Now, normally I would never comment on anything as boring and unimportant as the search for an assistant GM - a position that the Coyotes have open since Brad Treliving moved to Calgary to become the new Flames GM. But I think this is special circumstances.
The reason I would normally never care who is assistant General Mangaer is because it seems like too much minutia, even for me. My reasoning is that you barely know what your regular GM does, and you can barely evaluate him properly since most trades take years before you can properly assess them. Since it requires so much conjecture and guess work just to figure out how you feel about the actual GM, the mysterious job of assistant GM seems like something that is not worth getting worked up over.
I feel the same way about assistant GMs as I do about assistant coaches, referees, agents etc. Somethings it seems we only talk about to have something to talk about.
I do think, that if true, the rumour (via Craig Morgan, Fox Reporter) that the Coyotes may be getting Darcy Regier is however worth talking about.
Darcy Regier was the Sabres GM from 1997-2013. Considering that the Sabres were a budget team dealing with much of the same issues the Coyotes have faced and continue to face - low attendance, bankruptcy, being a non-destination for free agents - and considering how relatively successful he was at doing so, I think this is great news.
Darcy Regier is a highly regarded NHL executive and I am surprised he wouldn't get a chance as a full GM, and that he would consider being an assistant. However, who really knows how the world of NHL executives works? There are only 30 jobs, so maybe even really good guys can't be too choosy.
Regier would, in my opinion, be preferable to Maloney. What he did with Buffalo last decade was nothing short of amazing considering the challenges he faced. He took a team no one wanted to play for and which had no money and he went 105-46-13 between 2005-2007. Only bad luck and the bailing of his star players prevented the Sabres from continuing their dominance and perhaps winning a Cup.
Darcy Regier is exactly who the Coyotes need. Even if it's just as an assistant, his experience can only help. So, this one time, I will make an exception and care about the position of assistant GM.
In fact, this almost seems a little too good to be true. Can't wait to see what happens.
Thanks for reading.