Recent Articles written by Chris Gear

Chris Gear joined Daily Faceoff in Jan. 2022 after a 12-year run with the Vancouver Canucks, most recently as the club’s Assistant General Manager and Chief Legal Officer. Before migrating over to the hockey operations department, where his responsibilities included contract negotiations, CBA compliance, assisting with roster and salary cap management and governance for the AHL franchise, Gear was the Canucks’ vice president and general counsel.

My journey to The Dark Side: from NHL team member to media member

My journey to The Dark Side: from NHL team member to media memberChris Gear reflects on a rollercoaster season that saw him transition from NHL assistant GM to professional hockey writer.

From shopping lists to auctioneer agents: Inside the NHL Free Agent Frenzy

From shopping lists to auctioneer agents: Inside the NHL Free Agent FrenzyHow does an NHL front office navigate free agency day? Make your tiered lists, beware the bidding wars and know you’ll be busy whether you chase a big fish or not.

Inside the NHL Draft floor experience

Inside the NHL Draft floor experienceWho sits at the table? How do trades happen? How are picks entered? Former NHL executive Chris Gear walks you through the ins and outs.

Is the Tampa Bay Lightning dynasty dream dead? Not so fast

Is the Tampa Bay Lightning dynasty dream dead? Not so fastBy the end of the 2022 playoffs, the banged-up Bolts had emptied the tank, but that doesn’t mean their contention window has closed.

The top five NHL trade deadline deals of 2021-22

The top five NHL trade deadline deals of 2021-22Looking back at the deadline acquisitions, which players helped their teams the most in the playoffs?

The ‘Five O’s’ method for courting NHL free agents

The ‘Five O’s’ method for courting NHL free agentsThink your market is the selling point for a free agent? Think again. The pitch should be about ‘O’ — for opportunities.

No mulligans allowed: How teams escape bad contracts

No mulligans allowed: How teams escape bad contractsEven great GMs who usually make birdies sign some albatross deals from time to time. There are multiple ways to get them off the books.

Joy, despair and Green Men: What it’s like to work for a team in the Stanley Cup Final

Joy, despair and Green Men: What it’s like to work for a team in the Stanley Cup FinalThe hundreds of employees on each NHL team feel the emotional highs and lows of a Cup run just like the players do.

Prediction: New York Rangers, 2022-23 Stanley Cup champions

Prediction: New York Rangers, 2022-23 Stanley Cup championsThe Rangers were close this year. They have the youth and cap flexibility to finish the job next year.

Inside pre-draft scouting meetings: why ‘fighting’ is a good thing

Inside pre-draft scouting meetings: why ‘fighting’ is a good thingAs teams iron out their draft rankings in the weeks before they take the podium, it means something when a scout stands up and fights for a certain player.