The Minnesota Wild have players from Canada, the US, Sweden, Finland and even Switzerland. But the man at the helm is from the Comox Valley.

When the Wild91裸聊视频檚 season ended last week, owner Craig Leipold informed general manager Chuck Fletcher that his contract would not be renewed.

The announcement came on the heels of the Wild91裸聊视频檚 first-round playoff exit, at the hands of the Winnipeg Jets.

Exit Fletcher, enter Brent Flahr.

The Courtenay-born and raised Flahr was named interim GM of the team Monday.

It91裸聊视频檚 a natural progression for Flahr, who has been with the Wild as their assistant GM since 2009.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e been Chuck91裸聊视频檚 right-hand man, sort of 91裸聊视频榮econd in command91裸聊视频� so this is the next step,91裸聊视频� he said, adding that the announcement caught him off-guard.

91裸聊视频淥bviously Chuck is a close friend of mine, we91裸聊视频檝e worked together a long time, and anytime something like that happens, it91裸聊视频檚 tough, but it91裸聊视频檚 part of the business. Anytime you lose in the first round of the playoffs, or don91裸聊视频檛 make the playoffs 91裸聊视频� in today91裸聊视频檚 day and age, there91裸聊视频檚 expectations, and you have to meet them. The owners have the right to make changes as they see fit, and that91裸聊视频檚 what happened.91裸聊视频�

Being named interim GM does not guarantee Flahr the position moving forward. He knows the process involved, and there are still decisions to be made on both sides 91裸聊视频� not only before Flahr is officially offered the job, but also before he accepts it.

91裸聊视频淗e [Leipold] spoke with me briefly the day Chuck was let go and I will speak with him again more formally and see where it goes,91裸聊视频� said Flahr. 91裸聊视频淚 know he91裸聊视频檚 speaking with other potential hires as well, and at the same time, I have to see where my best interests lie and give it all some thought as well.91裸聊视频�

With the 2018 NHL entry draft slated for June 22-23, and free agency beginning July 1, there is little down time for the Wild organization.

91裸聊视频淸Leipold] told me he wants something done sooner, rather than later, and this is a busy time of the year, with the draft and free agency - just getting your ducks in a row with signing contracts. So the sooner the better, just so you can have a game plan moving forward.91裸聊视频�

Being an NHL general manager is a highly sought-after position.

91裸聊视频淓verybody wants to be an NHL GM,91裸聊视频� former Minnesota Wild forward Patrick O91裸聊视频橲ullivan said on his radio show, The Power Play, this week.

Flahr is no different in that regard.

91裸聊视频淥bviously the job is something I aspire to, and hopefully at the right time, it will happen, whether that91裸聊视频檚 now, or 10 years from now, we91裸聊视频檒l see. I91裸聊视频檓 still a young guy in this game.91裸聊视频�

Flahr has been working in the National Hockey League ever since graduating from Princeton University, in 1996. He captained the Tigers in his final season of university, which is also when he made his decision as to career direction.

91裸聊视频淚 realized then that there was not much call for 5-foot-10 defencemen in the NHL, so 91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�

Flahr went directly from Princeton to the Florida Panthers organization, where he spent six years (1996-2002) as a scout. (Fletcher was the assistant GM of the team throughout that tenure.)

Flahr moved west, to scout for the Anaheim Ducks for four seasons, before heading to the Ottawa Senators in 2007, as the director of hockey ops. He spent two years in the nation91裸聊视频檚 capital before joining the Wild organization.

Flahr is cognizant of the fact that a new general manager could leave him in a somewhat precarious situation.

91裸聊视频淲hen changes are made, people do bring in their own people91裸聊视频� but at the same time, I91裸聊视频檝e been in the game long enough and I91裸聊视频檝e done a pretty good job in a lot of roles, so I think I91裸聊视频檓 a good asset.

91裸聊视频淚 have a good relationship with the owners, and a good relationship with the staff, but at the same time, it91裸聊视频檚 a business. So if it doesn91裸聊视频檛 work out, I91裸聊视频檓 a big boy. I91裸聊视频檒l be able to find work elsewhere.91裸聊视频�

Hockey has been a part of Flahr91裸聊视频檚 life since childhood. He grew up playing minor hockey in the Comox Valley, while attending Courtenay Elementary, then Lake Trail. He spent one year at Vanier, before leaving the Comox Valley to play junior hockey in Bellingham, when the Ice Hawks were part of the BCHL.

He left Bellingham to go to Princeton University as an 18-year-old, in 1992.

His parents, Melanie and Harold, still reside in Courtenay.