Chayka could become trendsetter as young NHL GM; MLB already flooded with youth

Recently named the youngest general manager in NHL history, John Chayka of the Arizona Coyotes may represent the start of a trend toward youth in hockey. Major League Baseball has fully embraced youth in the GM’s chair since Theo Epstein was hired to steer the Boston Red Sox in 2002. Nine of the 30 GMs are under 40.

A look at five of the youngest today:

1. Farhan Zaidi, Los Angeles Dodgers

Born in Sudbury, Ont., Zaidi was hired days before his 38th birthday after a lengthy stint working for Moneyball posterboy Billy Beane and the Oakland Athletics. Zaidi, a graduate of MIT, was recently joined in the Dodgers front office by former Blue Jays GM and one-time wunderkind himself, Alex Anthopolous.

2. David Stearns, Milwaukee Brewers

Stearns was hired at age 30 by the Brewers, replacing 63-year-old Doug Melvin. A Harvard graduate, Stearns got his start in baseball as an intern with the Pittsburgh Pirates, rising from assistant GM of the Houston Astros into the lead role in Milwaukee.

3. Mike Hazen, Boston Red Sox

Like Stearns, Hazen’s baseball career began with an internship, this one in the Cleveland Indians organization. A former outfielder in the San Diego Padres system and Princeton University grad, Hazen worked his way up the Indians ladder before joining the Red Sox, eventually becoming their GM at age 39.

4. Jeff Bridich, Colorado Rockies

A Harvard University grad, Bridich has been with the Rockies since 2004, starting there as the team’s manager of minor league operations before landing the GM job at age 37. He traded franchise cornerstone Troy Tulowitzki to the Blue Jays in his first season in the role.

5. Matthew Silverman, Tampa Bay Rays

Silverman spent nearly a decade as the Rays team president before sliding over to replace Andrew Friedman (hired as Rays GM at age 28) as president of baseball operations in 2014. Also a Harvard graduate, Silverman comes from a financial background, employed at Goldman Sachs before joining the Rays.