Tampa Bay Lightning hire former GM Jay Feaster
By Cory Buck
The Tampa Bay Lightning brought back a familiar face from their brief glory days in a new capacity. Former Lightning general manager Jay Feaster, who oversaw the franchise’s roster construction from 1998-2008, has signed back on with the Lightning as the team’s executive director of community hockey development, per the NHL’s website.
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Feaster was most recently the GM of the Calgary Flames. He was fired last season on Dec. 12, 2013 and had presumably been enjoying some down time until recent days. Now it appears he’ll have a new role with a familiar organization.
While Feaster was the GM of the Lightning when the team won its sole Stanley Cup, that didn’t keep him safe in Calgary, nor did it ensure him another GM job after he was dismissed there by Brian Burke. Feaster waited out the hiring process for GMs throughout the NHL. Once it became clear he wouldn’t be getting another call on that role, Feaster appeared ready and willing to take on a new role.
In his new capacity, Feaster “will be working with local youth to help grow hockey in the Tampa Bay area. He will oversee and manage the Lightning’s outreach to youth and high school hockey programs and further increase participation and build relationships with local arenas.”
While those duties may pale in comparison to scouting teenagers and making hockey deals, it’s one that’s always needed in a market like Tampa Bay, where hockey is more of an afterthought. Perhaps if Feaster can put together a solid program in Tampa, he can find work elsewhere in the NHL once more.