The team will begin a full search for a permanent general manager.
Just one day after reports surfaced that the Carolina Hurricanes were allowing general manager Don Waddell to speak with other teams, it was announced that he would be officially resigning as the Canes’ GM.
“This morning, I spoke with Tom and informed him that I have come to the decision that now is the time for me to move to the next chapter of my career,” Waddell said in a press release. “I have loved my experiences in the Triangle over the past 10 years, and together with a strong team, on and off the ice, we have accomplished many great victories. I am grateful for the support I have received from so many loyal Caniacs. This organization is in strong, capable hands and well-positioned for the future.”
Waddell has been the general manager of the Hurricanes since 2018, but had worked for the team since 2014.
In his six years at the helm of the team, Carolina won three division titles, made the Eastern Conference Final twice and has been a powerhouse in the league.
He’s negotiated quite a few key contracts such as those for Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov and he’s worked some magic in trades with guys like Brady Skjei, Nino Niederreiter and also the pick that acquired Seth Jarvis.
The 65-year-old veteran executive also served as the team president and manager of PNC Arena helping see the business side of the Hurricanes soar to record heights as the passionate fanbase not only returned but thrived.
The current report is that Waddell interviewed with the Columbus Blue Jackets yesterday and while nothing is final, it seems a likely destination.
In Waddel’s place, assistant general manager Eric Tulsky has been named interim general manager and the team has stated a full search is underway for a permanent general manager.
Fellow assistant GM Darren Yorke will assist Tulsky with managerial duties during this time.
Tulsky joined the Canes as a consultant in 2014 and then became a hockey analyst in 2015. In 2017 he was named manager of hockey, was promoted to vice president of hockey management and strategy in 2018 and in 2020, was named assistant general manager.
The Philadelphia, Pa., native holds a B.A. in chemistry and physics from Harvard University and a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley and per the team, “has been involved in all player personnel decisions, overseen pro scouting and the team’s hockey information department, and assisted with player contract negotiations, salary cap compliance, and other hockey-related matters.”
