Article: Russo Provides Further Detail On Wild Front Office "Drama" On Recent Podcast

[Carlton Bloom]

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[Willy the poor boy]

They keep firing the wrong guys I tell ya...

[Pewterschmidt]

My sources have confirmed that Nordy was not with the team on last road trip.  
 

#nomeansno

[joebou15]

Who are you going to hire to replace him? I'm sure an NHL job is quite the draw, but to work for a guy that feels he can berate you on a whim and can't maintain at least some professional decorum?

 

Idk, I think if I really like my job, I stick it out until a better opportunity comes along.

[jenihami]

I hope Guerin is not struggling with the bottle. He had quite the reputation in his playing days. 

[TCMooch]

Sounds to me like Billy doesn’t have the proper temperament trust should be expect as a leader of a sports organization 

[Disco Strangler]

32 minutes ago, TCMooch said:

Sounds to me like Billy doesn’t have the proper temperament trust should be expect as a leader of a sports organization 

Can someone like that actually turn the culture around? He got rid of Suter and ZP because they were locker-room cancers. How's the front office these days? Sounds like 2 guys are gone that were well liked and highly thought of, not to mention letting go the best coach in franchise history, and who remains? What sounds like the cancer, remains.

[TCMooch]

2 minutes ago, Disco Strangler said:

Can someone like that actually turn the culture around? He got rid of Suter and ZP because they were locker-room cancers. How's the front office these days? Sounds like 2 guys are gone that were well liked and highly thought of, not to mention letting go the best coach in franchise history, and who remains? What sounds like the cancer, remains.

To me it’s looking more and more like Billy removed one type of cancer culture only to replace it with his own.

He wanted to get rid of the culture of our team being a country club only to turn around and sign people to contracts that replicates that country club culture but now it’s full of “his guys”.

 Also as the GM he should not be cussing out and blowing up at players. That’s the coaches job. I think Billy is way too aggressive and prone to fits of anger to properly lead this organization. I also think he values the wrong types of player skills for todays NHL.

[Up North Guy]

According to Russo on KFAN this morning O'Hearn fessed up to some type of error/transgression during one of the investigations and his goose was cooked at that point. BG had virtually no discretion on that one. The other one it seems the guy had a long history of complaints against the team's management going back years. I am sure more will come out as time passes, but just speculating here, is it possible that the guy finally made one complaint too many? I have had employees like that and they tend to push all the wrong buttons. It is never appropriate to lose your cool on an employee but it can happen. Maybe all the BG is super A-hole that should rocketed off to hell talk is just ignorant fan speak. Like I said, just speculating here like everyone else.

[Disco Strangler]

12 minutes ago, Up North Guy said:

According to Russo on KFAN this morning O'Hearn fessed up to some type of error/transgression during one of the investigations and his goose was cooked at that point. BG had virtually no discretion on that one. The other one it seems the guy had a long history of complaints against the team's management going back years. I am sure more will come out as time passes, but just speculating here, is it possible that the guy finally made one complaint too many? I have had employees like that and they tend to push all the wrong buttons. It is never appropriate to lose your cool on an employee but it can happen. Maybe all the BG is super A-hole that should rocketed off to hell talk is just ignorant fan speak. Like I said, just speculating here like everyone else.

There have been red flags on BG throughout. He's done it publicly. Being short with reporters, getting mad at an agent and taking the first offer that comes along, throwing players under the bus as your actively trying to trade him. Just way too many public displays to ignore for me.

[MacGyver]

This is turning out exactly as I laid out in another thread. Heydt went to HR as a last resort and not from a single but multiple incidents. Heydt and Guerin never did get along from the start and the alpha male couldn't keep himself under control. Heydt most likely knew that was going to be his last official act and knew he wasn't going to get Guerin fired but wanted to expose him. So it blows over for now but will certainly happen again with someone else. You have to commend the players for not allowing this mess to show on the ice considering reports were more than several were  very upset over Heydt being gone. Guerin created a nice disconnect between him and the players with this mess. 

The other people interviewed probably did not have a every day working relationship with Guerin and figured they could stay out of his way and avoid his outbursts. Plus they probably need their jobs and don't want to rock the boat. I never cared for Guerin from the start and he's certainly done nothing to change my mind.  

 

[mnfaninnc]

3 hours ago, MacGyver said:

You have to commend the players for not allowing this mess to show on the ice considering reports were more than several were  very upset over Heydt being gone. Guerin created a nice disconnect between him and the players with this mess. 

Hmmmmm. Could this be a way for some NMC guys to waive their clauses?

I do disagree with the take on Guerin yelling at the players. When things are going wrong, and the coach has been tuned out (and let's be honest, Evason was tuned out) the GM has to come in and knock some heads together. He was pissed because he believed in these guys, signed them to extensions to have it go south like that. 

And let's be clear: Evason was the winningest regular season coach in team history, but he had his warts too, like his stubbornness and inability to win when it counted. He had a shelf life, and the little stamp on his forehead said expired. Aunt Bonnie came in and cleared out the fridge! She could have taken a Golgoski with her too!

[MacGyver]

Interesting take on players perhaps waving their NMC never gave that thought. Might be the best thing to happen. Players can take a certain amount of verbal abuse heck they do it to each other. But it needs to come from someone they respect. Do they still respect Guerin? Heydt from all reports was loved and respected by the players. Guerin took a big dump on the locker room floor while pushing him out. Maybe it's cleaned up but the stench will always linger. Firing Evason was normal hockey operating procedures. All NHL coaches have a shelf life. The Guerin/Heydt/O'Hearn fiasco is not normal operating procedures. Out of those three which one is your guess to have acted abnormally?

I find it telling Guerin has not yet spoken. 

Edited December 22, 2023 by MacGyver

[B1GKappa97]

All the GM haters get some more ammo for this situation but it sounds pretty overblown. Who knows what was said and how bad it was. Clearly not bad enough that the GM should get fired. Went on for years but the guy chose to wait until now, with the team at its lowest, to talk to HR about it with his receipts? 

Seems a little sus but okay man. Enjoy that severance package.

[MacGyver]

Guerin is a big"chemistry in the locker room" guy and preaches how important it is to the team. So Parise and Suter must go at a great crippling cost to the team because they apparently upset the chemistry.  A tight locker room, everyone on the same page etc. etc. Would the same not hold true for the front office? Heydt had been with the Wild for what seven years or so. To be honest I never heard his name before this or even knew who he was to be honest. All of a sudden Guerin shows up and he's the problem? 

Don't pass the smell test for me. 

As far as firing Guerin my guess would be Leipold and the NHL had discussions. Leipold knowing full well there is no one outside of someone just wanting to collect a paycheck who was going to take this team over with all the cap issues for the next few years. So Guerin survives. Much easier to cut underneath him. 

Edited December 22, 2023 by MacGyver

[MacGyver]

I'll add that anyone who has ever worked in a corporate environment knows fully well you do not go to HR without documentation of your grievances. Not if you want to be taken at all seriously. Heydt obviously knew how it worked and played it accordingly. He knew fully well he was ending his time with the Wild when he went to HR. 

[Pewterschmidt]

11 minutes ago, MacGyver said:

So Guerin survives. Much easier to cut underneath him. 

Step #1 cut a player to shake things up (Addison)

Step #2 bring in a player to shake things up (Bogo)

Step #3 Can fire the team so need to fire the coach (Evason)

Step #1 cut Asst GM (O'Hearn)

Step #2 deal with HR complaint (Heydt)

Step #3 replace GM/President (Benito)

 

I'm not ready to say the BG is one strike away from termination, but he's a hell of alot closer than I would have guessed just one month ago.

[TheGoosesAreLooses]

15 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

Hmmmmm. Could this be a way for some NMC guys to waive their clauses?

I do disagree with the take on Guerin yelling at the players. When things are going wrong, and the coach has been tuned out (and let's be honest, Evason was tuned out) the GM has to come in and knock some heads together. He was pissed because he believed in these guys, signed them to extensions to have it go south like that. 

And let's be clear: Evason was the winningest regular season coach in team history, but he had his warts too, like his stubbornness and inability to win when it counted. He had a shelf life, and the little stamp on his forehead said expired. Aunt Bonnie came in and cleared out the fridge! She could have taken a Golgoski with her too!

There is a professional way to dress down employees and an unprofessional way. Sounds like Billy doesn't know the difference and has zero control on his temper. 

The old school mentality is changing, and management styles are changing. Billy has not kept up and I don't think the younger player react like he expects anymore. His hotheaded iron fist is outdated and it shows. Might be why he prefers guys he worked with from yesteryear and veterans. 

I don't think Billy will be a fixture here for much longer. Everything I have read on Andrew says he was well respected, well liked and went above and beyond to support the players. A real glue guy so to speak. Billy doesn't support and foster he bludgeons and yells. Not a good look for the coming youngsters.

[TheGoosesAreLooses]

1 hour ago, B1GKappa97 said:

All the GM haters get some more ammo for this situation but it sounds pretty overblown. Who knows what was said and how bad it was. Clearly not bad enough that the GM should get fired. Went on for years but the guy chose to wait until now, with the team at its lowest, to talk to HR about it with his receipts? 

Seems a little sus but okay man. Enjoy that severance package.

Sus because a guy finally took the nuclear option knowing it would cost him his job? Sounds like Heydt had taken too much shit and finally did something about it. That happens when you regularly berate those around you.

[mnfaninnc]

24 minutes ago, MacGyver said:

As far as firing Guerin my guess would be Leipold and the NHL had discussions. Leipold knowing full well there is no one outside of someone just wanting to collect a paycheck who was going to take this team over with all the cap issues for the next few years. So Guerin survives. Much easier to cut underneath him. 

I'll do it!!!!!!

[mnfaninnc]

8 minutes ago, TheGoosesAreLooses said:

There is a professional way to dress down employees and an unprofessional way. Sounds like Billy doesn't know the difference and has zero control on his temper. 

The old school mentality is changing, and management styles are changing. Billy has not kept up and I don't think the younger player react like he expects anymore. His hotheaded iron fist is outdated and it shows. Might be why he prefers guys he worked with from yesteryear and veterans. 

I don't think Billy will be a fixture here for much longer. Everything I have read on Andrew says he was well respected, well liked and went above and beyond to support the players. A real glue guy so to speak. Billy doesn't support and foster he bludgeons and yells. Not a good look for the coming youngsters.

I had a boss like this. I dealt with it for a few years, but knew when to just keep quiet and when to avoid him. When things were going good, there was a good relationship. When things were going poorly, he chewed out everyone. 

He wasn't the worse boss I had, nor the best, but that was his personality and we just dealt with it. I had a chance to go back after eventually leaving (not because of the personality) and decided I didn't want anything to do with that again. 

Perhaps this is about a change in times. I was in my 20s at the time so it was like 35-40 years ago. He also wasn't the only one who managed that way. Maybe it's just a difference in generations? I sometimes think generations beneath me are way too sensitive to volume and demands. It seems like an alpha male management style is just no longer permitted in this society. 

Even when parents chew out their kids it seems like there's controversy then. Many parents ask their toddlers to do something and when they don't do it, they just leave it alone instead of demanding that whatever was asked for is done. Timeout becomes the most serious form of punishment now. And nobody can hurt anyone's feelings, intentionally or unintentionally without it causing a major issue. 

For me, where we are going is almost unrecognizeable. I'm sure the pendulum will eventually swing back the other way.

[TheGoosesAreLooses]

1 hour ago, mnfaninnc said:

I had a boss like this. I dealt with it for a few years, but knew when to just keep quiet and when to avoid him. When things were going good, there was a good relationship. When things were going poorly, he chewed out everyone. 

He wasn't the worse boss I had, nor the best, but that was his personality and we just dealt with it. I had a chance to go back after eventually leaving (not because of the personality) and decided I didn't want anything to do with that again. 

Perhaps this is about a change in times. I was in my 20s at the time so it was like 35-40 years ago. He also wasn't the only one who managed that way. Maybe it's just a difference in generations? I sometimes think generations beneath me are way too sensitive to volume and demands. It seems like an alpha male management style is just no longer permitted in this society. 

Even when parents chew out their kids it seems like there's controversy then. Many parents ask their toddlers to do something and when they don't do it, they just leave it alone instead of demanding that whatever was asked for is done. Timeout becomes the most serious form of punishment now. And nobody can hurt anyone's feelings, intentionally or unintentionally without it causing a major issue. 

For me, where we are going is almost unrecognizeable. I'm sure the pendulum will eventually swing back the other way.

I work in a male dominated industry. Have had "alpha male" bosses and still work in a very old school mentality company. I'm a millennial and have worked 32 hr shifts in -40 degrees C soaked in oil and grease and over 100hrs in a week. The most time I have ever taken off is a week at a time and been in my industry for 16 years. I've seen people lose appendages and been the first responder in triage situations. I despise you boomers saying my generation is soft or can't handle being yelled at.

There is a difference between constructive criticism and just verbally bludgeoning people. Alpha male is a bullshit term made up to excuse horrendous behavior under the guise of getting things done or maintaining control. It is used for people that can't maintain an edge using logic, skill and intelligence. It is never necessary nor constructive and it is using fear instead of support as a basis for power. It puts the toxic in toxic masculinity and I've seen people suffer great bodily harm due to it. You can be a leader without instilling fear and you can be strong without the bluster and bullshit. About time more men knew it.

[B1GKappa97]

2 hours ago, TheGoosesAreLooses said:

Sus because a guy finally took the nuclear option knowing it would cost him his job? Sounds like Heydt had taken too much shit and finally did something about it. That happens when you regularly berate those around you.

More like he decided to take the nuclear option on his way out the door, which is what makes it sus. If it was so terrible to work with Guerin, why wait years to report any of it to HR?

We don't even know any details on the exchanges except that the NFL and team don't feel it rises to the level of a fire-able offense. Or apparently any other disciplinary action, seeing as there hasn't been any reports of that.  

[mnfaninnc]

17 hours ago, TheGoosesAreLooses said:

I despise you boomers saying my generation is soft or can't handle being yelled at.

TGAL, when I speak of this it is generally speaking. Of course there are exceptions, and you are probably one of them. But, take a good look around your generation. These are the folks who will be leading the country soon. Generally speaking, they lack a work ethic, feel like victims of entitlement, and have been stripped of most male influence. 

I'm not saying it's entirely their fault, either. I've watched from an early age, where boys are just boys, yet get tagged with ADHD and are given high powered narcotics to "focus." An extra round of exercise would probably work, but they don't sit still like little girls. Families have broken apart so often that a father figure is often missing in their lives. Alpha male tendencies are typically strongly discouraged. Sometimes they just never even had a chance. 

I'm glad you found a way. But truly look around at your generation. Most of them are really struggling and the statistics would bare that out. Also, Boomers aren't perfect either. They've made a huge mess out of everything, and I'm just on the tail end of it. My generation is the author of the 2 parent working class that leaves kids to fend for themselves after school, and there is a direct correlation between that and the divorce rate, robbing subsequent generations of 2 parent families. 

And, yet, the older in my generation just keep on working and will not pass the baton to the next to lead. But, as I look around, I still see where we're at as unrecognizeable. 

And please don't take this as picking on you or your generation. It's just observations and an old guy just struggling to try and keep up, which I must admit has been more difficult than I thought.

[TheGoosesAreLooses]

9 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

TGAL, when I speak of this it is generally speaking. Of course there are exceptions, and you are probably one of them. But, take a good look around your generation. These are the folks who will be leading the country soon. Generally speaking, they lack a work ethic, feel like victims of entitlement, and have been stripped of most male influence. 

I'm not saying it's entirely their fault, either. I've watched from an early age, where boys are just boys, yet get tagged with ADHD and are given high powered narcotics to "focus." An extra round of exercise would probably work, but they don't sit still like little girls. Families have broken apart so often that a father figure is often missing in their lives. Alpha male tendencies are typically strongly discouraged. Sometimes they just never even had a chance. 

I'm glad you found a way. But truly look around at your generation. Most of them are really struggling and the statistics would bare that out. Also, Boomers aren't perfect either. They've made a huge mess out of everything, and I'm just on the tail end of it. My generation is the author of the 2 parent working class that leaves kids to fend for themselves after school, and there is a direct correlation between that and the divorce rate, robbing subsequent generations of 2 parent families. 

And, yet, the older in my generation just keep on working and will not pass the baton to the next to lead. But, as I look around, I still see where we're at as unrecognizeable. 

And please don't take this as picking on you or your generation. It's just observations and an old guy just struggling to try and keep up, which I must admit has been more difficult than I thought.

mnfan, If more boomers were like you I have a feeling we would be a lot better off. I understand where you are coming from and there is a huge disconnect between how your generation and the generation below me interact. 

I also have troubles with how things are going. The ownace of keeping people safe and common snese if somehow expected to be guardrailed through law instead of people teaching their kids common sense. These kids grow up having zero life skills because they have never lived in a world where they are responsible for their own safety and wellbeing. They expect to be catered to. My generation is trying to bridge the gap. We have eyt to be passed the baton or make any real decisions in the world and the ones that have, have chosen to be greedy and immoral all to reach the top.

There are many things wrong with the world today. Many invisible or visible divides that are sensationalized into something more than they actually are. When it comes down to it, we all want the same things; a dwelling we can afford, food on our plate, our basic needs met and the ability to make things better for the next generation.

Merry Christmas MNFan, I hope you have a great holiday season and I'm sure I'll see you in the comments in the new year!

TheGoosesGotALittleTooLooses 😁