As readers of PenguinPoop are all too aware, I don’t often get things right. But as the old saying goes, a blind squirrel finds an acorn every once in a while.
And so it is with the Penguins’ freshly minted hire of Jason Spezza as our new assistant general manager. On Monday I was talking hockey with a Wright’s Gym member who shall go nameless (to protect the innocent). He asked me who I thought might be our next general manager. I mentioned Spezza.
Now before you start wondering if I’ve suddenly been gifted with prescience or developed any special insights, think again. Spezza, who finished his exemplary 19-year NHL career in Toronto in 2022, had served as a special assistant to Kyle Dubas this past season. A post he surrendered shortly after Dubas was fired in May. It was simply a matter of connecting the dots.
I also opined to said member that appointing Spezza to the post of general manager would’ve been a stretch along the lines of Craig Patrick hiring Ed Olczyk to coach the Pens back in 2003 without any prior experience. But I felt the assistant GM position made more sense.
Akin in a way to when we hired current Wild GM Bill Guerin as our player development coach shortly after his playing days were over. Guerin would be named assistant GM in June 2014.
I’d expect Spezza to follow a similar development path.
Another good hire, methinks.
Farewell Stan
Pittsburgh sports media icon Stan Savran sadly passed away earlier this week at the age of 76 following a courageous battle with cancer and diabetes.
I never had the pleasure of meeting Stan. But a dear friend of mine, Kimi Milos, knew him well. She shared what a great guy he was and how he remained upbeat and positive, even during his recent health issues.
Farewell Stan. For all of us who “loved the show” and your honest, straight-on and insightful style, you’ll be deeply missed.
Hey all,
Some of the injuries these guys were trying to play through, particularly the Panthers, have come to light. Matthew Tkachuk…a broken sternum. Aaron Ekblad…a dislocated shoulder and a broken foot.
Eetu Luostarinen tried to play on a broken tibia…shades of Nick Bonino in ’17. Radko Gudas…a high ankle sprain. Sam Bennett…groin and oblique issues.
Dear Lord, are hockey players tough. Beyond tough, actually. Nobody in any other sport would even think about playing through these types of injuries.
Rick
Rick
Doesn’t it seem kind of off that Dubas hired an Assistant GM prior to hiring a
new GM? Is this an indication that Dubas plans to be GM and President of
Hockey operations? Unless he already had this worked out with someone
behind the scenes how do you not allow the new GM to pick is Assistants.
I like Spezza and I think he’ll do a great job – it will be interesting to see how
this plays aut.
Hey Mike,
I saw it floated on at least one site that present Leafs assistant GM Brandon Pridham might be on our radar. From the little bit I’ve read about him, he’s reputed to be a salary cap wizard.
Dubas reconstructing his front office from Toronto would make perfect sense.
Rick
Hey Rick
Going back to one of your previous articles you mentioned Ryan Graves. I think now
that the Devils have inked Bratt to an 8yr deal for 7.875mil per and their in negotiations
to sign Meier for what looks likes another 8yr deal both Graves and Wood will become
expendable. I would be happy with both if Dubas can find a way to get it done.
“Your thoughts”?