REPORT: Weekes Still “In the Mix” for Sharks GM, Martin & Botterill Also Candidates?

Is Kevin Weekes still in the picture for San Jose Sharks GM?

A month ago, San Jose Hockey Now reported that Weekes was a “strong candidate at the moment” for the position. Keep in mind, this was before the beginning of the organization’s formal interview process.

Since then, Sharks president Jonathan Becher has stated that the process will include initial phone or Zoom interviews with 20-25 candidates. Along with Becher, interim GM Joe Will, and owner Hasso Plattner form San Jose’s GM search committee.

Interestingly, up to now, the only confirmed interview for the Sharks GM position is Ray Whitney. This was, per a source, Whitney’s first-ever formal interview for an NHL GM position.

“I think [Kevin Weekes] is in the mix there,” Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet said on his 32 Thoughts Podcast today.

If that’s the case, perhaps the San Jose Sharks were just taking their time to talk to him. It’s San Jose Hockey Now’s understanding that up to early last week, Weekes still hadn’t been interviewed.

Becher has stated that he hopes to have four or five serious GM candidates by the end of May, so the initial interview process should be ending soon.

Friedman also believes that New York Rangers assistant general manager Ryan Martin is also “in the mix.”

Martin joined the Rangers organization before the 2021-22 season. He was with the Detroit Red Wings from 2005 to 2021, ascending to Red Wings AGM in 2010. Previously, he worked as an attorney and for hockey agency KO Sports.

“He did very well in the Anaheim interviews,” Friedman said of the GM interview process that culminated in Pat Verbeek taking over the Ducks in Feb. 2022. “He’s a guy that not a lot of people know, but I’ve heard really good things about him. At some point in time, I don’t know when, I think he will be a general manager.”

Martin appears to offer a wide breadth of experience. Per a Rangers press release last year, “Martin was primarily responsible for collective bargaining agreement administration and compliance, salary cap management, player contract research and analysis, and salary arbitration preparation [in Detroit]. He was also involved extensively in all facets of player contract negotiations, strategic planning, and player evaluations at both the professional and amateur levels.

“Martin also oversaw all aspects of hockey operations for the [Red Wings AHL affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins], including player personnel decisions, player development, contract negotiations, and player movement. During his tenure as Griffins General Manager, the team won the Calder Cup as AHL Champions in 2016-17.”

Finally, Friedman speculated that former Buffalo Sabres GM Jason Botterill might also be a candidate for San Jose Sharks GM. Keep in mind, Friedman wasn’t as sure about Botterill’s candidacy as he was Martin’s.

“I’m also curious to know if Jason Botterill is going to be in the mix here,” Friedman mused. “I’ve had some people talk to me about, they think Jason Botterill has done a lot of work about what went wrong in Buffalo.

“How could he have handled things better?”

Botterill was fired by the Sabres in Jun. 2020 after three losing seasons in Buffalo. He’s currently the assistant general manager of the Seattle Kraken.