The Nashville Predators GM Search, and Kade O’Rourke Looking for Exceptional Status

The Nashville Predators have started some in-person GM interviews

Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman, on the Nashville Predators and where their GM search sits. They were denied permission to speak to Carolina Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky, to did get permission to speak to one of their assistants.

** NHLRumors.com transcription

Ron MacLean: “All right. Nashville?”

Friedman: “Yeah, so Nashville, you know, they’re doing their search right now. They have an opening, and they’re progressing into it. And the Hurricanes would not talk about this when I asked about it .

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But I’m under the understanding, it’s kind of funny timing, because Keith Pelley mentioned Eric Tulsky’s name. But during their search, Nashville asked for permission to speak to Carolina’s GM, and they were denied again. The Hurricanes would not discuss it. And there’s one other thing I also asked them about they wouldn’t discuss. I’ll get that to a second.

But I do think the Predators interviewed some people in person this week. I think among the people that could have been it, Brett Peterson, who’s an assistant GM in Florida. Scott White, potentially, who’s an assistant GM in Dallas, and Bill Scott mentioned, he’s an assistant GM in Edmonton.

But there’s one other name I think visited there, and it hadn’t been reported before, as far as I can tell. And that’s Darren York from the Carolina Hurricanes. He’s the GM of the Chicago Wolves. He’s been there 17 years. I understand he had an in-person visit. We’ll see where Nashville goes from here.

A pure-bred American player looking for exceptional status into the OHL

Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman, on Texas-born Kade O’Rourke applying for exceptional status in the OHL.

** NHLRumors.com transcription

Ron MacLean: “And finally, Elliotte, the OHL Cup.

Friedman: “Yes, so the final was won today. Detroit HoneyBaked won it. They beat the Toronto Junior Canadians in the final. But there were a lot of people there watching one particular Toronto Junior Canadians player, a Texas-born Kade O’Rourke, and this was the goal he scored in the semi-final that everybody was talking about.

He’s moved to Toronto four years ago. It’s just a beautiful goal, 15 years old. Plays for the Toronto Junior Canadians and Hockey Canada doesn’t confirm this stuff, but he has applied for exceptional status in the OHL next year.

A number of people Ron, who I spoke to this week, said there’s no question he’s ready. The OHL draft is on June 12th, so they have time.

But the one thing that’s interesting about this is that no pure-bred American player has ever gotten exceptional status before. Sean Day was a dual citizen. He got it. But no pure-bred American ever has, I think the OHL badly wants this guy in the league.

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And I say, why not? Like the way we’re going, put the best players where the best opportunity is? And I think people would be knocking down doors to watch this kid play.

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