Confirmed with Link: Spezza Assistant General Manager

[IcedCapp]

It's how the world works tbh. Everywhere I've ever worked there's been tons of nepotism/cronyism hires. Sometimes they work, and sometimes they don't. But people always do that shit.

I just don’t know how we can say this is nepotism/cronyism. I don’t know what Spezza’s job will entail, but it’s possible Dubas actually thinks he’s good at it

 

[Jacob]

Posted this in the wrong forum but I assume he’ll take standard AGM duties like running WB/S, and handling two-way and ELC contracts. The kinda thing Dubas probably doesn’t have time for.

Toronto let go of the Marlies coaching staff and I’m guessing there’s nothing keeping Forrest or Brookbank around so he’ll probably bring in his own guys to coach there, maybe someone from the Marlies.

 

[Pancakes]

I just don’t know how we can say this is nepotism/cronyism. I don’t know what Spezza’s job will entail, but it’s possible Dubas actually thinks he’s good at it

I guess we can debate that, but immediately hiring the guy he worked with in Toronto is not much different from what Hextall was doing, no?

I don't dislike or even have a problem with the Spezza hire though.

 

[IcedCapp]

I guess we can debate that, but immediately hiring the guy he worked with in Toronto is not much different from what Hextall was doing, no?

I don't dislike or even have a problem with the Spezza hire though.

I don’t have a problem with any of your takes on this. They’re measured, as usual. I’m just taking general exception to this board’s tendency to be cynical about everything.

Also, Dubas and spezza only worked together for a year. I’m sure there are people Dubas has worked with longer. For him to have this level of trust / affinity for Spezza is a positive for me

 

[Jacob]

“When hiring scouts, Dubas introduced a system of blinded reviews, where scouting reports by potential hires were submitted anonymously, to remove bias from the process. One of the highest scorers during this stage was Noelle Needham, who was hired as an amateur scout to cover the Midwest region of the United States.”

Not real worried about this guy and cronyism. He’s familiar with Spezza and likes working with him, that’s enough for me. Probably likes Spezza’s experience as a player, something Dubas doesn’t really have.

 

[OnMyOwn]

It makes sense to hire people you’re familiar with. He hired Spezza last year, so why wouldn’t he bring him onboard if his plan was to keep Spezza around in Toronto?

 

[cookthebooks]

spezza is a former all star player who took less money a few times to play for the leafs and clearly built a relationship with dubas that led to him getting the front office role immediately after retiring. its just hard to understand how this is the same as hiring your kid.

 

[eXile3]

I do this in my career all the time. I’ll defer to someone who I’m familiar with if they fit the role. I know what their strengths and weaknesses are and how they’ll fit. It all depends on the situation. In some instances I want a new perspective.

Not every hire is “nepotism”

 

[Fordy]

you should only hire random strangers you've never met, and that no one has ever heard of

 

[Peat]

I feel like a useful distinction to make when talking about nepotism is

"I have worked with this guy before and he gives great result so of course I want to work with him again"

and

"I know this guy who needs a job, what have we got he can do"

I don't think anyone much kvetched about Hextall bringing in Chris Pryor, which is Exhibit A. We're all used to it and on some level, most of us approve of it because chemistry and cohesive organisational philosophies matter. It's no different from wishing we could trade for guys who did well with Sid in international play, right? Same way nobody went mad when Rutherford hired Vellucci.

Then you have Nick Pryor being appointed Director of Amateur Scouting and we're starting to get into Column B. Yeah, guy had been a scout for 8 years and had been working with Hextall in that time, but it's a little sus to name your guy's son as your guy. Particularly when your named you own son as a development coach, your former team mate's son who's just finished playing as a pro scout, your own minor league coach and former team mate as head of pro scouting... what does a team with four pro scouts need a director for anyway?

Dubas didn't know Spezza until five years ago. He owed the guy nothing when he put him straight into the front office after he retired. There is a clearly a "who you know" element to Dubas bringing him here, but it's a Column A nepotism. It's the sort where it's expected and if you believe in the guy you hired, you believe in the guys he believes in, right?

Now if in a few months all aspects of the Pens org are just guys from Toronto, guys from the Greyhounds, guys related to those guys getting promotions, then there's an issue... but on its own, I wouldn't really argue the nepotism angle, but it's not a bad thing here.

In any case, it's very easy to believe in a long time hockey guy with a reputation for being a massive hockey nerd and beloved leader.

 

[Peat]

Posted this in the wrong forum but I assume he’ll take standard AGM duties like running WB/S, and handling two-way and ELC contracts. The kinda thing Dubas probably doesn’t have time for.

Toronto let go of the Marlies coaching staff and I’m guessing there’s nothing keeping Forrest or Brookbank around so he’ll probably bring in his own guys to coach there, maybe someone from the Marlies.

I think if he was running WBS it'd have been part of the presser. Dubas had 4 AGMs in Toronto, there's clearly going to be a few more, and I wouldn't be surprised if WBS ended up with a different guy.

My guess going from the press pieces is that Dubas wants Spezza around as his sounding board and source on all things pro hockey rather than to fun any specific facet.

 

[tom_servo]

you should only hire random strangers you've never met, and that no one has ever heard of

It's healthier to find and develop brand new cronies.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

They're gonna be soiling themselves about Dubas for a while now. After dealing with Ron "hates the media and can't speak in public" Hextall, going to Dubas is giving our media the biggest hardons.

It'll be at least as bad as Mike Sullivan worship.

Hopefully Dubas and Spezza will actually be good though.

Good would be firing Sully and finding better wbs coaching as well.

you should only hire random strangers you've never met, and that no one has ever heard of

You know, you're right. This whole time I've hired based on qualifications in addition to possibly have potential to grow into other roles as well as their personality and fit within the team.

This whole time I didn't know I could hire my mate Jeff who downloads porn on an external drive and has them in categories and alphabetised with sales experience from when he worked at his Mum's shop 30yrs ago in South London.

I should give him a 500m account, he'll be fine.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

I'm betting on no GM being hired this year. I think he brings in two or three AGM's, and then promotes one next year.

I think Dubas should just f*** with the league.

Hire 3 assistant GM'S so they can vote on trades and banter with ideas. Kind of like when a team does that dumb three assistant captains bullshit with no captain.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

I feel like a useful distinction to make when talking about nepotism is

"I have worked with this guy before and he gives great result so of course I want to work with him again"

and

"I know this guy who needs a job, what have we got he can do"

I don't think anyone much kvetched about Hextall bringing in Chris Pryor, which is Exhibit A. We're all used to it and on some level, most of us approve of it because chemistry and cohesive organisational philosophies matter. It's no different from wishing we could trade for guys who did well with Sid in international play, right? Same way nobody went mad when Rutherford hired Vellucci.

Then you have Nick Pryor being appointed Director of Amateur Scouting and we're starting to get into Column B. Yeah, guy had been a scout for 8 years and had been working with Hextall in that time, but it's a little sus to name your guy's son as your guy. Particularly when your named you own son as a development coach, your former team mate's son who's just finished playing as a pro scout, your own minor league coach and former team mate as head of pro scouting... what does a team with four pro scouts need a director for anyway?

Dubas didn't know Spezza until five years ago. He owed the guy nothing when he put him straight into the front office after he retired. There is a clearly a "who you know" element to Dubas bringing him here, but it's a Column A nepotism. It's the sort where it's expected and if you believe in the guy you hired, you believe in the guys he believes in, right?

Now if in a few months all aspects of the Pens org are just guys from Toronto, guys from the Greyhounds, guys related to those guys getting promotions, then there's an issue... but on its own, I wouldn't really argue the nepotism angle, but it's not a bad thing here.

In any case, it's very easy to believe in a long time hockey guy with a reputation for being a massive hockey nerd and beloved leader.

Remember when Mario made his mates scouts when they had jack shit for experience? Like Stevens was fresh out of rehab from snorting lines off of hookers asses and into a scouting role. Famous now for the Marino thing.

I mean these blokes at least had some experience with hockey which I guess I can live with. But I remember when Jim Benning hired his nephew as a scout and that lad was working security at nordstom rack.

None of what Hextall did is abnormal at the NHL level. Hell that shit isn't even out of the norm in the NFL or NBA. But to make such a f***ing stink about it with Hextall vs the rest that did that was some supreme petty shit.

 

[Pens x]

It sounds like Spezza was a glorified intern last year, which made him qualified to be an AGM? Seems like a big leap. Big time cronyism.

 

[Freeptop]

I think if he was running WBS it'd have been part of the presser. Dubas had 4 AGMs in Toronto, there's clearly going to be a few more, and I wouldn't be surprised if WBS ended up with a different guy.

My guess going from the press pieces is that Dubas wants Spezza around as his sounding board and source on all things pro hockey rather than to fun any specific facet.

Technically speaking, Erik Heasley is still officially the GM of WBS.

I'll be curious to see if that's still the case by the end of the summer, though.

 

[BigEezyE22]

you should only hire random strangers you've never met, and that no one has ever heard of

At least then you have an excuse when they f*** up.

 

[Pens x]

I guess hiring Spezza still isn’t as nearly as bad as hiring your own unqualified son like Sleepy did here.

 

[mephisto1812]

I guess hiring Spezza still isn’t as nearly as bad as hiring your own unqualified son like Sleepy did here.

Look at you taking baby steps!!

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I think it's important to remember that the titles/labels for the FO are not going to be very traditional in their roles. Dubas as POHO is gonna be the decision maker and one driving the direction the team goes as far as acquisitions, overall draft strategy, etc. whereas the GM is going to be more of an advisor who is there to bounce ideas off of and get second opinions on things. The AGM is probably even further removed from any legitimate power or decision making ability.

I don't think Spezza's gonna be more than a guy who is cultivating FO experience on the job and a dude in the room to bounce ideas off of or get opinions on, with an emphasis on WBS stuff most likely.

 

[Peat]

Technically speaking, Erik Heasley is still officially the GM of WBS.

I'll be curious to see if that's still the case by the end of the summer, though.

I completely forgot that dude existed. Huh. Apparently been a member of the org since Shero.

 

[Ciao]

Jason Spezza knows a lot about hockey. He will be a terrific executive. All the best.

 

[Turin]

Spezza has always been a hockey nerd, and frankly there is an actual value in being somebody who played the game at an elite level. Fine with it.

 

[Ciao]

The first of many Dubasites to scramble over to the Pens.

Giggles is a pretty underwhelming exec, he is a former player so there’s that.

What makes you think that Spezza is underwhelming as an exec?