The AHL named Oilers VP/Player Development Scott Howson its next President & CEO, as the league's BOG last Friday "unanimously elected Howson as Dave Andrews’ successor," according to Stephen Whyno of the AP. Howson, a former Blue Jackets GM, "takes over" on July 1. Howson’s first management job came in the AHL, and he is "familiar with the history and tradition" of the league. After "falling out of touch with the AHL" during his six seasons running the Blue Jackets, the Toronto native "reconnected in recent years and was intrigued by the possibility of succeeding Andrews." Howson said that "making sure every franchise is healthy and continuing to build the AHL’s brand are among his biggest tasks." Whyno noted it "helps that he has a rapport with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly and many GMs" already. Andrews, who has served as President for 26 years, is "retiring but will remain" AHL BOG Chair (AP, 2/14).
RIGHT FOR THE GIG: In Edmonton, Jim Matheson noted Howson, 59, was on the AHL’s Competition Committee from '96-02 and on the Exec Committee from '03-07, so he "wasn’t somebody coming in from the cold when they were hiring Andrews’ replacement." Howson will continue with the Oilers until "sometime in April, and move to the AHL on May 1, working alongside Andrews for a couple of months before he retires." Howson will "move to the head office in Springfield, Mass.," after penning a multiyear deal with the league. Former NHL Rangers President & GM Glen Sather said, "It’s a helluva hire. Scott’s a smart guy, dedicated, works hard, sincere, a lawyer, an ex-hockey player. He’s got a lot of connections. ... He played in the National Hockey League, he was a general manager in the the NHL, an assistant general manager in Edmonton. He checks all the boxes off pretty well" (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 2/15). In Columbus, Michael Arace writes Howson has "landed in the perfect place for what may be the last stage of his professional career." Howson played in the AHL for a time in Springfield and in the three decades since has "accrued a trove of knowledge in every facet of management." He is "universally respected" and "perfectly suited to run a professional development league with 31 teams dotting the continent" (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 2/18).
TIME TO GO: POST MEDIA NEWS' Dan Barnes wrote Andrews, 71, "clearly still loves the game, its people and most of the demands of the job, but it’s time." He will "help Howson with the transition, then step aside." Andrews said, "Really, it became a bit of a joke with our board because every year there was the potential that I was going to retire. And every year we get down to those conversations and every year I didn’t go. This time, to be candid, I think they were willing to do another long-term agreement. I said I don’t want to hang on. ... This was the first year where it just felt to me as though it was time" (POST MEDIA NEWS, 2/17).
