Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen profiles another candidate for the Red Wings’ general manager and/or president of hockey operations job in San Jose Sharks assistant GM Jeff Kealty.
He started in Nashville as a scout in 2001, started running their draft in 2008 and became an assistant GM in 2018. He was in that role until this summer when he left to become assistant general manager for the San Jose Sharks.
When you ask around the NHL about Kealty, they quickly point out that his abilities as a talent evaluator are beyond question.
Through the years, NHL have come to grips with the truth that the NHL draft, especially beyond the first round, is a low probability way to restock your team. The Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers found success by deciding that perhaps a better use of draft picks is to trade them for proven players.
But with Kealty in command of the draft, the Predators have traditionally found success outside the first round. Roman Josi was a second-round pick in his first year in charge. Goaltender Juuse Saros was a fourth-round pick in 2013 and current Red Wings forward Viktor Arvidsson was a fourth rounder in 2014. Kealty’s scouting staff claimed Alex Carrier in 2014.
With a quarter century working under David Poile and then Barry Trotz, Kealty boasts a true understanding of how a general manager is supposed to perform and carry himself. Hockey insider Elliotte Friedman reports Kealty interviews well, which means he offers a clear and concise plan of what he intends to do to improve this team. He’s also a likeable guy.
Continued; Allen discussed Florida Panthers assistant GM Brett Peterson yesterday.
