Analysis: Feaster's good work in Tampa shouldn't be forgotten by fans or other teams
Jay Feaster helped build the Lightning's Stanley Cup championship team in 2004. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
Adam Proteau
2008-07-11 12:29:54
They won’t have Jay Feaster to kick around in Tampa Bay anymore, after Lightning ownership and the now-former GM came to terms Friday on his departure from the franchise.
But the drawn-out, ugly end to Feaster’s reign over the Bolts shouldn’t take away from the great players, memories, and 2004 Stanley Cup championship he provided for the team’s fans. Neither, for that matter, should THN’s recent ranking of NHL GMs, in which Feaster finished last overall.
Yes, Feaster’s salary cap management – that led to Brad Richards’ trade to Dallas in February – left much to be desired. And yes, Tampa Bay never could replicate the success of their Cup-winning season in the post-lockout world. However, look at the hand the man was dealt:
Above him was an owner (Bill Davidson) who, while supportive enough, never made the Bolts his primary focus and thought so much of the business he extended a huge loan to the new ownership group that has pushed Feaster out of the organization.
Below him was a coach (John Tortorella) who routinely tore into his players as if he received a paid bonus for each newly ripped hole, and whose relationship with Feaster became strained as the Lightning’s losses piled up.
Being saddled with those two situations may not have entirely tied Feaster’s hands behind his back in recent years, but it certainly didn’t help matters, either.
Once new owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie bought the team, it was but a matter of time until Feaster – a well-known nice guy who proved it by blogging for THN.com, free of charge, even after our not-so-complimentary ranking of his services – was shown the door.
It’s a credit to him that he handled the Lightning’s recent flurry of acquisitions and signings (none of which were his own doing) with dignity and grace. More importantly, the on-ice achievements of his teams were an even bigger accomplishment when you consider just who Feaster was and is: a hockey outsider, a lawyer prior to joining the hockey world, a still-young man operating in an old boy’s network.
This was not somebody’s brother, or someone’s former teammate, or a retired star NHLer whose only previous front office experience was stepping into it to make contract demands.
Everything Jay Feaster has today, he earned every last iota of. And that’s more than you can say for guys who’ve spent their entire lives in the game. Here’s hoping one of the other 29 teams wises up and takes him off the unemployment line.
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Deall Hall (Posted 2008-07-15 14:15:18)
The Jay Feester had to play the hand dealt by the cheapskate Davidson group and even more so after the lockout. It's impossible to built a Lexus with Yugo parts. Jay did a great job in the face of ownership's "We don't give a damn" attitude.
TampaFan1 (Posted 2008-07-14 11:46:16)
I have to agree w/ the Rastaman. Feaster said " I won't be know as the GM that traded away Vinny LeCavaler". Here are Feaster's Trades.
1.)Acquired D Darryl Sydor and a 2004 fourth-round draft pick from the Blue Jackets for C Alexander Svitov and a third-round 2004 pick, on Jan. 27, 2004. 2. Acquired LW Cory Stillman from the Blues for a 2003 second-round draft pick, on June 21, 2003. 3. Acquired RW Ruslan Fedotenko and two 2002 second-round draft picks (one of which was traded for Brad Lukowich) from the Flyers for the No. 4 overall pick in the 2002 draft, on June 21, 2002. The Worst, 1. Acquired G Marc Denis from the Blue Jackets for LW Fredrik Modin and G Fredrik Norrena, on July 1, 2006. 2. Being part of the decision-making that, after Nikolai Khabibulin left as a free agent, led to three seasons of porous goaltending from John Grahame, Sean Burke, Denis and Johan Holmqvist. 3. Not trading players such as D Pavel Kubina, RW Ruslan Fedotenko and D Cory Sarich before they left, without compensation, as unrestricted free agents. BTW, Pat Burns also feels Vinny LeCavalier, Not Ovechkin or Crosby is the best player right now.
AJ the Rastaman (Posted 2008-07-13 20:40:08)
the reason why V. Lecavalier is still a Bolt begins and ends with Feaster. Dudley wanted to trade him to Toronto for Antropov. for this alone, as a Lightning fan i will always be grateful to Jay. it is Vinny, not Ovechkin and certainly not Crosby, who is currently the best player in the NHL - just ask Brodeur.
Andrew J (Posted 2008-07-13 12:55:31)
Feaster did a good job with bad ownership, When this current edition implodes and the owners end up unable to pay the players (anyone else notice this group has no liquid assets) Feaster will be remembered much more fondly. Good Luck with Barry 'Mullet' Melrose and your defense corp. I see John Tavares on the horizon for this club.
David Simpson (Posted 2008-07-13 12:25:43)
Before you quickly heap the praise onto Mr. Feaster please consider the fact that prior to working in the NHL he was running a chocolate bar factory. His knowledge of hockey was zero to non. The man who does deserve the credit is Bill Barber. Mr. Barber was the quiet right hand man who made all the hockey based decisions. Jay Feaster was little more then a puppet, the real hockey decisions were made by a Hall of Famer, Bill Barber.
Dave E. (Posted 2008-07-13 09:35:29)
The only significant player brought to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the five years with Jay Feaster as GM was Darryl Sydor. Furthermore, Feaster has dealt away all but two of the players from the franchise's championship roster in 2003/04. Do you actually do any research before you write a column, Adam?
John Tortellini (Posted 2008-07-12 19:56:58)
Feaster Famine. I had a feast, then a famine, now that dude with a Mullet has my job.
scott (Posted 2008-07-12 19:14:02)
Athough a nice guy, he was terrible at drafting and really did nothing to build around the top 3.....
Lisa Marie (Posted 2008-07-12 15:22:54)
Jay Feaster was, and is, a class act. He had EVERYTHING to do with Tampa Bay's success in 2004. The players loved him, the fans loved him, and he was always accessible. Good luck, Jay, we'll miss you.
Tiffany (Posted 2008-07-12 12:38:39)
I must say since the first week or July I have been wary about this new ownership group and more so with every signing new signing. Who is advising these guys when they put Feaster in his office and locked the door? I wonder if they will even come to realized they acted with reckless abandon. Only time will tell.
Also, I think the "nice guy" Feaster didn't stand a chance with these Hollywood types. I noticed this when I watched them altogether at the draft he literally didn't "look the part" in casting and I wondered how long Feaster was going to fare amongst this new "too cool for school" ownership. I think we have the answer.
Scai (Posted 2008-07-12 02:32:24)
Feaster had minimal impact on the Lightning winning the Cup. Yes, he made a few minor trades here and there but the core of the team was already put in place by Rick Dudley, once Feaster got the job. Khabibulin, Richards, Lecavalier, St Louis (a Hart winner to be, signed as a UFA for next to nothingt), Kubina among others were already there.
The most impact Feaster really had was after the Cup run when he failed to keep the great team he inherited reasonably competitive, spending all his money on three forwards. No, not a good GM.
Jordon (Posted 2008-07-11 19:25:23)
I think Toronto should give him a chance. I dont know what the Leafs are thinking, a team that is supposed to be rebuilding, is still making the same old stupid moves. So I say give Feaster a chance, he obviously knows what it takes to turn crap in to something golden!
Lester Phister (Posted 2008-07-11 19:02:53)
I think he was a victim of the salary cap, Vinny, Marty and Richards sucked up all the gravy, it left Tampa with no wiggle room. Feaster is now a ledgend, he turned the NHL's doormat franchise into a Stanley Cup winner. Good luck to him.
Brian P (Posted 2008-07-11 15:34:39)
I hope he writes some more blogs for THN's site here before another team gives him a job. They were pretty good.
Craig (Posted 2008-07-11 15:31:32)
I agree with Adam on his assertion that Feaster is a pretty effective GM, and all around classy guy, but to say that he deserves a Mulligan for the Tortorella situation is a bit of a stretch. Feaster could have removed Tortorella at any time and hired someone else. No GM deserves a pass for problems relating to the coach, it is their responsibility to put together an effective Coaching staff. That would be like giving the Barrista a pass at the local Starbucks because the coffee isn't fresh.
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