The Blues' AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, will have a new brain trust running the team. After Kevin Maxwell left to take a management role with the New York Rangers, the Blues needed someone to take over. On Wednesday, they announced that Assistant General Managers Ryan Miller and Tim Taylor will be taking over as co-general managers. Both of them have extensive experience in the hockey world and can bring something new to the team. But what do each of them bring to the table?
How will this shakeup affect the Blues player development
Miller has been a fixture of the Blues front office for the better part of 15 years. After graduating from the University of Dayton with a degree in criminal justice and studying at the University of Denver Law School, he joined the Blues in 2010 as the team's director of hockey administration. He stayed in this position for nearly a decade, then was promoted to assistant GM in 2020 due to his role in putting together the 2019 Stanley Cup team.
For years, Miller has had many different responsibilities. His main role was to negotiate contracts and ensure the Blues operated within the salary cap and CBA rules. He also prepared salary arbitration arguments. It appears that he will handle the business side of being a hockey general manager. Negotiating with players the Thunderbirds bring in on PTOs and make sure they stay within AHL rules during all player transactions.
Taylor's career in hockey and with the Blues is very similar to that of Miller's. After a 13-year NHL career, in which he won two Stanley Cups, he joined the Blues front office as the director of player development. He helped develop several of the key pieces of the 2019 Stanley Cup champions. This included Jordan Binnington, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Vince Dunn. Just like Miller, his work on that roster earned him a promotion to assistant GM and director of player personnel.
While Miller will be the business and finance guy, Taylor will focus more on the scouting and development. He will be looking at how the young players are doing and giving that information to whoever the new general manager is. He will also be looking for veterans to bring in on PTO to ensure the Thunderbirds remain competitive and a positive place for prospects to develop. With his eye for talent, they should be in good hands.
This tandem seems to be a perfect fit for the Thunderbirds. Both guys complement each other well, and should help them field a competitive team that allows young players to flourish. With the Blues looking to rebuild their roster, having a strong AHL team is critical.