GOT THIS FROM CBS
THEY MUST HAVE NO CLUE WHATS GOING ON
WHERES BURKE AND MUCKLER
:shrug:
Not long after Bryan Trottier was dismissed by the New York Rangers in January, Scotty Bowman felt compelled to question what was going on at the position that had made him a legend.
"It's odd, isn't it, that seven coaches have been fired this season and not one manager," said the sport's winningest coach, who retired last year after three decades behind the bench and a record nine Stanley Cups. "I mean, have all 30 GMs done a good job?"
Lou Lamoriello's frugal ways have put the Devils in position to make trades when needed.(Getty Images)
It was a rhetorical question, one that enabled Bowman to make his point as directly as if he had simply said no. With three-quarters of the season gone, and more than half the teams in the league either struggling to sneak into the playoffs or already thinking about next year, it's quite clear many general managers have not had very good years.
Some, like Carolina's Jim Rutherford and Chicago's Mike Smith, have misjudged the talent they had or acquired. Others, such as the Rangers' Glen Sather, have overspent. And a few like San Jose's Dean Lombardi and Boston's Mike O'Connell allowed negative off-ice situations to linger long enough to create distractions that ultimately undermined their teams' chances to succeed.
On the other hand, some GMs have had great years, although they tend to go unnoticed, since there is no official award for executive of the year in the NHL.
Still, several merit recognition for their achievements, and we've decided to note the exceptional. Here's our take, in alphabetical order, on GMs who would be the leading candidates for the top executive honor if it existed.
Doug Armstrong, Dallas Stars: Armstrong apprenticed for nine years under predecessor Bob Gainey before ascending to the post last January. He couldn't prevent the Stars from missing the playoffs for the first time in seven years, but during the offseason, Armstrong overhauled the team, in part through trades, but largely with a major assault on the free-agent market. His deals have brought him solid contributors Ron Tugnutt, Stephane Robidas and Claude Lemieux, while his spending brought in Bill Guerin, Scott Young and Phillipe Boucher. Jealous types could argue that the organization's deep pockets make it easy, but as teams like the Rangers have shown, spending money isn't the same as spending it wisely. Armstrong did both, and he could be rewarded with a Stanley Cup this season.
Lou Lamoriello, New Jersey Devils: He has been running the team for 16 years, and over the past decade, Lamoriello has turned New Jersey into one of hockey's all-time elite franchises. It's quite an accomplishment considering the NHL's current economics and the fact that Lamoriello is notoriously tight-fisted. His manner has alienated a number of players, and in many cases (read: Bobby Holik) cost him their services. But Lamoriello has built a great organization from the ground up, one that has allowed him to regenerate his lineup from within and provide him with the ammunition he needs to pull off bold trades when necessary. Look for him to do just that before the March 11 deadline and to make another serious run at the Stanley Cup.
George McPhee, Washington Capitals: After prized acquisition Jaromir Jagr failed to lead the team to the playoffs last season, McPhee signed free agents Robert Lang and Kip Miller, two former Jagr teammates in Pittsburgh, and turned the coaching reins over to offensive-minded rookie Bruce Cassidy. After the season began, McPhee made two great deals, acquiring Michael Nylander from Chicago and Mike Grier from Edmonton. It took a while for the team to jell, but Washington found its game around Christmas and since has taken over the Southeast Division lead. The Caps have been in this position before but haven't managed to translate regular-season success into similar accomplishments in the playoffs. But this is the deepest and most balanced team McPhee has had in his six seasons in Washington, and things could be a lot different when the postseason arrives.
Bryan Murray, Anaheim Mighty Ducks: After a year behind the Anaheim bench, Murray moved upstairs in May with some ideas about what was needed for the Ducks to get better. Obviously, they were pretty good, since the Mighty Ducks are the league's most improved team. Murray upgraded Anaheim's conditioning and video equipment, brought in high-energy rookie Mike Babcock to coach and took aim at enhancing the special teams, which now rank among the NHL's best. Overall, Murray revamped the roster by adding forwards Adam Oates and Petr Sykora, defensemen Fredrik Olausson and Sandis Ozolinsh and clearing some space so that youngsters like Kurt Sauer, Stanislav Chistov and Alexei Smirnov could contribute. They have, and the result is that Anaheim is headed for its first playoff appearance in five years.
David Poile, Nashville Predators: The only GM in Predators history could have panicked when his team managed to win only two of its first 20 games. Aside from the difficulty losing teams have drawing fans in a new market, Nashville had the added burden of a marketing department that promised season-ticket holders a big rebate if the Predators didn't make the playoffs. That's likely to be the case, but Poile hasn't deviated from his philosophy of building through the draft with youth and filling in the gaps. He began clearing out the veterans he had late last season and replacing them with young, hungry and unheralded players. He also stuck by coach Barry Trotz, who gets his team to consistently work as hard as any in the league. The result has been a second-half turnaround that has not put Nashville in the playoff picture but at least keeps its hopes alive.
Honorable mention: Rick Dudley, Florida; Jay Feaster, Tampa Bay; Pat Quinn, Toronto.
THEY MUST HAVE NO CLUE WHATS GOING ON
WHERES BURKE AND MUCKLER
:shrug: Not long after Bryan Trottier was dismissed by the New York Rangers in January, Scotty Bowman felt compelled to question what was going on at the position that had made him a legend.
"It's odd, isn't it, that seven coaches have been fired this season and not one manager," said the sport's winningest coach, who retired last year after three decades behind the bench and a record nine Stanley Cups. "I mean, have all 30 GMs done a good job?"
Lou Lamoriello's frugal ways have put the Devils in position to make trades when needed.(Getty Images)
It was a rhetorical question, one that enabled Bowman to make his point as directly as if he had simply said no. With three-quarters of the season gone, and more than half the teams in the league either struggling to sneak into the playoffs or already thinking about next year, it's quite clear many general managers have not had very good years.
Some, like Carolina's Jim Rutherford and Chicago's Mike Smith, have misjudged the talent they had or acquired. Others, such as the Rangers' Glen Sather, have overspent. And a few like San Jose's Dean Lombardi and Boston's Mike O'Connell allowed negative off-ice situations to linger long enough to create distractions that ultimately undermined their teams' chances to succeed.
On the other hand, some GMs have had great years, although they tend to go unnoticed, since there is no official award for executive of the year in the NHL.
Still, several merit recognition for their achievements, and we've decided to note the exceptional. Here's our take, in alphabetical order, on GMs who would be the leading candidates for the top executive honor if it existed.
Doug Armstrong, Dallas Stars: Armstrong apprenticed for nine years under predecessor Bob Gainey before ascending to the post last January. He couldn't prevent the Stars from missing the playoffs for the first time in seven years, but during the offseason, Armstrong overhauled the team, in part through trades, but largely with a major assault on the free-agent market. His deals have brought him solid contributors Ron Tugnutt, Stephane Robidas and Claude Lemieux, while his spending brought in Bill Guerin, Scott Young and Phillipe Boucher. Jealous types could argue that the organization's deep pockets make it easy, but as teams like the Rangers have shown, spending money isn't the same as spending it wisely. Armstrong did both, and he could be rewarded with a Stanley Cup this season.
Lou Lamoriello, New Jersey Devils: He has been running the team for 16 years, and over the past decade, Lamoriello has turned New Jersey into one of hockey's all-time elite franchises. It's quite an accomplishment considering the NHL's current economics and the fact that Lamoriello is notoriously tight-fisted. His manner has alienated a number of players, and in many cases (read: Bobby Holik) cost him their services. But Lamoriello has built a great organization from the ground up, one that has allowed him to regenerate his lineup from within and provide him with the ammunition he needs to pull off bold trades when necessary. Look for him to do just that before the March 11 deadline and to make another serious run at the Stanley Cup.
George McPhee, Washington Capitals: After prized acquisition Jaromir Jagr failed to lead the team to the playoffs last season, McPhee signed free agents Robert Lang and Kip Miller, two former Jagr teammates in Pittsburgh, and turned the coaching reins over to offensive-minded rookie Bruce Cassidy. After the season began, McPhee made two great deals, acquiring Michael Nylander from Chicago and Mike Grier from Edmonton. It took a while for the team to jell, but Washington found its game around Christmas and since has taken over the Southeast Division lead. The Caps have been in this position before but haven't managed to translate regular-season success into similar accomplishments in the playoffs. But this is the deepest and most balanced team McPhee has had in his six seasons in Washington, and things could be a lot different when the postseason arrives.
Bryan Murray, Anaheim Mighty Ducks: After a year behind the Anaheim bench, Murray moved upstairs in May with some ideas about what was needed for the Ducks to get better. Obviously, they were pretty good, since the Mighty Ducks are the league's most improved team. Murray upgraded Anaheim's conditioning and video equipment, brought in high-energy rookie Mike Babcock to coach and took aim at enhancing the special teams, which now rank among the NHL's best. Overall, Murray revamped the roster by adding forwards Adam Oates and Petr Sykora, defensemen Fredrik Olausson and Sandis Ozolinsh and clearing some space so that youngsters like Kurt Sauer, Stanislav Chistov and Alexei Smirnov could contribute. They have, and the result is that Anaheim is headed for its first playoff appearance in five years.
David Poile, Nashville Predators: The only GM in Predators history could have panicked when his team managed to win only two of its first 20 games. Aside from the difficulty losing teams have drawing fans in a new market, Nashville had the added burden of a marketing department that promised season-ticket holders a big rebate if the Predators didn't make the playoffs. That's likely to be the case, but Poile hasn't deviated from his philosophy of building through the draft with youth and filling in the gaps. He began clearing out the veterans he had late last season and replacing them with young, hungry and unheralded players. He also stuck by coach Barry Trotz, who gets his team to consistently work as hard as any in the league. The result has been a second-half turnaround that has not put Nashville in the playoff picture but at least keeps its hopes alive.
Honorable mention: Rick Dudley, Florida; Jay Feaster, Tampa Bay; Pat Quinn, Toronto.
