Confirmed with Link: Canucks interested in hiring Michael Futa ( Management)

[I am toxic]

It is possible for a GM to learn from his mistakes. Benning can't seem to figure it out but you can't assume Lombardi is the same. Many GMs have handed out "retirement" contracts to core players that they've won Cups with. Also Benning has handed out sweetheart deals to non-core UFAs, so that's quite a different situation as well.

I agree Lombardi could learn from the mistake of giving out horrid contracts.

However, that is not my main objection to Lombardi - the character he displayed in treating Richards (for Lombardi's own mistake, as an aside) is what makes him a complete no go for me.

Sure, Lombardi could work to acknowledge what he did was wrong, take steps to remedy it, and redeem himself somewhat. But it's too late at this point, it was garbage behaviour and he has had years to address it and he hasn't, any attempts to rectify it now would just be false slimy window dressing.

 

[I am toxic]

Chris Gear is in charge of contracts.

and Beagle Sutter Roussel Baertshci, Luongo penalty , are all expired by next year.

Imo that’s when our window will open.

As great as Benning has been in amateur drafting he hasn’t been good in Pro evaluating and maybe that’s where he is looking to get some help in Futa.

Don't go slipping falsehoods into posts.

 

[4Twenty]

as regards benning, i think it made sense to hire a guy in 2014 with a drafting background because of what the team needed to do, but i have also said the plan he had to implement significantly held that process back. i have said his draft record has saved his job a few times, but i have also said the fact many of the things he did that you hate were what the owner or linden told him to do is likely another factor.

Fair enough to the rest. I have two issues here and it's the way you've presented this paragraph, specifically the bold.

Was he not part of the plan? In my eyes you don't hire a guy to tell him what to do.

"Go trade for Gudbranson" isn't something that was told to him IMO.

It's little comments like these that give excuses and pass the buck.....I mean you have people in here thinking he's going to get promoted to President for goodness sakes. It's incredible. The good is Benning, the bad is because he had to because someone told him to is just ridiculous to me. It's his 7th season.

He may have been part of planning the direction and he certainly was the one pulling the trigger on player personnel moves....it's why he was brought here as you say.

 

[I am toxic]

He is the Brutus to Bennings Ceasar. Thats all he does.

Et tu, Michaelus?

 

[racerjoe]

Futa is who I wanted when we hired Benning.

I think now, I would want to know more about his thoughts on how to build and supplement a team before I said I think its a good hiring or not, as well as obviously his role.

 

[Lindgren]

I'd be less concerned about specific experience and more concerned about a certain fundamental understanding of management issues (at least that's the way I'm leaning after watching this management group).

My interview questions, for starters:
What is meant by the term "opportunity cost"?
Describe a transaction that any organization in the NHL made in the last few years that was unsuccessful because of a lack of understanding of opportunity cost.
Describe a transaction that any organization in the NHL made in the last few years that was successful because it demonstrated a good understanding of opportunity cost.
What is meant by the "sunk cost fallacy"?
Describe a transaction ... etc.

 

[4Twenty]

I'd be less concerned about specific experience and more concerned about a certain fundamental understanding of management issues (at least that's the way I'm leaning after watching this management group).

My interview questions, for starters:
What is meant by the term "opportunity cost"?
Describe a transaction that any organization in the NHL made in the last few years that was unsuccessful because of a lack of understanding of opportunity cost.
Describe a transaction that any organization in the NHL made in the last few years that was successful because it demonstrated a good understanding of opportunity cost.
What is meant by the "sunk cost fallacy"?
Describe a transaction ... etc.

Could you imagine asking Benning those questions?

Jim would ask to be excused and go into the hallway - "siri: what is meant by the term opportunity cost"?

 

[Lindgren]

Could you imagine asking Benning those questions?

Jim would ask to be excused and go into the hallway - "siri: what is meant by the term opportunity cost"?

Sadly, I think you're right. He might have heard the term, but I doubt whether he could explain it.

 

[PuckMunchkin]

Don't go slipping falsehoods into posts.

Jim has also been a fantastic goalie coach.

 

[MS]

I'd be less concerned about specific experience and more concerned about a certain fundamental understanding of management issues (at least that's the way I'm leaning after watching this management group).

My interview questions, for starters:
What is meant by the term "opportunity cost"?
Describe a transaction that any organization in the NHL made in the last few years that was unsuccessful because of a lack of understanding of opportunity cost.
Describe a transaction that any organization in the NHL made in the last few years that was successful because it demonstrated a good understanding of opportunity cost.
What is meant by the "sunk cost fallacy"?
Describe a transaction ... etc.

Can you imagine Jim Benning trying to answer questions like this? It boggles the mind.

 

[Lindgren]

Can you imagine Jim Benning trying to answer questions like this? It boggles the mind.

It does.

I've never been so discouraged as a Canucks fan (well, except perhaps at the moment that summer when the Beagle et al signings happened). I'm invested in all the young players and want them to do well, but the best thing for the franchise is that the team loses and Benning gets fired. I get no joy at all in cheering for the team to lose, and none from seeing them win and get to mediocre instead of lousy.

I'm reduced to hoping for points for Linus Karlsson and Arvid Costmar (and I keep confusing the two).

 

[krutovsdonut]

Fair enough to the rest. I have two issues here and it's the way you've presented this paragraph, specifically the bold.

Was he not part of the plan? In my eyes you don't hire a guy to tell him what to do.

"Go trade for Gudbranson" isn't something that was told to him IMO.

It's little comments like these that give excuses and pass the buck.....I mean you have people in here thinking he's going to get promoted to President for goodness sakes. It's incredible. The good is Benning, the bad is because he had to because someone told him to is just ridiculous to me. It's his 7th season.

He may have been part of planning the direction and he certainly was the one pulling the trigger on player personnel moves....it's why he was brought here as you say.

he may well have been in on and pushing every strategic decision and acquisition, but i doubt it. i think he'd have been fired by now if that was the case. i don't think he has drafted well enough to offset all the other setbacks, and i don't think he'd get full credit for that drafting anyway since it is a team effort (which is not say i buy into the brackett godhead stuff).

i infer that benning was not the one pushing at least some of the bonehead moves this team has made over the years or he would not still be here, because i believe aqualini would fire him in a heart beat if he could lay the blame for it on him.

but we are getting into the management thread now. my point is simply that i disagree that i am treating benning differently than the way i assessed futa. i think i just choose to read different tea leaves and attach different weight to events and track records as opposed to most here.

 

[Vector]

This seems weird and could be Friedman putting the smallest nugget out their for a work buddy. He wouldn't have written anything without Futa's consent.

 

[mathonwy]

Fair enough to the rest. I have two issues here and it's the way you've presented this paragraph, specifically the bold.

Was he not part of the plan? In my eyes you don't hire a guy to tell him what to do.

"Go trade for Gudbranson" isn't something that was told to him IMO.

It's little comments like these that give excuses and pass the buck.....I mean you have people in here thinking he's going to get promoted to President for goodness sakes. It's incredible. The good is Benning, the bad is because he had to because someone told him to is just ridiculous to me. It's his 7th season.

He may have been part of planning the direction and he certainly was the one pulling the trigger on player personnel moves....it's why he was brought here as you say.

No self-respecting GM would have ok'ed that McCann for Gudbranson trade.

No way. No how.

 

[krutovsdonut]

I'd be less concerned about specific experience and more concerned about a certain fundamental understanding of management issues (at least that's the way I'm leaning after watching this management group).

My interview questions, for starters:
What is meant by the term "opportunity cost"?
Describe a transaction that any organization in the NHL made in the last few years that was unsuccessful because of a lack of understanding of opportunity cost.
Describe a transaction that any organization in the NHL made in the last few years that was successful because it demonstrated a good understanding of opportunity cost.
What is meant by the "sunk cost fallacy"?
Describe a transaction ... etc.

i think it would be totally fair to ask a lifer hockey guy like benning to assess transaction "x" and why it went well or not, and let them explain it in their own words, but to use economics jargon that is frequently misunderstood by laypeople is a patronizing gotcha move.

 

[krutovsdonut]

This seems weird and could be Friedman putting the smallest nugget out their for a work buddy. He wouldn't have written anything without Futa's consent.

i kind of read it as him feeling obliged to report something on a story he has heard about from sources but deliberately not digging far into it.

 

[Vector]

i kind of read it as him feeling obliged to report something on a story he has heard about from sources but deliberately not digging far into it.

I can see that but given how friendly the main NHL media is with everyone and that Futa is, apparently, a coworker at Sportsnet. He definitely went to Futa and asked if writing that little bit was okay.

 

[Nucker101]

Futa is who I wanted when we hired Benning.

I think now, I would want to know more about his thoughts on how to build and supplement a team before I said I think its a good hiring or not, as well as obviously his role.

Not gonna lie, I was okay with Benning lol. I think my top choice was McNabb from Anaheim, apparently has a great eye for talent.

My idea was to have more of a great talent evaluator paired with an analytical guy and a cap/contract specialist so that they could all complement each other. Whenever the analytical guy and talent evaluator both liked a player that was available via free agency, trade or waivers, they’d target the player at a reasonable cost. And of course the contract specialist or capologist would handle contracts and keep the other two informed about the team’s cap situation in both the short term and long term.

Easier said than done of course, because the GM would have to have faith in the other two and be willing to accept their evaluations. That’s not easy to do when you’re technically the head guy and really like a player that your assistant GM is not a fan of.

 

[Lindgren]

i think it would be totally fair to ask a lifer hockey guy like benning to assess transaction "x" and why it went well or not, and let them explain it in their own words, but to use economics jargon that is frequently misunderstood by laypeople is a patronizing gotcha move.

I disagree. I don't expect an economist, but someone who considers himself qualified for a senior management position in an organization worth hundreds of millions of dollars should have put in a bit of study.

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

Futa probably read the blurb this morning, laughed his ass off and preemptively blocked all 778, 604 and 250 numbers.

Benning would be wise to accept his screw ups. Shift into a presidency or paper-pusher role and bring in his successor. Keeps him on the payroll without the humiliation of getting fired.

 

[MS]

i think it would be totally fair to ask a lifer hockey guy like benning to assess transaction "x" and why it went well or not, and let them explain it in their own words, but to use economics jargon that is frequently misunderstood by laypeople is a patronizing gotcha move.

Disagree.

This job isn't being a manager for a construction company. It's running the most important aspect of an $800 million corporation and making huge financial decisions. If you haven't been exposed to the very simple concept of a sunk cost, you shouldn't be within a hundred miles of a position like this. This is, like, Management 101 sort of stuff.

 

[Fatass]

Disagree.

This job isn't being a manager for a construction company. It's running the most important aspect of an $800 million corporation and making huge financial decisions. If you haven't been exposed to the very simple concept of a sunk cost, you shouldn't be within a hundred miles of a position like this. This is, like, Management 101 sort of stuff.

I’m okay with a smart hockey guy, who is hockey focused providing he follows the direction (on the financial stuff) of an assistant GM, who is an expert in that area. I think we had Gilman for that role, but foolishly let him go.

 

[PuckMunchkin]

i think it would be totally fair to ask a lifer hockey guy like benning to assess transaction "x" and why it went well or not, and let them explain it in their own words, but to use economics jargon that is frequently misunderstood by laypeople is a patronizing gotcha move.

Its not.

Laypeople shouldnt be running multimillion dollar pro teams.

 

[4Twenty]

i think it would be totally fair to ask a lifer hockey guy like benning to assess transaction "x" and why it went well or not, and let them explain it in their own words, but to use economics jargon that is frequently misunderstood by laypeople is a patronizing gotcha move.

Lol. This is a $700m business not Home Depot.

 

[mriswith]

I still want Hextall. Proven builder and would have the guts to tell Aqua where to go when Aqua tries to interfere.

Whoever we hire has to be at least as good at managing up as they are down.