Thursday, February 12, 2004
Next stop on the Senators' GM wheel?
The Senators have gone through GM's in recent years like other teams go through head coaches. Randy Sexton, Pierre Gauthier, Rick Dudley, Marshall Johnston, John Muckler have all been the GM during the past ten years.
I don't think it is a stretch to think that the Sens could have another GM in the not too distant future. John Muckler turns 70 this year. When Muckler was interviewed by Sens President Roy Mlakar while Mlakar was guesthosting an Ottawa radio show this week, I was amazed at how inarticulate Muckler sounded. Normally, Muckler is articulate in his interviews but in this one he sounded like an old man at a loss for words.
Now maybe Muckler was just tired that day but none the less, he isn't getting any younger and there aren't a whole lot of 70 year old GM's hanging around the league. I don't know how long the multiyear contract Muckler signed with the Senators in the summer of 2002 but if it does expire this year will Muckler return? And if he doesn't, who takes over?
If there was an opening for Ottawa's GM position, it would be one of the hottest positions in hockey. The Sens might have the best set of talent in the league playing in front of a state of the art arena. As well, new owner Eugene Melnyk appears to be the kind of owner who will pay the money it takes to get the best and that would include a new GM.
Because the Senators are so close to becoming so dominant, I can't see the Sens bringing in a neophyte GM to learn on the job. The Sens want to win now and they can't afford the growing pains of someone without experience.
Brian Burke would be a great choice but would he want to report to Mlakar instead of Melnyk? Tom Benjamin weighs in on Burke's situation with Canucks' ownership.
Another choice might be Sharks GM Doug Wilson. He's from Ottawa and was considered for the position when Johnston resigned. The problem for him would be getting out of his commitment with San Jose.
A real longshot, but one that would make for great headlines, would be Pat Quinn. If John Ferguson Jr would rather go with his own coach despite Quinn's great job this season, Quinn would be more then qualified to take over the GM position in Ottawa. The problem here is that Quinn has always appeared to prefer coaching over being a GM.
There is always the option of hiring from within - Peter Chiarelli, Anders Hedberg or Jacques Martin come to mind although none have been an NHL GM before.
I don't think it is a stretch to think that the Sens could have another GM in the not too distant future. John Muckler turns 70 this year. When Muckler was interviewed by Sens President Roy Mlakar while Mlakar was guesthosting an Ottawa radio show this week, I was amazed at how inarticulate Muckler sounded. Normally, Muckler is articulate in his interviews but in this one he sounded like an old man at a loss for words.
Now maybe Muckler was just tired that day but none the less, he isn't getting any younger and there aren't a whole lot of 70 year old GM's hanging around the league. I don't know how long the multiyear contract Muckler signed with the Senators in the summer of 2002 but if it does expire this year will Muckler return? And if he doesn't, who takes over?
If there was an opening for Ottawa's GM position, it would be one of the hottest positions in hockey. The Sens might have the best set of talent in the league playing in front of a state of the art arena. As well, new owner Eugene Melnyk appears to be the kind of owner who will pay the money it takes to get the best and that would include a new GM.
Because the Senators are so close to becoming so dominant, I can't see the Sens bringing in a neophyte GM to learn on the job. The Sens want to win now and they can't afford the growing pains of someone without experience.
Brian Burke would be a great choice but would he want to report to Mlakar instead of Melnyk? Tom Benjamin weighs in on Burke's situation with Canucks' ownership.
Another choice might be Sharks GM Doug Wilson. He's from Ottawa and was considered for the position when Johnston resigned. The problem for him would be getting out of his commitment with San Jose.
A real longshot, but one that would make for great headlines, would be Pat Quinn. If John Ferguson Jr would rather go with his own coach despite Quinn's great job this season, Quinn would be more then qualified to take over the GM position in Ottawa. The problem here is that Quinn has always appeared to prefer coaching over being a GM.
There is always the option of hiring from within - Peter Chiarelli, Anders Hedberg or Jacques Martin come to mind although none have been an NHL GM before.
