South Raleigh News

Eric Tulsky's background is well-documented at this point. Whether you want to bring up his history as a Philadelphia Flyers blogger or his time at the Naval Research Laboratory, he'll tell you that both played a part in leading him to his newest title - General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes.

Holding a media availability a day after having the interim tag removed, Tulsky issued a statement and took questions from reporters at PNC Arena on Wednesday, offering his outlook on how the organization moves forward under his guidance.

What many are curious to learn is how the franchise will operate differently under Tulsky from how it did under Don Waddell. Asked this directly today, Tulsky said that in some areas some things will change, but the organization's philosophy remains the same.

"There will be some small tweaks to some internal processes, some things where I think we can be a little bit crisper about how we execute on some of the things we want to do. But our big picture organizational strategy isn't changing," he began.

Waddell, as both president and general manager, oversaw both the team’s business ventures and hockey operations decisions. Under Waddell, Tulsky oversaw the pro scouting department while Assistant General Manager Darren Yorke led the amateur scouting side of things. The three worked closely with Rod Brind’Amour and the rest of the hockey operations staff to reach decisions on hockey-related matters.

Now with Tulsky at the top, the hockey side of the process will remain largely mirrored, sans Waddell of course.

"There may be elements of the way we execute that strategy that change a little bit, but as a whole, for our organization it's really important to us that we have the coaching staff's involvement in all of our decisions. It's really important that everyone in our management team and all of our scouts feel like they have a voice and contribute to the conversation," he furthered. "Ultimately, the job of the leader is to bring all those voices together, integrate information they provide, and help make decisions. That's how we've always operated and that's not going to change."

Given his rich history in analytics and lack of experience on ice, Tulsky was asked if his hiring signals a shift for either organization or potentially for NHL as whole. Quick to shut down narrative soft-spoken yet confident leader quipped back with one best responses day: "We didn't hire ChatGPT to be GM."

Drawing laugh out several room included heavy presence Canes brass there support including Brind'Amour Yorke many members hockey operations department Tulsky went shed light facts situation.

"There are things an NHL career brings certain experiences people who played league have advantage them experiences outside playing league can advantage too," he said. "There are 10 other general managers league never played NHL four don't even have EliteProspects page."

Again going back previous stops led position Tulsky said whether it's "spectroscopic data chemical reaction scouting report game played Ottawa Tuesday" similarities each applied.

"It's not like hockey career prerequisite doing job ultimately executive leadership position corporate career brought lot training lead organization organizational dynamics mentoring managing organizational process those things need put people position succeed help make sure organization making good decisions we're going continue do."

Point blank Tulsky's group has work do just 12 days until opening free agency trek Las Vegas NHL Draft stands between now then 14 players who played least one game regular season postseason Canes year pending free agents several earned considerable raises over their 2023-24 salaries

"This complicated offseason think know lot free agents we're work creative solutions keep team moving forward" said part opening remarks acknowledging challenge hand With plethora eyes presumable league-wide interest players such Jake Guentzel Brett Pesce Brady Skjei new general manager said respect players didn't want get into where each negotiation stood however two weeks eternity lot accomplished between now then

Although believes time Canes' side realistic forecast

"We truly outstanding players people probably aren't able keep all them hurt hurt ice locker room" answered same time opens opportunity players step bigger roles locker room capable"

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