NHL Executive Suite

Deb Placey is joined by Dale Tallon, Florida Panthers General Manager. Dale reminisces about the days when NHL players had roommates on the road (1:55) and reveals why his staff drafted Patrick Kane in Chicago (4:30). He explains the similarities between a hockey shot and a golf swing, and mentions some of the top players he hit the course with during in his golf days (15:20). He shares how the Florida Panthers ownership under Vinc...

Steve Mayer, NHL Chief Content Officer, joins Deb Placey. Mayer explains why he has always been known as the “idea guy” (2:43) and discusses how his desire to be a sports broadcaster led to working at IMG for 20 years (8:12). He shares who his biggest mentor was (12:23), recalls the 8 years he worked as a sports broadcaster (18:13) and explains how his experience working as an announcer helped him seamlessly make the transition to ...

Heidi Browning, NHL Chief Marketing Officer, sits down with Deb Placey. Browning discusses why she’s a “digital passionista” (1:00), her key responsibilities as the NHL’s CMO and how her first hockey game led to a lasting friendship (4:09). She explains the challenges of marketing hockey and players to casual fans (8:02) and why she became interested in a career in marketing (15:17). Browning recalls her time working in Silicon Val...

Deb Placey’s guest is Jim Rutherford, General Manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Rutherford explains why he loves Pittsburgh (1:18) and why he takes a hands-off approach to working with his goalies (3:02). He tells the story about how he became the first goalie to play with a decorated helmet (6:30), describes his negotiating tactics (10:40) and discusses his relationship with Mike Sullivan (12:30), Mario Lemieux (14:00) and Sidne...

Deb Placey is joined byNew York Islanders President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Lou Lamoriello. Lou reminisces about his early days in hockey while working as a stick boy with the Providence Reds and how his relationship with Johnny Bower began (5:12). He recalls his time playing and managing in the Cape Cod Baseball League (9:53), when he took over the Providence College men’s hockey program (16:17), and his time as t...

Deb Placey is joined by Sam Flood, Executive Producer & President of Production for NBC Sports. Flood recounts his start in sports television (3:23) and what he learned while working under Dick Ebersol (7:00). He talks about NBC’s coverage of Sunday Night Football (18:50), new technology being integrated into sports broadcasts (25:33), and his relationship with Doc Emrick (28:58). Flood details the best storylines heading into ...

Deb Placey welcomes San Jose Sharks general manager Doug Wilson to the podcast. Wilson recalls being traded to the expansion Sharks (3:19) and skating in the infamous Cow Palace (4:30). He discusses Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer (11:50), captain Joe Pavelski (21:26) and defenseman Brent Burns (26:34). He discloses how his first roommate in the NHL changed his life (23:40), how signing a ‘contract-for-the-day’ got started (28:15) a...

Deb Placey chats with John Chayka, the General Manager of the Arizona Coyotes. Chayka discusses how often people bring up his age (1:03) and how his transition to the NHL was made easier by veteran general managers who went out of their way to welcome him into the fraternity (2:00). He explains how his passion for hockey began (3:45), what allowed him to start his first business at the age of 19 (5:17) and how he learned from his f...

Deb Placey is joined by Ray Shero, the General Manager of the New Jersey Devils. Shero discusses why he believes the Devils 2018-19 season isn’t as disappointing as their record indicates (1:17), how the franchise’s culture has changed over the last few years (4:10) and the likelihood of signing Taylor Hall to a long-term deal (5:48). Shero reveals how a four hour dinner he had with Hall prior to the 2017-18 season was key to Hall ...