Which former NHLer will make a successful full-time GM?

[edicius 3,269]

I'm actually rather surprised with the current results on TSN right now regarding this poll, considering all the drooling over Messier these days.

Here's where the poll results stand as of right now:

Brett Hull

4%

Mark Messier

16%

Ron Francis

19%

Steve Yzerman

48%

Patrick Roy

13%

Nice to see the respect for Stevie by a wide margin. Hell, Mess isn't even second in the polling. Really surprising.

Edited November 19, 2007 by edicius

[puckloo39 5,686]

Does Stevie have such aspirations? He is certainly respected enough. Hull is already stepping into management in Dallas, with Armstrong and Lites' departure last week. I wouldn't be surprised to see him take on something more permanent there.

Out of all of them, I could see Ron Francis in the GM role, for some reason.

[Earthhuman 8]

I agree, Ron Francis seems shrewd... he could do it.

[red and white forever 10]

it would be very disheartening to see stevie as a GM on any other team, but i can't see kenny going anywhere anytime soon though, hopefully kenny will hand the reins over to stevie one day, that would be bliss.

[Kp-Wings 3]

Stevie has already proven his worth by putting together a winning team during last year's IIHF World Tournament in the spring. He would make a great GM.

[MacK_Attack 108]

I like Ronnie Francis. Just seems like a brilliant hockey mind.

[auxlepli 17]

Brett Hull IMO. He's articulate and speaks his mind.

Oh, and I think Hull is only pulling in 4% because he's an American. Or at least sides with them in the Olympics and what not. So I think that pisses Canadians off, so they don't vote for him.

[irishtemper14+25 11]

i agree with that, just that yz wont be the main gm for a while, until holland retires...but thats just me hoping he works for the wings until he retires again

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Yzerman and Francis will be great GM's. Isnt Francis V.P. of the Canes right now? It'll be cool when Stevie's team faces Ronnie's in the Cup Finals this year .

[Kp-Wings 3]

Brett Hull IMO. He's articulate and speaks his mind.

Oh, and I think Hull is only pulling in 4% because he's an American. Or at least sides with them in the Olympics and what not. So I think that pisses Canadians off, so they don't vote for him.

Hull is an idiot. He should just go work for CBC in the broadcast booth or something.

Ronnie Francis would make a great GM also. He should be next in line for the that spot in Carolina once Rutherford is done.

[Yzermania19 1]

Ken Daniels said during today's game that Ken Holland said he will retire when Nick Lidstrom does...of course it was supposed to be a joke, but who knows? It could have some truth to it.

I could easily see Stevie taking over for Holland at some point. He has said in the past he would like to be the GM of a team someday and I don't think the Wings will let him go anywhere. They will find stuff for him to do until they feel he's ready and/or Ken Holland steps down. Meanwhile, he can continue getting his GM feet wet by heading Team Canada in the World Championships and the Olympics - after leading a rather ragtag team to the gold medal in last springs Worlds I would think he's in strong contention to do it again this spring, and for the Olympic job in 2010.

[VM1138 1,921]

The Captain would be an awesome GM. Great talent, I bet. Ron Francis is another one, so I agree with the sentiment in this thread.

Also, I'm beginning to feel that a Carolina-Red Wings rematch in the Finals this year would be really cool, but probably not a ratings getting. So I'll still root for a Rangers-Wings matchup. NHL dream come true.

[BeeRYCE 2]

Yeah, Stevie without question. Francis is a sharp one too.

There's also other NHL players that I have seen in the NHL who look fairly intelligent.

Joe Nieuwendyk, Cliff Ronning, Ken Daneyko, and Ray Ferraro are some names that I should through out there, and once Shanny retires, he could be a capable contender.

[MacK_Attack 108]

Yeah, Stevie without question. Francis is a sharp one too.

There's also other NHL players that I have seen in the NHL who look fairly intelligent.

Joe Nieuwendyk, Cliff Ronning, Ken Daneyko, and Ray Ferraro are some names that I should through out there, and once Shanny retires, he could be a capable contender.

Shanahan strikes me more as a guy who would be more comfortable in a Colin Campbell-type role.

[auxlepli 17]

Shanahan would be great in some kind of role with the NHL, NHLPA, or managerial role with a team. Can't believe I didn't think about him earlier. More than any other singular persion I credit Shanny for ending the lockout. There were predictions the lockout could've lasted two years. Without him it just might have. I'm selfish though, he should join the NHLFA and represent us!

[Guest jaytan]

I agree that Stevie would be successful, but I'm kinda surprised that nobody's got any faith in Hull.... Wait, this is TSN? Nevermind.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

I agree that Stevie would be successful, but I'm kinda surprised that nobody's got any faith in Hull.... Wait, this is TSN? Nevermind.

I'm guessing it being on TSN does have a lot to do with it.

But I'm a big Hull fan and I honestly wonder how good he'd be. He's got great passion for the game, but he also tends to shoot his mouth off and be pretty emotional. I'm not sure how problematic that would be as a GM. He doesn't strike me as the type that would soothe the egos of some of the prima donna players.

[Winged Scooter 0]

I'm with the majority here and think both Stevie and Francis would be very good in a GM role, and when he does actually retire I think Chelios would be an outstanding front office guy as well...

[RedWings Gone Wild 6]

So I'll still root for a Rangers-Wings matchup.

If Bettman had half a brain (which he doesn't) he would have rigged that matchup years ago. Though maybe he is. I'm still not quite sure how the rangers managed to have so much cap space in the off season (don't throw numbers at me, I know the numbers, I'm still skeptical).

[YoungGuns1340 1]

My instincts with Hull would be that hed be a little bit more reactionary. He doesnt exactly strike me as the kind of guy that would take his time in finding the right deal.

[toby91_ca 620]

If Bettman had half a brain (which he doesn't) he would have rigged that matchup years ago. Though maybe he is. I'm still not quite sure how the rangers managed to have so much cap space in the off season (don't throw numbers at me, I know the numbers, I'm still skeptical).

Obviously you found yourself in the wrong thread....but, what are you talking about. You don't want numbers thrown at you, so I am not sure how else to halp you....since it is all about numbers.

[Guest jaytan]

I'm guessing it being on TSN does have a lot to do with it.

But I'm a big Hull fan and I honestly wonder how good he'd be. He's got great passion for the game, but he also tends to shoot his mouth off and be pretty emotional. I'm not sure how problematic that would be as a GM. He doesn't strike me as the type that would soothe the egos of some of the prima donna players.

That never stopped Bobby Clarke.

[toby91_ca 620]

Interesting comment from Bucci:

"Brendan Shanahan: Future Maple Leafs president and GM. Book it."

[union drone 0]

I think that there are two factors to consider in understanding the order:

1) The personality and/or public perception of each of the players. The quiet, serious, more professor-like, lead by example types will naturally be seen as more suitable for GM. Yzerman and Francis both fit this mold more than the others. Hull least fits this mold.

2) Yzerman's recent success with managing the Canadian national team obviously scores him some major points. Especially when he caught some criticism early on by naming Doan as team captain, and showed up his critics by winning.