Mike O'Connell leaves Kings for Flyers

[jt]

I've always liked how good GMs surround themselves by people who have been through things. With O'Connell following others out the door, it seems that all that's left is former Kings who have pretty limited experience outside of the Kings. I wonder if there's a single person around Blake with front office NHL experience outside of the Kings.

 

[jammer06]

Its actually weird that the people that have been hired are being kept out of the limelight. There's been relatively little fanfare for how the organization is set up. Maybe the most news we got was the 3-4 people that were coming on to help take on some of Solomon's roles. Maybe it is because Blake isn't replacing role to role and it's harder to say this is the new person for that. I don't think outflows are a terrible thing, but usually you want to hear there's some great new idea's happening at the same time.

 

[aaron]

My guess: Team is for sale and people want security.

 

[jammer06]

My guess: Team is for sale and people want security.

Woohoo Tulsa here we come!

 

[jom]

I was a bit upset that Mike Futa was let go. However, he has yet to find an NHL gig (other than TV analyst)...which is somewhat surprising. The Kings haven't replaced him either...that I know of.

jom

 

[stadlere]

I was a bit upset that Mike Futa was let go. However, he has yet to find an NHL gig (other than TV analyst)...which is somewhat surprising. The Kings haven't replaced him either...that I know of.

jom

Just my opinion, but the fact that he hasn?t been hired should tell us something. If he was considered a hot commodity in NHL circles, I?m assuming he would of been picked up already, in some capacity. I?ve heard him state in interviews that he wants back into a franchise. Maybe there was something to Blake letting him go and the rest of the league knows it, like personality issues or whatever. I always remember that he always used to be up for every GM opening in the past and then after he would do the interview the team either wasn?t interested or he took himself out of the running. There must be something to that. I mean look at Hextall. He wasn?t unemployed very long before the Kings brought him back and then he took over the GM job in Pittsburgh. I guess my point is if you are good, you usually don?t stay unemployed for long in the NHL which is known to recycle employees

 

[jammer06]

Just my opinion, but the fact that he hasn’t been hired should tell us something. If he was considered a hot commodity in NHL circles, I’m assuming he would of been picked up already, in some capacity. I’ve heard him state in interviews that he wants back into a franchise. Maybe there was something to Blake letting him go and the rest of the league knows it, like personality issues or whatever. I always remember that he always used to be up for every GM opening in the past and then after he would do the interview the team either wasn’t interested or he took himself out of the running. There must be something to that. I mean look at Hextall. He wasn’t unemployed very long before the Kings brought him back and then he took over the GM job in Pittsburgh. I guess my point is if you are good, you usually don’t stay unemployed for long in the NHL which is known to recycle employees

I don't know if it's good or the circles. Futa was plucked from JR and I'm sure there are people who attribute some of his success to drafting his own guys. Maybe he was too loyal, maybe there really werent good fits out there, or maybe he just didn't present like you hoped after 2 cups made him so visible. In any case it doesn't invalidate that he was part of a team that hit a heck of a peak.

 

[stadlere]

I don't know if it's good or the circles. Futa was plucked from JR and I'm sure there are people who attribute some of his success to drafting his own guys. Maybe he was too loyal, maybe there really werent good fits out there, or maybe he just didn't present like you hoped after 2 cups made him so visible. In any case it doesn't invalidate that he was part of a team that hit a heck of a peak.

Oh agreed. I wasn?t trying to say he doesn?t know his hockey. The guy was instrumental in the Lombardi era for the championships the Kings won. I was just pointing out that there is something going on if he hasn?t been hired yet. What that is, I have no idea. Like I mentioned, I?ve listened to interviews with him since and he has stated he wants to work for a franchise again. Even if not a GM, I am surprised no one has taken a flyer on him in his previous role as director of amateur scouting.

 

[jgs]

Maybe He turned too many teaam down that in the past were trying to hire him and now time has passed him by cause there is a a lot of talented hockey people avaliable.

 

[hokiecat]

I've always liked how good GMs surround themselves by people who have been through things. With O'Connell following others out the door, it seems that all that's left is former Kings who have pretty limited experience outside of the Kings. I wonder if there's a single person around Blake with front office NHL experience outside of the Kings.

Totally agree. The front office could be successful but it seems like we are the hockey equivalent of academic inbreeding. You mean to tell me that there isn't some development staff guy who DIDN'T play with Rob or the Kings that we can hire?

O'Connell was always on the ice during camps and I think I've even seen him during the summer pickups. I hope the Kings get somebody excellent to replace him. He had a nice skill set as a teacher and also a former high powered hockey exec.

 

[roenick]

It will be very hard to replace Mike O’Connell. I was really happy when DL hired him in the first place. MOC had tremendous experience - as a player, scout, assistant coach and head head coach AND as a GM of an NHL club. I would love for him to be replaced by someone outside the LAK existing organization with some of MOC’s considerable experience.

 

[orpheus]

Why are they all leaving? :cbgb2:

 

[roenick]

In MOC’s case it was as simple as COVID showed him he wanted to be closer to his family. It’s unfortunate as he was a very big asset.