Beat Writer Rob Rossi Narrows Down Candidates For Pens' GM Position
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN) - There is still plenty of mystery surrounding the Penguins' ongoing search for their next general manager, but Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Pens beat writer Rob Rossi joined Starkey and Mueller to try and clear up the list of candidates.
Before he told us who he believes to be on the short list of candidates for the job, Rossi says there is one name out there that he hasn't officially heard is in the running.
"I haven't heard Jim Rutherford's name. I'm not saying that means those reports are inaccurate; I have not heard that," Rossi said. "The three names I'm hearing most in terms of who they could be, who this guy might be is Pierre McGuire, who has acknowledged he's a candidate; Julian BriseBois, Tampa Bay, assistant GM there; and Jason Botterill, who has been identified as a candidate. If I had to guess, I would say the next GM of this team will be one of those three men. But it's my understanding the decision has not been made, or at least had not been made as of this morning."
In Rossi's eyes, Botterill, BriseBois, and similar candidates are on the list given their backgrounds.
"Jason has a Master's in Business Administration from University of Michigan. It's my understanding anyways that's one of the best Master's degree programs for Business Administration," said Rossi. "Julian BriseBois is a lawyer and comes to things with a very legal-minded background. Both of these guys are perceived at the top of the next wave in terms of guys that will become general managers sooner rather than later."
We also took a look back at the Ray Shero era with the Pens and where things maybe started to go south.
When asked whether or not the Kris Letang eight-year, $58 million contract was forced on Shero, Rossi said it's hard to say for sure, but there were signs pointing towards that.
"I don't know how to answer that expect to say that based off my having covered those negotiations, I never believed Ray's preference was to sign Kris Letang to that deal," Rossi said. "I know that I had heard that ownership wanted Kris Letang signed, but ownership wanted Marian Hossa to stay in Pittsburgh and that didn't happen either, now that wasn't the fault of anyone other than Marian Hossa. Ownership never gets everything it wants with regard to player transactions and signings."
Click the audio link below to hear more from Rossi, including his take on when the Pens could announce who their next general manager will be:
Rob Rossi On Penguins' GM Search
(Photo Credit: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
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