ʃˈɔːɹtli ˈæftɚ, ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti ˈeɪt, hiː ɹᵻsˈiːvd ɐ kˈɔːl fɹʌm tˈæmpə bˈeɪ lˈaɪtnɪŋ dʒˈɛnɚɹəl mˈænɪdʒɚ, ʒˈæk dˈɛmɚz, hˌuː ˈɔfɚd hˌɪm ɐ pəzˈɪʃən æz ðə tˈiːmz ɐsˈɪstənt dʒˈɛnɚɹəl mˈænɪdʒɚ.
Shortly after, in 1998, he received a call from Tampa Bay Lightning general Manager, Jacques Demers, who offered him a position as the team's assistant general manager.