A look at a handful of General Managers who could be looking for a new job opportunity next summer
With NHL training camps approaching, General Managers will soon see whether or not their drafting, trades and free agent signings will pay dividends. In some cases, those moves may come back to haunt them. For those who didn't make many moves, perhaps their lack of action hasn't sat well with ownership. Here is a look at four NHL GMs, in no particular order, who could be entering their final season with their current teams.
Kelly McCrimmon, Vegas Golden Knights
McCrimmon has been the GM of the Vegas Golden Knights since he was promoted to the position back in 2019 and has been with the organization since 2016. While the club has been to the Conference Finals in the first two years of his tenure as GM, those seasons were ultimately viewed as disappointments for a team with immediate Cup aspirations. Having failed to make the playoffs last season, and having to make some desperate trades due to cap mismanagement, don't be surprised if McCrimmon is looking for a new job next season - especially if the Golden Knights miss the playoffs for the second straight season.
Lou Lamoriello, New York Islanders
If you follow hockey, then you probably know who Lou Lamoriello is. He has worked in NHL front-offices since 1987, and has been the GM of the New York Islanders since leaving the Leafs in 2018. While the Islanders have put together some good seasons over the past four years, including two Conference Finals appearances, they were unable to make the playoffs last season. Additionally, the team has been in the running for players such as Johnny Gaudreau, Nazem Kadri and J.T. Miller, and have been unable to sign or acquire any of them. Having already fired Barry Trotz this Summer, if the team has another underwhelming season, Lamoriello's tenure with the Islanders could come to an end in 2022-23.
Chuck Fletcher, Philadelphia Flyers
Chuck Fletcher has been an NHL Executive since 1993, most recently being the GM of the Philadelphia Flyers for the past three seasons. While the team performed well in the first season, posting a 41-21-7 record, the last two seasons have not gone well, with the 21-22 season being a complete, unmitigated disaster. Couple that with trading for and extending defender Rasmus Ristolainen, trading away draft picks without icing a playoff team and not being able to sign Johnny Gaudreau (who wanted to sign in Philly this summer), Fletcher could certainly find his way out of town if this season is anything like the last.
Kyle Dubas, Toronto Maple Leafs
This should not come as a shock to most hockey fans. Kyle Dubas has been the General Manager of the Leafs since 2018, and with the organization since 2014. In four years on the job, he has been able to ice a competitive, playoff-caliber roster, with this past season being the best regular season in Leafs history. However, the Leafs have been unable to make it past the first round during that time and, while the argument could be made that the onus falls more on the players than management, it is likely going to land on Dubas' shoulders. Should the Leafs not make it past the first round again this season, don't be surprised if the Buds are looking for a new General Manager.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 8 | 465 ANSWERS A look at a handful of General Managers who could be looking for a new job opportunity next summer If the Leafs fail to make it past the first round in the 2022-2023 season, should Kyle Dubas be fired? | ||
| Yes | 274 | 58.9 % |
| No | 131 | 28.2 % |
| He should have been fired this offseason | 60 | 12.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
