Teams are quickly beginning to fill their coaching and managing vacancies which opened at the end of the season. The Calgary Flames are one of them, expected to name Craig Conroy their next general manager tomorrow, but the Pittsburgh Penguins are one team yet to make a hire.
They’re getting closer, however, and The Athletic’s Rob Rossi doubled down and added to a report over the weekend from TSN’s Pierre LeBrun on Pittsburgh’s preferred candidates for a general manager (and potentially president of hockey operations) role.
One name the team appears to be zeroing in on is Carolina Hurricanes assistant general manager Eric Tulsky, who Rossi says has impressed the members of Pittsburgh’s ownership, Fenway Sports Group. He’s certainly the most progressive hire available for Pittsburgh, as he’s one of the most reliant on analytics among managers in high-ranking roles.
Another name that Rossi expands on is Kyle Dubas, who’s been reported multiple times over the past few days as having been granted permission to speak with Pittsburgh after being fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs last week. Rossi notes that he still may play into Pittsburgh’s final decision despite becoming available late in the process and could potentially be brought in as a president of hockey operations alongside Tulsky, who could still be named general manager.
The Penguins could also hire a third name, per Rossi, although it hasn’t quite been clearly defined. The third hire could serve as a communicator between hockey operations and ownership, and Rossi says the team is considering broadcaster (and former Penguins coach) Eddie Olczyk for the role.
Rossi also relayed a quote from Penguins alternate governor Dave Beeston that there’s still no set timetable for making new hires.
Tulsky is the best possible name on the market. He’s going to be a great hire for whoever brings him in.
Unless he goes to the Leafs, in which case he will be derided as a terrible hire.
Just say no to Eddie O
Alex Tanguay could be leaving the Wings to to be the Flames new head coach.
Tulsky seems to have a good resume, but I won’t pretend to know what he does. He could be Waddell’s errand boy for all I know.
I have slagged Dubas a lot, but he’s got a decent track record and I particularly have liked his recent bargain shopping, which is what we need for the forseeable future with the core intact.
Edzo in the Burke role where he just does media wouldn’t be terrible. Him coaching or GM’ing would be.
Dubas wasn’t fired. His contract expires at the end of June and is not going to be renewed.
so essentially fired but not in a we need to pay you compensation way