Almost buried in the excitement of the NHL and NBA Finals, the gearing up of baseball season, and the excitement of Lebron Mania throughout the sports world are a couple of moves made by Florida franchises that could have a significant effect on the NHL in coming years.  Both the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers hired new GMs recently, and if their track records are any indication, both teams should be making waves sooner rather than later.

Lets start with the big name: Steve Yzerman.  “The Captain” will now be at the helm of the Tampa Bay Lightning, hoping to steer them toward consistency, success, and eventually a Stanley Cup title.

The Captain

Stevie Y has been with the Detroit Red Wings for 27 years as a prospect, player, and executive.  I’m no fan of the Wings, but there’s no denying that it is a first-class hockey organization.  And Yzerman has seen first-hand how a first-class organization is run.  He’s been shadowing Wings GM Ken Holland for pretty much his entire executive career.  For someone hoping one day to be a General Manager, there is no better training he could have received than a decade of learning from one of the best in the league.

It doesn’t hurt that Yzerman is a stand-up sort of guy.  The sort of guy who went to the house of the Red Wings owners, Mike and Marian Ilitch, to tell them in person that after 27 years of service, he was taking another job.  And then sat with them while they cried.  That’s the sort of relationship Yzerman had with his team’s owners; the sort of relationship he’s built with Detroit.

But Detroit’s loss is Tampa’s gain.  Yzerman just couldn’t wait forever for Holland to retire.  He stated his desire to be a GM pretty much as soon as he moved from the ice to the front office.  And its to his credit that he waited patiently, languishing in the executive offices and soaking up all the knowledge he could while playing the good soldier.  But it was time for him to go, and I think he’ll have great success in Tampa Bay.

Another guy who is on the move is Dale Tallon, new GM for the Florida Panthers.  Tallon is leaving the Chicago Blackhawks, who he’s been with in various capacities for about 30 years.  You may remember him as the guy who drafted Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, traded for Kris Versteeg, Andrew Ladd, and Patrick Sharp, and signed Brian Campbell and Marion Hossa as free agents.

Tallon Drafting the Face of hte Franchise

And what did he get for turning the Hawks from a last-place also-ran to playing in the Western Conference Finals in 3 short years?  What did he get for creating a strong young core positioned to compete for years to come?  He got jobbed.  The bum’s rush.  In short, he was demoted.

The story goes that even though everything the Hawks had become came under Tallon’s watch, Hawks president John McDonough didn’t like that he was getting all the credit.  So when Tallon failed to file paperwork regarding the team’s restricted free agents, McDonough took advantage and demoted Tallon to Senior Advisor, naming Stan Bowman as GM.  There were also whispers that the GM position was always supposed to be Bowman’s (especially with the hiring of Stan’s father, the legendary Scotty Bowman in 2008), but that they couldn’t fire or demote Tallon due to the success of the team while he was GM.  So they took advantage of Tallon’s slip-up to instate the guy they wanted all along.

I’m happy for Tallon.  I think he got a bad deal from the Blackhawks, especially after his years of service to the organization in his various capacities.  He made the moves that created the Blackhawks team that looks like it might just win a Stanley Cup this year.  I think he, as well as Yzerman, will enjoy great success in Florida, where the sun may be the only thing brighter than their futures as NHL General Managers.