Brienne settles back into her chair. “You might know some of the people here, but I’ll make introductions, anyway.” She nods around the table to each person as she speaks. “I’m sure you know Callum Derringer, our new general manager. To his right, our new head coach, Matt Keller. He’s joining us from the University of Minnesota where he coached the Gophers to a national championship last year. Beside him is our new assistant coach, Bill Perry, and the two associate coaches, Sam Thatcher and Maurice DuPont.”
I smile at each one, and I actually know a bit more about them than just their names as Brienne sent me copies of their CVs to review late last night. Just as I’m sure she sent mine to them.
Now we’ve had our official introductions, and the new Pittsburgh Titans coaching staff, led by a new general manager, has been officially formed.
We’re all strangers, and we lack cohesion. It’s going to be an uphill climb to overcome that.
The purpose of today is to familiarize ourselves with the new players and discuss their potential positions of leadership within the team, as well as make a few last-minute decisions. The meeting had already been underway as there was no helping my late arrival, given I was flying in from Phoenix.
My understanding is almost all offers have gone out and been accepted, but we’re all well aware that we’re dealing mostly with players called up from the minors, plus a few players coming out of retirement. A handful of Titans players who weren’t on the doomed flight due to injuries or illness will remain with the team. Today is all about dynamics, and how we make this team work so we can get them on the ice as quickly as possible.
Many would look at this organization and say our season is essentially over. But Brienne has decided this team can still be a force to be reckoned with. Pittsburgh was at the top of their conference in points before the plane went down. They were leading the number two team by eight points and were on a trajectory to not only clutch the top playoff position but were heavy favorites to be in the Cup championship.
I don’t think anyone believes the new team has a snowball’s chance in hell of winning the Cup this year. But we do have the ability to finish the season, and there is a slim shot—despite having lesser talent—that we could slide into the playoffs given our current point lead. We’d have to maintain. Other teams would have to slip.
It would be an incredible long shot.
It’s going to be a week, however, before we can get all the players up to sufficient level to reenter league play. During that time, the other teams will be carrying on with their schedules, and they’ll be earning points. Not only will Pittsburgh be losing that lead but I’m sure it’s an unspoken feeling that our chances of winning games are slim. I’m confident that everyone around this table has realistic expectations.
“Baden,” Brienne says, garnering my attention. “We’ve gone through the players on the proposed second and third lines, and you should have already received a summary of each.”
I nod. “I’ve gone through all of it.”
“Good,” Callum Derringer says, and my gaze slides to him. It’s going to be interesting to see how he handles his duties. He hit rock bottom in the league when he was sacked from his prior position, given the team he ran had back-to-back losing seasons. “We have just a few more to discuss.”
As if on cue, Coach Keller picks up a folder and pulls out a sheet. “We’re considering Gage Heyward at right wing on the first line.”
“Didn’t he retire at the end of last season?” I ask, surprised to hear his name. He’s a damn good player, but there are younger and faster out there now. When a player decides to retire because of nonmedical issues, they know their time to shine has passed.
“He did,” Keller affirms. “But he’s kept in prime shape and in my opinion, had more years in him when he decided to call it quits.”
“He’s thirty-five,” Bill points out. “And you think he’s good enough for the first line?”
Thirty-five is young by most standards, but in this league, it’s on the tail end of a career that’s so brutally demanding on a player’s body.
“I think he could be good enough for the first line, but that remains to be seen. I mainly want him for his maturity,” Callum says pointedly, looking directly at Bill. “We need someone to guide this team from a mentoring perspective.”
“We’ve got Coen Highsmith for that,” Brienne says.
It’s clear Brienne is trying to find her footing, but it’s also clear she knows nothing about hockey or the players. Coen Highsmith is a brilliant player, one of the few who were not on the plane—he had the flu, if I recall correctly. As the first line center, he’s the highest goal scorer for the team and the number four points earner in the entire league.
But he’s young—only twenty-five—brash, arrogant, and cocky. Not in an overly bad way. But he likes to have fun and doesn’t take anything off the ice very seriously. His Instagram account is filled with pictures of him partying with friends in the off-season and hooking up with beautiful women at all other times.
In other words, he’s not going to be a mature enough leader, despite the fact he’s the team’s best player. While he’s still a bright spot for the Titans to have, he’s not going to bring cohesiveness through wisdom.
Callum explains that very thing to Brienne, and he does so without any patronization but in a way that illuminates the dynamics. He’s teaching her, and I respect that. Last thing she needs is mansplaining.
I’m impressed that she doesn’t appear embarrassed by her lack of knowledge and takes some notes based on Callum’s explanation. “Then I approve us extending an offer to Gage Heyward,” she says.
A few more potentials are discussed, none of whom are goalies, so I don’t have much to offer.
Callum doesn’t bother with the folder before him but looks around the room. “Let’s talk about left wing… the proposal is for Stone Dumelin.”
“Is this a pity offer?” Keller asks, blunt and to the point.
Pity because Stone’s brother, Brooks, was on the plane. Younger than Stone by two years, Brooks also played left wing and had been dominating the ice for the Titans, becoming their number two scorer. Stone had been down in the minors for the last year and was struggling.
“I don’t believe Stone’s been given the opportunity to live up to his potential,” Callum replies, his tone unyielding. I can tell he’s already sold on this player and is going to fight for him.
Keller doesn’t say anything but rather opens a file and peruses a page inside, presumably Stone’s statistics. I don’t know anything about him, but I imagine being called up to take your dead brother’s place would be a bit overwhelming.
A debate ensues—not between the head coach and Callum but rather with the associate coach, Bill Perry, and Callum. Perry coached Stone in the minors and thinks he has too big a chip on his shoulder. I sit back and listen, watching to see how things will shake out among the pecking order.
Eventually, it’s Brienne who steps in and makes the call. “Give Stone Dumelin the offer and let’s see what he can do.”
And then it’s time to talk about goalies. I sent in my one and only recommendation to Brienne last night, and they start with him.