The Panthers have cast a wide net as they look to find a replacement for former GM Dale Tallon whose contract was not renewed. In recent weeks, Scott Mellanby, John Ferguson Jr., Bill Armstrong, Laurence Gilman, Sean Burke, Ron Hextall, and Kevin Weekes have all interviewed for the position, and Florida Hockey Now’s adds Peter CHiarelli and Eddie Olczyk to the list as well. Rangers Assistant GM Chris Drury additionally interviewed for the vacancy. However, as Florida sets their shortlist for the next round of interviews, Drury has withdrawn his name from consideration, reports Larry Brooks of the New York Post.
Drury has been with New York since 2015 when he started as their Director of Player Development. He was promoted to assistant GM the following year and became GM of AHL Hartford in 2017 as well. In 2019, he got his first international GM assignment when he headed up Team USA at the World Championships. That experience made it no surprise when he came under consideration to replace Tallon.
His name has come up for several GM vacancies around the league over the years so while he won’t wind up with this job, it only seems like a matter of time before Drury gets a chance to run his own NHL team. No reason for withdrawing from this search was given.
Meanwhile, Brooks adds a couple more names to the list of candidates in former Boston and Edmonton GM Peter Chiarelli and Blackhawks/NBC analyst Eddie Olczyk. He mentions that both are expected to be among the finalists for the position.
If experience and success matter Hextall is hands down the best choice. Thankfully dont see Chiarelli’s name.
Kevin Weekes
Why? What previous experience does he have in a GM related capacity?
Today’s environment would be the perfect time to move Weekes into this role. Some good candidates in Mellanby, Ferguson Jr. but Chiarreli’s time has passed, Hextall belongs in a more relevant market, Gilman probably not quite there, and Armstrong simply isn’t capable and pulls up the rear by a wide margin. Weekes is their guy.
So you’re saying that someone with no track record of running a hockey operation should be given an NHL GM position because…..(I’ll let you fill in the blank).
That’s precisely what I’m saying. Don’t get caught up in the details, Gbear…in today’s world, qualifications are essentially irrelevant. He’s a good man, he’d be well received, and the timing is right. He can learn the job on the fly, and he’ll have more support than anyone else who could take the chair right now. No brainer.
Your last two words are the most correct thing you said. It truly would take no brains to hand over the most vital job in a hockey operation to someone with no track record of running any team for the sole purpose of feeling virtuous. This is how businesses of all stripes die.
FLA has made the playoffs 5 times in 27 years. Why not. If he is any good it wont be hard to notice.