Top 5 NHL GMs on the hot seat

Steve Yzerman, Jay Feaster and Glen Sather are on the hot seat heading into the off-season.

By Pat Pickens

Craig MacTavish is back in charge in Edmonton.

“Mac-T” takes over as the Edmonton Oilers general manager, replacing the recently-fired Steve Tambellini. Tambellini’s firing was announced Tuesday, just 11 days before the end of the regular season.

It is believed that Tambellini was exiled because of his inability to produce a meaningful trade-deadline move. The Oilers were 16-13-7– and sitting as the Western Conference’s No. 8 seed– on April 3 but haven’t won since, losing their last six and falling out of playoff contention.

Most teams haven’t had such catastrophic downfalls, but you can bet that on April 27and after, there will be more fired front-office types. Here are five that may need to watch out.

5. Steve Yzerman, Tampa Bay Lightning

I know, I know. Firing Yzerman would appear to be a treasonous act north of the border. But just two years removed from appearing in the seventh game of the Eastern Conference final, Tampa Bay’s had a couple seasons to forget. In this what-have-you-done-for-me-lately league, two seasons without the post-season — especially in a Sun Belt market — will land you on the hot seat quickly.

4. Greg Sherman, Colorado Avalanche

Has Colorado gone with a youth movement? Yes. Has it worked thus far? Not exactly. The Avalanche are the Western Conference’s worst team this season and will miss the playoffs for the third straight season. Add to Sherman’s woes the off-ice struggles with Ryan O’Reilly, and one would think he’s feeling the heat.

3. Glen Sather, New York Rangers

The Rangers have a roster of all-stars. They have arguably the best goaltender in the game right now, and yet they’re toiling in eighth place, struggling to even make the playoffs. Sather was responsible for signing Marian Gaborik — who disappointed in New York — and Brad Richards, who Rangers fans want to amnesty after only two seasons.

It may not even be Sather’s fault, and considering the 69-year-old general manager is suffering through prostate cancer, he may have other important things on his mind. Hell, he may end up retiring at season’s end anyway.

But if the Rangers miss the post-season and decide to clean house, Sather will likely be on the chopping block.

2. Jim Rutherford, Carolina Hurricanes

Rutherford is the NHL’s second-longest tenured general manager, having led the Hurricanes back in their Hartford Whalers days. Rutherford made some bold moves this past off-season, trading for Jordan Staal and signing Alexander Semin.

Perhaps one could blame Cam Ward’s injury, which resulted in a 5-14-1 stretch for Carolina. Blame the lockout, which created a shortened season that forced Carolina to jell faster than normal.

Or one could blame Rutherford for compiling a roster that will miss the playoffs for the fourth-straight season. Carolina was supposed to have a high-powered offence but is averaging just 2.6 goals-per game and has the NHL’s 22nd-best power play.

It may be time to start fresh in tobacco road.

1. Jay Feaster, Calgary Flames

Feaster’s had a nightmare 2013 season. First he claims O’Reilly, then finds out that claim could have cost him that player. He traded Jay Bouwmeester. He then traded face-of-the-franchise Jarome Iginla for 60 cents on the dollar, after holding onto his club’s captain amid trade speculation for years.

The Flames are poised to miss the post-season for the fourth-straight season — and every season under Feaster’s watch. Calgary lacks an identity, and in the wake of Tambellini’s firing, one would expect Feaster to be the next front-office type out in Alberta.

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