Re: Just What Do the Sedins Do?
Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2024 11:45 am
Knowing our luck we’d end up with Alexandre Daigle 2.0 or the reincarnation of Yakupov.
Knowing our luck we’d end up with Alexandre Daigle 2.0 or the reincarnation of Yakupov.
I agree it's most often used for long term players. But it was been used as an enticement (or the facts line up with the theory) in the case of Spezza. And I think if a player knows they want to get into management or coaching, working with great coaches, connected management, or getting a bump for the next step to build a resume for a job coaching in juniors (or wherever) is something that is enticing.Topper wrote: ↑Sat Jul 06, 2024 10:42 am Somethings UW mentioned, the nudge nudge wink wink discussions to vet FAs that may see a later role in head office for coming to town, this was addressed in the lead up to Free Agency this year. The issue came up regarding Tanev rumoured to take a very long term (final years on LTIR and bumped to head office later) deal to maximize overall dollars while reducing annual cap hit. An article I read reported the league had responded by saying they would be taking a close look at those later years as they play out and reiterated that promises of later office jobs was prohibited. The LTIR is policed with doctors reports, I'm not naive enough to think the nudge nudge wink wink have a look at this corner office discussions don't take place. This occurs with long term players, mainly career guys, Sedin or returning Linden prodigal sons, not as an enticement to lure FAs.
...which begs a question (if true).
The root of the topic.
Good one, Topper....Topper wrote: ↑Sat Jul 06, 2024 1:28 pmI believe the only league approved LTIR office positions are in Department of Player Safety.
UWSaint wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2024 11:07 amGood one, Topper....Topper wrote: ↑Sat Jul 06, 2024 1:28 pmI believe the only league approved LTIR office positions are in Department of Player Safety.
Donny, when I say "fully committed," I mean fully committed to the coaching profession, the apex of which is an NHL head coach. They don't seem to have (or haven't observably behaved like) that's what they want. There's no reason to think that because they don't want that doesn't mean they can't provide some value to the AHL and NHL (and prospect camp players) they interact with. I expect "development" coaches are primarily skills coaches, with a little bit of psychology. You don't have to want to be an NHL coach to be able to impart knowledge and wisdom in these areas.
We've all had jobs where there are good employees who don't do the things it takes to get into management. They might work well and smart, but they insist on a work-life balance, they are jealous about their weekends at the cottage, they aren't much for volunteering for extra hours (unless they have a cottage improvement project planned that they need some extra scratch for), they are good with their own assigned tasks but wouldn't be the ones conceptualizing new solutions, they can be technically proficient but not have an interest in seeing or being responsible for the bigger picture (and may just not want to all of the non-technical things it takes to build internal and external relationships for uncertain organizational and/or personal payoffs). At the same time, this employee doesn't run down the employer, he just does his job, and pretty well. When a new employee is assigned to that work area, you aren't terribly worried about that the effect of this "non-committed to personal advancement or organizational advancement outside the portfolio" guy is going to have on the new employee when the new employee is learning the technical area.
Similarly, I don't think having the Sedins as a "sometimes" skills coach who spread a little "development" wisdom is going to have any negative effect on a new player. Just like the hockey camp you might have gone to as a kid gave you some technique about skating or positioning or shooting might have stuck with you throughout your playing days -- and yet the guys coaching at the camp are certainly doing so as a side gig they aren't committed to (unless they are running the camp and that's their main job). But they like interacting with the campers and they have some knowledge to share and can put together a decent plan and stay in the 90% world without tripling their time invested to get into the 95% world.
It is a bit strange to think of driven people, as the Sedins surely are, as converting to these type of employees that are shielding parts of their life from their professional ambitions. At the same time, part of retiring (I am sure) was to commit more to their families and to enjoy a little bit of what their hard work provided.
Last bit -- query whether a "committed" Sedin is better for the organization than a "we'll help here and there" Sedin. Ambition can be disruptive and good or disruptive and bad, because there's usually some competition within the organization going on unless they are demonstrating great acumen in an area where the incumbent us moving on to something better or the incumbent failed on their own accord. Being good but not clearly better than what's there just means they move along somewhere else to give it a go.
And one thing to worry about in an organization like this one is when ownership starts making calls about core elements of a coaching staff that the head coach or GM or President isn't on board with. We know the owner is perfectly hiring a head coach without a GM.... So the *best* place and head space for the Sedins to be in right now might very well be the one they appear to be in -- a true support role, in areas that are not threatening or challenging to current coaches, and in areas that are not likely to undermine a system. If they don't want more, then its far less likely the owner jumps over management and says, you know, I think Danny would be a great replacement for Mike Yeo, I am sure you'd agree.... But if they were in the owner's ear? (And surely they have it).
I haven't attacked their character at all. I've merely stated they don't seem driven to take over operating a club or a team. That's not a character flaw.rikster wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2024 1:28 pm
What started out as ignorance has deteriorated into feelings...
You feel that they are holding back based on what?
When you attack the character of 2 of the most respected individuals and Hall of Famers, you better bring more than a gut feeling...
Is there anywhere or anything in their past which would lead you to think that they are dogging it and not committing fully to the various roles they have had within the organization?...
And according to the man in charge of the Canucks top minor league affiliate, the Sedins deserve plenty of credit for the time they have put in and the work they have done to help develop the next wave of prospects in Abbotsford
The Sedins entered into a fast track management program when they felt ready to commit to the organization, where you draw such goofy conclusions to the contrary from is a head scratcher...
A real head scratcher...
The fast track managment program is a common practise in both the corporate world and in the NHL...there are a number of former players who have risen to managment positions who were trained under this program...UWSaint wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2024 4:24 pmI haven't attacked their character at all. I've merely stated they don't seem driven to take over operating a club or a team. That's not a character flaw.rikster wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2024 1:28 pm
What started out as ignorance has deteriorated into feelings...
You feel that they are holding back based on what?
When you attack the character of 2 of the most respected individuals and Hall of Famers, you better bring more than a gut feeling...
Is there anywhere or anything in their past which would lead you to think that they are dogging it and not committing fully to the various roles they have had within the organization?...
And according to the man in charge of the Canucks top minor league affiliate, the Sedins deserve plenty of credit for the time they have put in and the work they have done to help develop the next wave of prospects in Abbotsford
The Sedins entered into a fast track management program when they felt ready to commit to the organization, where you draw such goofy conclusions to the contrary from is a head scratcher...
A real head scratcher...
Nor is helping where you can to the extent you are comfortable managing all of life's priorities "dogging" it. I'm not saying they are doing the jobs they've had poorly or without any effort, only that they don't seem to have pushed for greater responsibility (possibly they did and were rebuffed). Half my post was how that's not necessarily a bad thing for them or the club.
They may be inching up in responsibility now -- perhaps they know more about what they want; perhaps the team knows more -- but there are plenty of former players who establish themselves more quickly in their chosen area, in part I think -- feel -- speculate -- whatever -- because the Sedins did not have a firm idea of what they wanted to do when they started working for the club. I think -- feel -- speculate that they may be putting the club first and not their post-hockey ambitions first, for whatever that's worth. They want to be in Vancouver, working for the Canucks, doing what the club thinks has utility. And that -- city of Vancouver, Canucks hockey organization -- is the thing that is the central priority, as opposed to the task to be performed. That interest could be born of loyalty, and it could be born of "this is where our life is and that's more important than what we do." Location first...a sentiment shared by many (most?) people (doggers and hard workers), especially were there are wives and kids and roots.
As for the bold, underline, italic bits, who wouldn't say this about people assisting their part of the organization when they are going to continue to be around -- whether you want them to be or whether Canucks ownership wants them to be? I'm not saying they haven't done good things for Abbotsford--I don't know, none of us (likely) know, I have lots of respect for the Sedins so I'd like to believe they are great teachers and influences--but I know that kind of statement has many audiences and what kind of fool runs an organization and says, "you know, I can't figure out why the people I partner with/report to insist on having these guys around." Hey, maybe there's a competition in the organization to have their time; we don't know that.
You think they entered a fast track management program because they were identified for management; I think the evidence is that they were identified as talent the club wanted to keep around and they've been exposed to different things to see if something clicks for them and for the club. And what clicked most is player development -- which is a low cost, low risk, nondisruptive interest. Stepping stone to more? Maybe. Or maybe its just the thing in itself.
And yes, I don't know for certain that they aren't ambitious in their post-hockey lives in terms of running an organization or being a head coach. I'm just sharing my two cents to the OP based on what I think is the best available evidence.
I don’t have concern over them dogging it. I never said they were.rikster wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2024 5:10 pm
The fast track managment program is a common practise in both the corporate world and in the NHL...there are a number of former players who have risen to managment positions who were trained under this program...
Understanding how it works might put to rest some of your concerns over their "lack of ambition" or "dogging it"...
What evidence have you found to the contrary?
It’s another in a long line of trendy leadership development theories.
Yes. Trendy. Its something that comes in and out of fashion, like nearly all management theories. Like hockey teams thinking they need to get bigger. Then getting beat by a faster team. So thinking they need to be faster. But then getting beat by a more skilled team. So thinking they need to be more skilled and offensive minded. But then getting beat by a deeper team playing team defense. So thinking they need to be deeper and more disciplined. And then getting beat by a faster team. So thinking they need to be faster. And then getting beat by a bigger team. Recycle.rikster wrote: ↑Tue Jul 09, 2024 6:29 amIt’s another in a long line of trendy leadership development theories.
Trendy? it was how I made my way up the management ladder in the 80's and back then was a program modeled after a UK program...
Years later, I used scaled down versions of the program to promote within my companies...
What is trendy is that some today do not want to learn from the ground up and would rather begin their careers at the highest floor...
I consider this another example of the Sedins character, I'm sure that they could have leveraged their legacy into executive positions rather than hands on learning ...
Who would have thought that this would be turned around to accuse them of not trying or dogging it or being ineffective?