What Makes a Good GM/Coach?

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How do you measure the success of a general manager and or coach? Every player has an opinion on who is a good GM or who is the "best" GM; whether you are waiting to be drafted or a pending free agent who is looking for a new home, you have thought about what GM you want to play for. Today we will look at several factors that have been used to evaluate GMs in the past.

 

Win-loss Record

 

Some people simply look at how often a GM wins and that is all they need for a barometer. Any GM with a win percentage over 50 can be considered successful by many and it is the most quantifiable statistic we have. However, other factors affect the win-loss record and some of those factors are in the GMs control and thus should be looked at further.

 

Making the Playoffs

 

You know that team, the one that always seems to get eliminated the very last day of the season and never makes the dance. The GM of this team has always seemed to put together a good squad and people expect big things at the start of the year but they always fall short. Is this manager as good as the one who has made the playoffs every single season since taking over? You cannot with Championships if you do not qualify for playoffs and that has huge weight with some critics.

 

Championships

 

Often, during legacy talks, Cup wins are one of the most focal talking points. You can be good with great numbers but until you manage to get a ring on your finger you are nothing to some. A GM with good but not great numbers can be considered elite because they have a few Championships on their mantle. After all, the goal in sports is not to have fun but rather to win.

 

Coaching - Making Lines

 

You ever look at a roster and wonder how they win so much? A good coach can squeeze every last drop of talent out of a subpar roster and look like a genius. Chemistry plays a big part in how well your players perform, playing the right combination of players together can be huge. The ability to take cast-offs and turn them into stars is underrated according to some and a lost art according to others.

 

Acquiring Free Agents

 

Being able to land the big fish during free agent frenzy goes a long way towards being able to make your lines flow well. Sometimes you sign a superstar forward who puts the offence of your team over the top and other times it is a few key depth players who fill your holes. Gaining players without giving up assets is a skill that many GMs want to add to their toolbox but not all are able to.

 

Drafting

 

How often do you look at a draft board a few seasons later and wonder "what was the GM thinking"? Drafting is not an exact science unless you are able to see the future yet some are better than others. A GM who consistently drafts high-risk players trying to look like a clever person often ends up looking like a fool. The draft is often a team's number one source of fresh blood and those who are good at drafting have a better chance of success.

 

Trading

 

If you cannot sign free agents and your drafting history has more busts than Peter Griffen playing blackjack you may opt for the third and final way to acquire talent. Trading with another GM does not always work out; some are shrewd negotiators who seem to help you out but when you open your shiny new toy it is not the same thing you ordered. Sometimes a GM may shoot themselves in the foot as well, not doing your homework and trading for high-risk players who don't pan out or overpaying for someone that you could have had for pennies on the dollar will bite you in the ass. 

 

Motivation

 

 

Often, a rather overlooked skill that actually has a large impact on team success. Wanting to show up and work breeds productive employees and makes for a good work environment and the same is true for a hockey team. A GM who is affable and makes you feel valued is going to yield better results when it comes time to talk contracts. Feeling important and liking your GM can make you feel like you have to try harder to repay his loyalty by earning more TPE and becoming a better player. 

 

Reputation

 

Reputation can be the most important thing that a GM brings to the table. The better the reputation of a GM the better chances they have in free agency, the better chance they have of getting favourable trade talks, the more motivated players will be to play for them. Reputation takes a long time to build and only seconds to destroy, to get a better measure of a person look at their character. 

 

Luck

 

The last factor we will look at is completely out of anyone's hands and some don't believe in it at all. Luck can make or break a season. Landing a steal at the draft because someone suddenly became active again or having the universe align perfectly so that league changes all seem to go in your favour despite needing 300 little things to go right for you. Did you get gifted an already build team when you ascended to the General Manager spot or did you scrape, claw and bite to get your team?

 

Summary

 

Success is better evaluated when you bring several factors to the light and look at the whole picture. A GM who did not have to build his team and coasted to a Cup win might not be put in the same tier as a GM who has never won a Cup but instead has had 10 seasons atop the VHL standings. Time to perception check:

After reading the above factors has your opinion changed? 
Have you re-evaluated the GMs in the league? Do you see them in a new light?
What other factors might one consider?
Am I full of shit?

 

Thank you for reading, any and all feedback is welcome. Constructive criticism is always a bonus but if you are an asshole to me then I will ignore you because I don't want to get hit with the "don't make me pull this car over" rule. One a serious note, I tried to think of a nice article that was more league oriented and not just focused on my player or how my team was doing so I hope you enjoyed it.

 

Words: 1115

Claim Period(s): 4-9-18 to 4-15-18 and 4-16-18 to 4-22-18