While the Panthers have a couple of months before the offseason opens up, it appears that they are looking to fill their GM vacancy quickly. Last week, Canadiens assistant GM Scott Mellanby and former Kings executive Mike Futa were linked to Florida and Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported in the latest Saturday Headlines segment (video link) that Rangers assistant GM Chris Drury has received permission to interview for the position.
Drury has been with the Rangers since 2015 when he joined them as their Director of Player Development. The following year, he was promoted to assistant GM and became GM of AHL Hartford in 2017 as well. In 2019, he got his first international GM role when he was in charge of Team USA at the World Championships where they lost in the quarterfinals. Given his experience, his name has come up for several GM vacancies around the league over the years.
Friedman adds that Bruins assistant GM John Ferguson Jr. and Maple Leafs assistant GM Laurence Gilman are also believed to be interview targets although those have not been finalized as of yet. Ferguson Jr. spent five seasons as Toronto’s GM from 2003-04 through 2007-08 while Gilman hasn’t had the opportunity to be a GM at the NHL level.
Hire Futa!