The Florida Panthers decided to fire assistant GM Mike Santos on Tuesday, according to the Miami Herald’s George Richards. The Florida Sun-Sentinel reports the same.
Richards reports that the Panthers said Santos’ firing won’t affect interim head coach Peter Horachek’s status with the team, which is relevant since Santos played a big role in hiring him.
Dale Tallon said firing of #FlaPanthers AGM Mike Santos does ot reflect on status of interim coach Peter Horachek. MS/PH from #Preds
— George Richards (@GeorgeRichards) March 25, 2014
It sounds as if the team will fill Santos’ role - at least for the moment - by committee.
Mike Dixon/Eric Joyce will take on more responsibility w/ #FlaPanthers hockey ops after AGM Mike Santos let go. Tallon said he was a 'pro'
— George Richards (@GeorgeRichards) March 25, 2014
This was his second run with the Panthers organization, as GM Dale Tallon hired him back on July 1, 2010 from the Nashville Predators organization (where Santos become more familiar with Horachek). The timing of the move might seem odd, but Tallon apparently did so to give Santos more time to find another gig.