Former Los Angeles Dodgers general manager and current SportsNet LA analyst Ned Colletti was among the hires announced by the San Jose Sharks. Colletti makes the jump to the NHL as a professional scout.
His duties will entail primarily focusing on scouting at the American Hockey League and NHL levels. Although this marks Colletti’s first foray into hockey on a professional level, he closely followed the sport while growing up in Chicago, as mentioned in his memoir, “The Big Chair.”
“Ned has an extensive background working in professional sports and talent evaluation and he will bring a fresh perspective to our organization’s evaluation process,” Sharks general manager Ned Wilson said. “This was a unique opportunity to add someone of Ned’s experience to our staff.”
Colletti served as general manager of the Dodgers for nine seasons, during which time the team made five appearances in the postseason, including three trips to the National League Championship Series.
No other NL general manager won more games than Colletti during his tenure at the helm of the Dodgers front office. He reached 500 victories as a GM in 2011, accomplishing the feat in 953 games, which was faster than every general manager in Dodgers franchise history besides Buzzie Bavasi (895 games).
In 2009, the Dodgers finished with the best record in the NL for the first time since 1983. Colletti additionally oversaw years when the club drafted Clayton Kershaw, Corey Seager and Joc Pederson, among others, signing Yasiel Puig and Zack Greinke, and trading for the likes of Andre Ethier, Hanley Ramirez and Adrian Gonzalez.
With the hiring of Andrew Friedman as president of baseball operations in October 2014, Colletti transitioned to a senior advisor to Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten and also became an analyst for SportsNet LA.
Colletti reportedly interviewed with the Baltimore Orioles in June 2018. It was believed he would have filled an executive role for the rebuilding franchise.
Colletti instead becomes the second former Dodgers general manager to cross sports, following in the footsteps of Paul DePodesta who was hired by the Cleveland Browns in 2016 as their chief strategy officer.
