Ryan Wilson: Penguins entering phase 2 of front office interviews Penguins entering phase 2 of front office interviews

Arizonas struggles are more about being a terribly run organization than it is the market they’re in.
- Feds91Stammer

Wonder how much of that bleeds into Chayka's past decisions? Obviously he's responsible for a lot of it, but was he hamstrung by a poopty org?

Seeing as Tulsky is very unlikely to leave the successful Carolina team, I am pulling for Ventura as he seems to have the right mix of qualities and he isn't an old boys club guy. Also, they aren't going to want to wait until the Cup is handed out to hire someone.

Wonder how much of that bleeds into Chayka's past decisions? Obviously he's responsible for a lot of it, but was he hamstrung by a poopty org?
- j.boyd919

The Org may have been crappy, but it was his choices that cost them draft picks.

Regarding Chayka since he seems to be a serious candidate:

I recently had a very tumultuous break up with my previous company where leadership was essentially trying to get their ducks in a row to fire me. I’m not gonna claim I did nothing wrong, I did and accept responsibility for my part in the soured relations between me and leadership, but I also imo had plenty to be pissed off about that I felt was unfair and that the whole thing could have been avoided if leadership had given even two poops about managing the team effectively. So when things hit me he point of no return, I was able to hang on long enough to find a new job without being fired by acting penitent to management, keeping my head down, and just continuing to deliver to the clients to the point that I had clients going to bat for me and making it harder to justify my firing, buying me time. In the end, I got away cleanly to a much bigger and more prestigious company (for a much bigger paycheck) without having to explain a firing during interviews. The stress was insane for those handful of months and there were times that I wanted so badly to rage quit or just throw my hands up in the air and say give me severance and I’ll get out of your hair, but I have a family to look after lack of a paycheck and explaining my unemployment status in interviews was something I couldn’t afford just to make myself feel good in the moment.

What’s the point of this anecdote? When your working relationships deteriorate, you can leave angry or you can leave professionally. The way Chayka’s tenure in Arizona ended was pretty much the definition of leaving angry. I find that to be a pretty big indictment of him as a professional and I’m not sure I trust the judgement of someone who’s willing to self sabotage their own careers just to give the middle finger to their bosses. Chayka was/is super young by GM standards so maybe he’s matured up since then. There’s an extent to which I’m able to give him that benefit of the doubt but there’s just so much risk there that he’s just a petulant person to his core and can’t manage the relationships side of this business with emotional maturity that he would not be my choice for this job.

Wonder how much of that bleeds into Chayka's past decisions? Obviously he's responsible for a lot of it, but was he hamstrung by a poopty org?
- j.boyd919

Obviously this is in retrospect but the Hall trade and the picks of Hayton and Soderstrom look pretty bad now.

Regarding Chayka since he seems to be a serious candidate:

I recently had a very tumultuous break up with my previous company where leadership was essentially trying to get their ducks in a row to fire me. I’m not gonna claim I did nothing wrong, I did and accept responsibility for my part in the soured relations between me and leadership, but I also imo had plenty to be pissed off about that I felt was unfair and that the whole thing could have been avoided if leadership had given even two poops about managing the team effectively. So when things hit me he point of no return, I was able to hang on long enough to find a new job without being fired by acting penitent to management, keeping my head down, and just continuing to deliver to the clients to the point that I had clients going to bat for me and making it harder to justify my firing, buying me time. In the end, I got away cleanly to a much bigger and more prestigious company (for a much bigger paycheck) without having to explain a firing during interviews. The stress was insane for those handful of months and there were times that I wanted so badly to rage quit or just throw my hands up in the air and say give me severance and I’ll get out of your hair, but I have a family to look after lack of a paycheck and explaining my unemployment status in interviews was something I couldn’t afford just to make myself feel good in the moment.

What’s the point of this anecdote? When your working relationships deteriorate, you can leave angry or you can leave professionally. The way Chayka’s tenure in Arizona ended was pretty much the definition of leaving angry. I find that to be a pretty big indictment of him as a professional and I’m not sure I trust the judgement of someone who’s willing to self sabotage their own careers just to give the middle finger to their bosses. Chayka was/is super young by GM standards so maybe he’s matured up since then. There’s an extent to which I’m able to give him that benefit of the doubt but there’s just so much risk there that he’s just a petulant person to his core and can’t manage the relationships side of this business with emotional maturity that he would not be my choice for this job.
- Victoro311

Man I hear you on that. New leadership due to a massive acquisition is brutal for me right now.

Regarding Chayka since he seems to be a serious candidate:

I recently had a very tumultuous break up with my previous company where leadership was essentially trying to get their ducks in a row to fire me. I’m not gonna claim I did nothing wrong, I did and accept responsibility for my part in the soured relations between me and leadership, but I also imo had plenty to be pissed off about that I felt was unfair and that the whole thing could have been avoided if leadership had given even two poops about managing the team effectively. So when things hit me he point of no return, I was able to hang on long enough to find a new job without being fired by acting penitent to management, keeping my head down, and just continuing to deliver to the clients to the point that I had clients going to bat for me and making it harder to justify my firing, buying me time. In the end, I got away cleanly to a much bigger and more prestigious company (for a much bigger paycheck) without having to explain a firing during interviews. The stress was insane for those handful of months and there were times that I wanted so badly to rage quit or just throw my hands up in the air and say give me severance and I’ll get out of your hair, but I have a family to look after lack of a paycheck and explaining my unemployment status in interviews was something I couldn’t afford just to make myself feel good in the moment.

What’s the point of this anecdote? When your working relationships deteriorate, you can leave angry or you can leave professionally. The way Chayka’s tenure in Arizona ended was pretty much the definition of leaving angry. I find that to be a pretty big indictment of him as a professional and I’m not sure I trust the judgement of someone who’s willing to self sabotage their own careers just to give the middle finger to their bosses. Chayka was/is super young by GM standards so maybe he’s matured up since then. There’s an extent to which I’m able to give him that benefit of the doubt but there’s just so much risk there that he’s just a petulant person to his core and can’t manage the relationships side of this business with emotional maturity that he would not be my choice for this job.
- Victoro311

Glad to hear things worked out and are going good for you, bud.....and thanks for eliminating the tiny bit of my brain that swayed towards Chayka maybe being a good idea haha.

Man I hear you on that. New leadership due to a massive acquisition is brutal for me right now.
- Feds91Stammer

Yeah it was really tough to go through. Core leadership is based in DC so the East Coast Business Unit is a functional company and I had a ton of personal loyalty to the company and leadership when I was based in DC because they sponsored my security clearance and the small company feel and direct line to the CEO made me feel valued. But then when I got moved out west the West Coast BU basically functioned as little fiefdoms with middle management running the show and I unfortunately got off on the wrong foot and had a terrible relationship with my middle management overlord. I was a pretty big cultural shell shock going between the two BUs and it really almost felt like a break up. But I’m stoked about where I ended up so I can’t complain and San Diego is sick.

I know some are saying there's no way Tulsky is going to leave a good winning franchise like the Canes, especially when they're in a run this post season.....so.....why is he even going to interviews, going back for a 2nd one? haha

Also...I could be wrong here...I could of dreamt it...but I feel as though there's been instances of assistant GM's/execs being hired while their current team is in the playoffs before....

I know some are saying there's no way Tulsky is going to leave a good winning franchise like the Canes, espcially when they're in a run this post season.....so.....why is he even going to interviews, going back for a 2nd one? haha

Also...I could be wrong here...I could have dreamt it...but I feel as though there's been instances of assistant GM's/execs being hired while their current team is in the playoffs before....
- MattStrat

Taking interviews gives you leverage so that aspect certainly exists especially if Tulsky’s endgame is getting the sitting GM “promoted” to president and him getting the official GM title but the Canes can always say they’re happy with how things are and he should take the job if he really wants to. As long as he’s advancing in the rounds there’s always a chance, and there’s even a chance he’s dead serious about wanting the Pens job. We just don’t know because we don’t know him.

Taking interviews gives you leverage so that aspect certainly exists especially if Tulsky’s endgame is getting the sitting GM “promoted” to president and him getting the official GM title but the Canes can always say they’re happy with how things are and he should take the job if he really wants to. As long as he’s advancing in the rounds there’s always a chance, and there’s even a chance he’s dead serious about wanting the Pens job. We just don’t know because we don’t know him.
- Victoro311

Good points.

The list of second round candidates is extremely encouraging, especially since it seems Chiarelli and Bergevin are not included. If they are in fact picking from the updated bunch of names, I find it hard to be disappointed.

Seems like a lot of insiders are saying the first course of action will be for the NHL/Coyotes to engage with the new Suns owner. The problem with that is that it takes a lot of renovation money to get the arena up to par. No idea if the Suns will go for that.

Seems like the location most talked about would be Salt Lake City. I like SLC, good idea to pursue a city without too much sports concentration.
- SuperHenderson13

The Suns arena previously hosted hockey so in theory they wouldn’t be starting from scratch.

I know some are saying there's no way Tulsky is going to leave a good winning franchise like the Canes, especially when they're in a run this post season.....so.....why is he even going to interviews, going back for a 2nd one? haha

Also...I could be wrong here...I could of dreamt it...but I feel as though there's been instances of assistant GM's/execs being hired while their current team is in the playoffs before....

Dundon's policy is that anyone can interview elsewhere for a promotion at any time. He doesn't hold anyone back. He just asks that if they get the position/offer they give him a chance to match it.

Taking interviews gives you leverage so that aspect certainly exists especially if Tulsky’s endgame is getting the sitting GM “promoted” to president and him getting the official GM title but the Canes can always say they’re happy with how things are and he should take the job if he really wants to. As long as he’s advancing in the rounds there’s always a chance, and there’s even a chance he’s dead serious about wanting the Pens job. We just don’t know because we don’t know him.
- Victoro311

If he was given the opportunity he'd want it. Eric's an outstanding guy (and has reached out to correct my interpretation of stats on occasion)

If he was given the opportunity he'd want it. Eric's an outstanding guy (and has reached out to correct my interpretation of stats on occasion)
- BINGO!

Tell him I’m interested in the director of data analysis role if they’re willing to be more lenient on requirements

If he was given the opportunity he'd want it. Eric's an outstanding guy (and has reached out to correct my interpretation of stats on occasion)
- BINGO!

That’s pretty sick. Would love that kind of personality in the FO.

Tell him I’m interested in the director of data analysis role of they’re willing to be more lenient on requirements
- Feds91Stammer

Just apply dude.

I know some are saying there's no way Tulsky is going to leave a good winning franchise like the Canes, especially when they're in a run this post season.....so.....why is he even going to interviews, going back for a 2nd one? haha

Also...I could be wrong here...I could of dreamt it...but I feel as though there's been instances of assistant GM's/execs being hired while their current team is in the playoffs before....
- MattStrat

Didn't that happen with us and Botterill?

Also I recall two years of blogs of blasting the Pens for not giving Botterill our GM job....

Didn't that happen with us and Botterill?

Also I recall two years of blogs of blasting the Pens for not giving Botterill our GM job....
- Tojo.

Are you suggesting Botterill is a bad GM?

Didn't that happen with us and Botterill?

Also I recall two years of blogs of blasting the Pens for not giving Botterill our GM job....
- Tojo.

Yes. Bots seemed like the heir apparent and left pretty much right after Rutherford got an extension which ushered in the bad half of the GMJR’s tenure. I was excited for Bots to eventually take over before he left but he failed in Buffalo. Would not have the same reaction to him being hired today as if he was promoted a few years ago. He might be best suited as an assistant rather than the main chair.

Yes. Bots seemed like the heir apparent and left pretty much right after Rutherford got an extension which ushered in the bad half of the GMJR’s tenure. I was excited for Bots to eventually take over before he left but he failed in Buffalo. Would not have the same reaction to him being hired today as if he was promoted a few years ago. He might be best suited as an assistant rather than the main chair.
- Victoro311

I think Buffalo failed Botteril not the other way around.

I think Buffalo failed Botteril not the other way around.
- Feds91Stammer

If a story came out that the Pegulas war vetoing more aggressive moves then I’d be inclined to agree but just from looking at the list of moves he was conservative to a fault. Not Hextall level and some of those moves were the best you could do with the hand you were dealt but I want more proactiveness than reactiveness in my GM.

I hope they do not advance with chiarelli or bergevin. I also dont know if karmanos is just rutherford 2.0. and why chayka? would rather see the other candidates get a real opp. I wouldnt mind a ventura/boterill combo.