What they're saying about Paul Fenton

Craig Leipold, Wild owner and governor

"I could not be happier than having Paul Fenton join the State of Hockey. We conducted a very thorough interviewing process and spoke to numerous qualified candidates, but there was one person that stood out among all of them, really throughout the entire process and that would be Paul. On all measures, Paul won the job, but the areas that stand out with Paul are his overall experience, his strength as a player evaluator, his work ethic, most importantly he wants to win a Stanley Cup."

Matt Majka, Wild president and alternate governor

"He's such a passionate guy and he's very respectful of the game and this community, the State of Hockey, so we didn't have to educate him about any of that. He knew all about what a great hockey hotbed this is and the passion for the game. And so that's the number one thing [we liked about Fenton], how much he loves the game and how much he wants to win, how successful he's been in Nashville and his appreciation of this place."

Bruce Boudreau, Wild head coach

"We're hockey guys and when we get together we're gonna be talking hockey all the time and that's what we love to do. He's spent a lot of years looking at the minors, I've been a lot of years in the minors so I think it should end up to be a really good relationship … I think his communication with the younger guys or with guys that are struggling is gonna be really good."

Mikko Koivu

"We're all at this point excited and as a player … you want to get to know him as a person and the way he will lead the whole organization."

Ryan Suter

"You look at the success Paul's had in Nashville, from drafting guys to the trades that he's made and he's always made their team better. And as a player, that's what you want the guy in charge to be doing, always giving you a chance to win and making your team better."

Related:
- Boudreau, Fenton paved similar paths - Suter making progress on long road to recovery - Three takeaways on Fenton's hiring as GM - PONDcast interviews with Boudreau, Fenton