The Minnesota Wild have players from Canada, the US, Sweden, Finland and even Switzerland. But the man at the helm is from the Comox Valley.
When the WildB次元官网网址檚 season ended last week, owner Craig Leipold informed general manager Chuck Fletcher that his contract would not be renewed.
The announcement came on the heels of the WildB次元官网网址檚 first-round playoff exit, at the hands of the Winnipeg Jets.
Exit Fletcher, enter Brent Flahr.
The Courtenay-born and raised Flahr was named interim GM of the team Monday.
ItB次元官网网址檚 a natural progression for Flahr, who has been with the Wild as their assistant GM since 2009.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been ChuckB次元官网网址檚 right-hand man, sort of B次元官网网址榮econd in commandB次元官网网址� so this is the next step,B次元官网网址� he said, adding that the announcement caught him off-guard.
B次元官网网址淥bviously Chuck is a close friend of mine, weB次元官网网址檝e worked together a long time, and anytime something like that happens, itB次元官网网址檚 tough, but itB次元官网网址檚 part of the business. Anytime you lose in the first round of the playoffs, or donB次元官网网址檛 make the playoffs B次元官网网址� in todayB次元官网网址檚 day and age, thereB次元官网网址檚 expectations, and you have to meet them. The owners have the right to make changes as they see fit, and thatB次元官网网址檚 what happened.B次元官网网址�
Being named interim GM does not guarantee Flahr the position moving forward. He knows the process involved, and there are still decisions to be made on both sides B次元官网网址� not only before Flahr is officially offered the job, but also before he accepts it.
B次元官网网址淗e [Leipold] spoke with me briefly the day Chuck was let go and I will speak with him again more formally and see where it goes,B次元官网网址� said Flahr. B次元官网网址淚 know heB次元官网网址檚 speaking with other potential hires as well, and at the same time, I have to see where my best interests lie and give it all some thought as well.B次元官网网址�
With the 2018 NHL entry draft slated for June 22-23, and free agency beginning July 1, there is little down time for the Wild organization.
B次元官网网址淸Leipold] told me he wants something done sooner, rather than later, and this is a busy time of the year, with the draft and free agency - just getting your ducks in a row with signing contracts. So the sooner the better, just so you can have a game plan moving forward.B次元官网网址�
Being an NHL general manager is a highly sought-after position.
B次元官网网址淓verybody wants to be an NHL GM,B次元官网网址� former Minnesota Wild forward Patrick OB次元官网网址橲ullivan said on his radio show, The Power Play, this week.
Flahr is no different in that regard.
B次元官网网址淥bviously the job is something I aspire to, and hopefully at the right time, it will happen, whether thatB次元官网网址檚 now, or 10 years from now, weB次元官网网址檒l see. IB次元官网网址檓 still a young guy in this game.B次元官网网址�
Flahr has been working in the National Hockey League ever since graduating from Princeton University, in 1996. He captained the Tigers in his final season of university, which is also when he made his decision as to career direction.
B次元官网网址淚 realized then that there was not much call for 5-foot-10 defencemen in the NHL, so B次元官网网址次元官网网址�
Flahr went directly from Princeton to the Florida Panthers organization, where he spent six years (1996-2002) as a scout. (Fletcher was the assistant GM of the team throughout that tenure.)
Flahr moved west, to scout for the Anaheim Ducks for four seasons, before heading to the Ottawa Senators in 2007, as the director of hockey ops. He spent two years in the nationB次元官网网址檚 capital before joining the Wild organization.
Flahr is cognizant of the fact that a new general manager could leave him in a somewhat precarious situation.
B次元官网网址淲hen changes are made, people do bring in their own peopleB次元官网网址� but at the same time, IB次元官网网址檝e been in the game long enough and IB次元官网网址檝e done a pretty good job in a lot of roles, so I think IB次元官网网址檓 a good asset.
B次元官网网址淚 have a good relationship with the owners, and a good relationship with the staff, but at the same time, itB次元官网网址檚 a business. So if it doesnB次元官网网址檛 work out, IB次元官网网址檓 a big boy. IB次元官网网址檒l be able to find work elsewhere.B次元官网网址�
Hockey has been a part of FlahrB次元官网网址檚 life since childhood. He grew up playing minor hockey in the Comox Valley, while attending Courtenay Elementary, then Lake Trail. He spent one year at Vanier, before leaving the Comox Valley to play junior hockey in Bellingham, when the Ice Hawks were part of the BCHL.
He left Bellingham to go to Princeton University as an 18-year-old, in 1992.
His parents, Melanie and Harold, still reside in Courtenay.
