator by someone if we don't promote him soon.

 

[LeapOnOver]

Literally why? Why would you need a GM with experience running a team when the first thing that needs to happen is shipping off of multiple veterans to gain valuable picks/prospects and open up cap space?

Is this really the question you are asking? What we get back in picks and prospects can be the difference between a 10 year rebuild and a five year rebuild. It's hugely important that we get the right returns. If it didn't matter who did it, Malkin could just let LL do all the trades and then fire him, lol.

 

[yianik]

Man I just read about what Uncle Lou did and treated Robin Lehner and how appreciative Lehner is to him and the Island. Say what you will, Uncle Lou can be a real human being. Sad for Lehner, hope he can get his life on track.