The Nashville Predators continue to search for a new general manager. Nobody has really impressed them thus far, with minority owner Nick Saban leading the charge to change the culture in Nashville.
Many assumed that Tom Fitzgerald, former New Jersey Devils General Manager, would have been the guy named already, given his ties to the organization, but the Predators are looking for someone outside of the organization who is well-rounded.
NHL Rumors: The Nashville Predators Still Searching for the Right Candidate
As Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period explained on Sirius XM NHL Network Power Play Segment with Steve Kouleas and Craig Button, when asked about what is taking so long in Nashville.
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
Steve Kouleas: “So just to double check here, Tom Fitzgerald, we’re still waiting on in Nashville, or something else, just for my own clarity here, Dave.”
Dave Pagnotta: “I mean in Nashville. I don’t think it’s as clear-cut as maybe a week or so ago, that it’s likely to be Fitzy out there in Tennessee. It sounds like Nick Saban and some of the other minority owners are part of that search, are looking at a broader scope of not just exclusively hockey ops and how this organization is going to be run moving forward, but taking the other side. The other elements of running an organization into account as well.
Nashville Predators GM Search Heading to the Final Stages
So there are some who believe that there are individuals that are up for the gig that are currently on playoff teams, right now in management, and we’re waiting for this round to wrap up before they go through those additional interviews and go from there.
Remember, guys, when Barry Trotz announced that he was going to transition out and help find a new GM. They didn’t put a timeline on things. He’s still under contract for a year now. Clearly, they’d want to get this done now between now and July, but they’re taking their time to make sure they find the right individual/individuals to go in there and kind of reshape that team moving forward.”
Craig Button: “I mean, it’s interesting to hear that Nick Saban, a minority owner who has a football background, is now trying to help. Organizations wonder why they end up in the problems they do. And nothing against Nick Saban. I mean, bottom line, he is a great, great football coach.
NHL Rumors: Nashville Predators, and the Toronto Maple Leafs
What he did at the University of Alabama. We all know that, but, it’s fascinating to me when we talk about the process, and you talk about Nashville, I think Nashville has a lot of good young players. I think they have a lot of good people in their organization. David Poille ran that first rate. Top notch for years.”
NHLRumors.com Note: It is amazing how good decision-makers can’t translate to other sports. Saban built two organizations with the same process. One at LSU and one at the University of Alabama. He has standards and practices that all winning organizations need. Saban knows what to look for in a person who can lead not only the hockey operations department but also the business operations. Those methods, practices, and standards translate.
It will be interesting to see which teams they target that are still in the playoffs. Could it be Darren Yorke in Carolina or a Martin Madden-type in Anaheim?
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