Don Waddell [Full Interview] | Frankly Speaking Podcast

Don Waddell [Full Interview] | Frankly Speaking Podcast

Don woodell I think my big question is why now why Columbus you’ve been in NHL GM for 18 years surely you could have gone to Michigan and began working on your cars and spending more time with your grandkids why did you decide to jump back in yeah no I just felt that we had a good run in Carolina and it was time for me to move on from there and you know I obviously didn’t know what was going to happen um you know I wanted to work there’s no doubt about it and so and I got permission uh to talk obviously uh talked to a few teams Columbus jumped out and was uh very exciting from my standpoint because you know I said at my age you know my experience I wasn’t looking to go for a rebuild you know I want to go someplace that we have a chance to make a difference and make a run at things and so you know I’ve said all along this team’s got uh the coverboards aren’t be you know there’s some pieces obviously that uh are good pieces some good players move forward obviously some contracts that we have to deal with that could potentially be issues but it was an exciting opportunity when I came and met with Mike priest and the ownership here um I just got real comfortable that this was a good place for me and uh excited for this new opportunity so you mentioned the cupboards and and certainly everyone’s excited in Columbus about the prospects that are on the way I mean some of these draft picks are this is going to fill out a team for a long time but some other people might look at at this set this group and say hey these have been two really tough seasons on a team that was supposed to be on the rise in in your mind I’m looking at it from afar saying hey you have a patient owner you’ve got great facilities unbelievable fan base that’s dedicated why hasn’t this team in recent years gotten over the hump well that’s something that uh you know I’ve been on the job for literally less than 5 days that I’m meeting with everybody and the staff uh individually and getting everybody’s opinion I’m a sponge right now Frank it’s you know I’m learning the organization I know the players from being a a competitor in the league don’t know all their young players of course um you know some things have gone not probably the way they would like want them to go and you know as I said there there’s some things we definitely have to address and we will in the upcoming period of time I know right now you know take all the information I can get and as we make decisions um you know there’ll be decisions that’ll help us not only today but protect our uh our future so I think there’s good opportunity here okay so what is your first order of business a lot of people have asked about the status of Pascal Vincent have you had a chance to meet with him and what’s the status there yeah no I’ve spent 15 minutes with them last week uh CU we had when I got job on Wednesday the press conference uh our PR staff had me just doing PR for two days uh uh then we had our adventure meetings going on here uh so I jumped on Frid Friday to you know ask them to keep the top 10 players uh to the last day so I could be part of it so I spent 15 minutes or so the in the upcoming days I’m going to spend a lot of time uh with Pascal and I don’t know Pascal I know him and watch him behind the bench first time I ever met him was the other day so I need to spend some time with him and uh we’ll figure out whether uh him and I are made for each other mhm so you mentioned being a sponge it’s you take over it’s it’s basically June you’ve got the draft in short order the combines going on right now as we speak free agencies just a couple days beyond that what else jumps to the top of your priority list well as I’ve said you know the the draft free agency the NHL is not changing those dates we know we got to prepare for those we know those are a lock solid uh we’re bringing all the pro guys in next week uh to go through Pro meetings you know I want to hear their take on our team the depth of our team and then you know we’ll identify uh needs potentially and and start looking at the free agent list and you know as you know we got to be prepared because at the draft a lot happens um a lot of Trades happen at the draft uh you know so we got to be prepared before we go into the draft not only for uh who we’re going to select through all the throughout the draft but if we are looking to make any moves and who might be available and who who are we willing to give up that’s probably the bigger question for me right now not you know again I know these guys watching compete but I want to get everybody’s input before I make those kind of decisions and how aggressive do you plan to be well you know we I always say you can’t force something to happen uh you got to uh you know let things play out and you know we have a little history of making few deals at the draft day um so if if there’s a not going to say we’re going to make a deal just for the sake of making a deal because that makes no sense but if we anything that’s on the table that we feel makes our team better uh we got to look to do that we’re not we’re not trying to just capture draft picks we’re not trying to look further down the road we’re looking at today what can help us uh as we move forward for the 24 25 season and that’s a bit of a tough blend right because you’ve got guys that are on the way that are clearly going to mean something you can’t rush the process how do you find that proper balance to put this team on the right path to compete starting this season but also keep an eye on three four or five years down the line yeah the one thing we can’t lose is the patience with our young players because if you rush a player that’s not quite ready yet you can really set his development back for multiple years we’ve seen it happen over and over again so we got to be careful about that so we got some young players that obviously have played here the last little bit obviously with uh Johnson and fentii being you know ftil played half the year Johnson being hurt those are guys that we know are are going to be NHL players uh so you know th those type players that we want to certainly look to not force in a lineup make them earn it if they earn it they will be in the lineup but how many of those guys can you have at once you know is a big question um you know we got uh as I said before we got uh some cap space we got some contracts we have to figure out what we’re going to do with and if we can work it all out you know we would absolutely be able to uh def our tow in the free agent Market mhm so when you talk about those players Johnson fanelli uh you could probably throw year in there at some point the last few years Cole singer um not asking you to be critical at all of the previous M regime and our coaching staff but it’s one thing to draft players it’s another thing to develop players and put them in the proper positions to succeed you know has that happened has has part of that does that need a little bit more nurturing as you step into the role well you know as I said you know I’ve been here 5 days so you know that’s why I’m meeting with all these different individuals to find out what the process has been you know the word process uh is Meaningful because if you don’t have a plan and a process of how you’re going to deal with these young players you’ll never have success you may hit on a player here and there because their skill level but you have to identify what’s what’s best for this player is a best staying in junior for your playing in college whatever wherever he’s playing or is it better to turn him Pro and get him some experience in American League these are all things Frank that I’m working through right now um so I don’t have all the answers I’ll never have all the answers but I’ll have a better pitcher come later in the summer um when it comes to looking at your roster and the shape of it is there a position that you’d like to really key in and focus on to start yeah we’ll go through it next week you know i’ I’ve looked at it uh many many times um you know it’s probably every position can probably be addressed um you know we have some good pieces like I said and uh you know we’ll have some decisions to make with some of these guys but I think if you look at the roster uh you know I would I wouldn’t say there’s anything that we wouldn’t want to look at because that would be foolish you know we certainly need scoring uh we need to you know last year we had the worst goals against in the Eastern Conference I think that’s an area you got address I think that’s one that you can fix pretty easily uh you know goal scoring is always at a premium so certainly we need to look and try to address it doesn’t mean you’re always going to address it but we’re going to be prepared to try to address it and in terms of I I’ve seen you mention and talk about and one of the big talking points has been Elvis mlin and net obviously a guy that you you know valued and and maybe even looked at during your time in in Carolina what is he you know how do you how do you address that situation with him is that does that start with a conversation oh 100% U you know the word is he’s coming back to to uh Columbus in middle of June you know that would be soon as he gets back first person to sit down with obviously I’ll talk to uh our goalie coach Nick Backstrom prior to that you know getbody take but what I’ve said there is you know this is a guy that was rolling along very well and then obviously had some personal things happen in his life and he’s never bounced back from it so is he completely lost himself as confidence he lost his ability to play as an organization we have to do everything possible that we can to put him in a spot to succeed then it’s up to him so that’s our that’s going to be our plan we’re going to address this dead on and uh try to get the result at the end of the summer as we start for the season getting back to where he was because I think he could be a hell of a goalie mhm I need to ask about Patrick l since you mentioned scoring another guy that um has had some various challenges at different points in his career he strikes me as someone that’s probably a bit hard on himself I also saw him recently in a social media post that he’s got a a sling on his arm what’s his health status and and how do you get such a talented player like Patrick l to bounce back yeah uh he’s one of the calls I’m going to make here the next day or so with him and his represent ation see where he’s at I know he had the shoulder uh I think it was more of a cleanup they didn’t think it was anything too serious um I know you just had that not too long ago uh so you know you’re talking about a Difference Maker as a player you know he could be a Difference Maker you know the big thing and what I’ve talked to players about being here you know do you want to be part of the solution or not and we want players that want to play for the Columbus Blue Jackets and certainly if he’s got got uh his mindset made up right uh I know him as a player I don’t know him as an individual at all know him as a player uh we need this types of players to have success moving forward when you talk about players that want to be in Columbus that was I think one of the big things that you guys were able to put in place in Carolina during your tenure there you everyone bought in and that starts with your coach it starts with your owner you know different people along the way in terms of building up that culture um you know Columbus I I mentioned all the the positive and bright spots in terms of ownership is fantastic and the facilities you’ve mentioned them you know just in terms of how you’ve been impressed since you’ve gotten there uh what is what are some other things that you can help bring with you from Carolina in terms of establishing a place that people want to be in yeah well F first you you culture is such an overused word because everybody wants culture but how do you get to culture you know you can’t just say okay we want culture you got to get there you know it all starts at the top works way down from myself to the coaches to the players and you know the one big thing and you know it starts with accountability account accountability to me is where everything starts and uh with accountability is players that want to be part of a winning organization not an individual that wants to have success as a player because there’s a big difference we’ve seen a lot of good players that have never been on winning teams the great stats all that we we want players that you know want to be part of a successful uh team stats come with it if you have success but not one one individual can lead a team and have success from a team if if we don’t buy in as a team so I think it’s important right off the start that that that accountability you know create create the mindset that we’re all in this thing together we’re on the same page we all want to be here um that’s where it all starts and then eventually you know it trickles down to the players players got to take some ownership in this you know management coaches can do their part we have to do our part but players have to do their part too when it comes to uh all the things we talked about Don you’ve taken on accountability and in your role in previous stops um you’re also a collaborative guy though how will you bring some of the things that you’ve learned um just from your most recent tenure in Carolina to Columbus in terms of you know working with everyone on your staff to make the best decisions yeah well first just what I said about a team there’s no individual that includes myself that’s going to uh make decisions uh and and think that I’ve always made the right decision this is why you’re surround yourself with good people and that’s what I’m doing right now as I go through the staff I’m meeting with the different uh management to see where everybody’s mindset is how they feel about the organization they want to be part of the solution as we move forward um but you know you usually you know you have your your Scouts you have lots of recommendations and then you’ll have a smaller group that will sit down and go through what what your options are and eventually you know you got to make the decision and be and I’ll have to be accountable for that but I think it’s important that you you utilize all all the assets you have to make a decision before a decision is made in terms of being open with uh working with different members of your staff one of the big talking points you know just sort of nationally around the league was hey you’ve got a young guy that just kind of recently stopped playing a few years ago and Rick Nash um will he be part of your team and and will you help sort of you know Shepherd along his career as well as he works his way through the front office yeah I sure hope so I met with Rick just for a few minutes yesterday got a meeting scheduled this week with them obviously I know him great as a player don’t know him as an individual uh but I know uh everything I’ve heard so far has been very positive that uh you know he wants to be here he wants to be part of the the the management group so you know that that is music to my ears because I have somebody that with his experience you know coming off a great playing career now getting involved with Team Canada with the world I mean to me these are the type of people you want to surround yourself with that want to work hard to get to that next step so I’m hoping that uh we can figure everything out with Rick for sure and cck’s one of those big boxes too in terms of wanting to be in Columbus and be a blue jacket absolutely you know he moved back here after his career and but made his home here and uh is raising his family so absolutely so you’re scheduled to pick uh number four overall big decision coming up uh later this month do you have any restrictions are you allowed to be at the table in terms of draft prep and making those calls yeah 100% And we worked it out uh early on there right after I resign and um you know uh so answer your question is no restrictions can be there you know I’m officially a blue jacket make all the decisions that I need to make so I’m looking forward to drafting you wore many different hats in Carolina um you had a ton of different business responsibilities on top of being the GM of a team um what’s it going to be like to have a lot of that off your plate and just to be able to focus on the hockey well it’s first of all I love to work so the work part of it is just as you said you know just juggling a lot of different things but be able to focus uh here just on hockey is is critically important because of you know where we are where we want to get uh does it make it any easier I think actually I think it’s a little bit the opposite here there’s probably a little more pressure because of where the franchise has been and where we want to go and that’s something I love that challenge to try to take this thing to The Next Step which I think we can so yeah just to focus on what I to do on a dayto day is great uh and we’ll figure it out in time will you still be sitting in on some business stuff will you bend Mike preer from time to time you know I told Mike I’m here I’m here to assist as however they need it and uh I I enjoy that part of the business so if I can help I know what it’s like in the sales world for tickets and sponsorship and all that if I can assist in anyway I’m here I’m not going to interfere at all with what they they run good people here who run a good business but I’m just is an asset if they need me it’s in your blood you can’t get it out of you um just final question Don you know you were part of helping turn around a franchise that um had a ton of success in Carolina won a Stanley Cup and then hit a dark period of time and for the last six years was second in the league in wins and a perennial Contender to win the Stanley Cup even if things didn’t necessarily work out in the end um what’s what’s one thing you’d like to carry with you like what what do you bring with you to aside from experience to Columbus that you know should give Blue Jackets fans hope that you can begin to turn this around well when we started here in Carolina we talked about doing it the right way and you know the one thing you don’t want to do is and I touched on before is mortgage the future to win win today because you what you want to do and I think we can do this with the setup we have is once we get there which hopefully is very soon that you can have a uh run uh consistently for multiple years where you’re not worried about you know we went in Carolina worried about making the playoffs and then was strictly after a year or two after making it two years in a row and going to the Conference Finals that wasn’t good enough now it was you know winning a cup and that’s where we got to get here we got to get the mindset you know playoffs obviously is the first place you got to start but you got to get the mindset that you know you’re expected to make the playoffs year after year after year and the ultimate goal is to get to win the Stanley Cup Don wish you all the best uh love to see you back in a in a new Post in Columbus and uh looking forward to watching it all come together thanks a lot for joining me yeah a pleasure to Be With You Frank thank you what’s up hockey fans if you enjoyed that video then you need to be hitting the Subscribe button right here at Daily face off exclusive interviews and Analysis from our hockey Insider Frank zali fantasy updates from Brock s and a daily live show at noon Eastern Monday through Friday you don’t want to miss any of the Fantastic content cont so hit that subscribe button

Don Waddell, President of Hockey Operations and General Manager for the Columbus Blue Jackets, joins Frank Seravalli to talk about his move to Columbus, the future of his career and the franchise and discuss star players and the teams summer plans.

0:00 – Why now? Why Columbus?
1:15 – Why hasn’t Columbus been able to get over the hump in the last few years?
2:30 – Status of Pascal Vincent
3:30 – What is your first priority?
6:30 – Starting to compete right away without hampering the development of the promising young players
8:50 – Elvis Merzlikins
10:00 – Patrik Laine
11:10 – Creating a new culture in Columbus
14:20 – Rick Nash as part of the management group
15:40 – Going to the NHL Draft as a Blue Jacket
17:30 – What is one thing you will bring with you to Columbus?

Frankly Speaking – @frank_seravalli

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