Even though the NHL Seattle expansion franchise won’t start playing until the 2021-22 season, they will reportedly attempt to bring in a general manager this coming summer.
After the conclusion of the current NHL campaign, there will still be another two seasons before Seattle’s expansion franchise hits the ice. Regardless, the team is thinking ahead and looking to have as many pieces in place as soon as possible.
This apparently includes finding a new general manager. As reported by Sportsnet‘s Emily Sadler, the Seattle franchise may well hire their GM as soon as this coming summer.
This would certainly set a new precedent, with Seattle’s expansion draft still two years away. As a comparison, consider that the Vegas Golden Knights hired their GM essentially one year before their expansion draft.
In fairness, Seattle’s potential early addition of their GM is nothing to be surprised by. They have been well prepared every step of the way, since first making their bid for an expansion franchise.
Further, the team already has two significant figures on board. Todd Leiweke was named CEO, while Dave Tippet was hired as a senior advisor and could eventually become the head coach.
Understandably, thoughts turn to who Seattle could hire as the first GM in franchise history? We’ve previously mentioned Ken Holland, Bill Guerin and John Ferguson Jr.
Holland would make the most sense out of the three candidates, with a resume that includes three Stanley Cups. However, he signed a two-year contract extension last summer with the Detroit Red Wings, meaning the Seattle franchise would have to wait until the conclusion of the 2019-20 campaign to potentially sign him.
Of course there are plenty of other candidates out there. However, if Seattle want to aim for the best, they may have to compromise on their apparent aim to hire a GM this coming summer.
Who would you (realistically) like to see become Seattle’s NHL GM and why? Let us know in the comments section below.
