Saturday, May 23, 2009

New Wild, Wolves GM Digest

Here's a collection of the reactions to Friday's press intoductory press conferences:

Wild - Chuck Fletcher
  • Chip Scoggins
  • Russo's Rants
  • Patrick Reusse
  • John Shipley
  • ESPN.com's Scott Burnside
  • Minnesota Wild Examiner
  • My reaction - GREAT HIRE! I have opined here and to friends alike that the Wild need to get with the times and open things up if they are to compete in the Western Conference. Teams like Chicago, Detroit, and St. Louis are going to be perennial contenders because of the up-tempo styles they play, and Fletcher's hire is proof that Craig Leipold wants this to occur. Hiring a new coach, trying to sign Marian Gaborik before July 1, and conducting the NHL Draft will make for a busy next few weeks for Fletcher, but the Wild is on the right track.

Wolves - David Kahn

  • Jerry Zgoda
  • Jim Souhan
  • Don Seeholzer
  • Minnesota Timberwolves Examiner
  • ESPN.com
  • My reaction: Wait and see. Kahn has good experience in the game of basketball, but has not worked in the league since 2004, has not managed a NBA operation since 2002, and is seen as more of a business guy or capologist than a personnel guy. This franchise is dangerously close to gaining apathy status in this town, and they really needed to hit a home run with this hire. In my opinion, they missed out. It's not Glen Taylor's fault (or David Kahn's fault, for that matter) that three others took their names out of consideration, but it's a testament to the Wolves' perception around the league - that Taylor wants to be involved in the control of the franchise.

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