Quote:
Originally Posted by Vulcan
This is one of the problems Darryl had, not trusting the players he drafted. It wasn't always because the "base" wasn't good enough, it was because Darryl never trusted them and this has probably cost us. A good example was Giordano.
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I don't agree with this at all. Didn't he trust Backlund? He basically gave him the keys to the dome the first day he got here from Sweden and put him on the ice in an NHL game. Backlund wasn't even a pro, he was still a Major Junior. Then he went around Kelowna and Abbotsford and was called up a few times until he stuck. He still only has 8 goals in 80 games played.
Sutter signed Gio, not drafting him. It was a great signing but he didn't think Giordano's development was complete at the time and wouldn't give him a 1 way so Gio bolted to Russia. That actually improved his game and finished his development. Gio is still grateful to Sutter for taking a chance on him. His new contract is still much more valuable than any other defenseman's on this team.
The other players were given chances every year at training camp and preseason and some even got NHL games. They just didn't cut it. You can just trust players who don't cut it. There's a small chance the NHL exposure will improve them but it's still a much higher chance that it's a detriment to a team for guys who proved to still be mediocre in the AHL to be with the big club taking up a roster spot when other proven NHL players are better in those positions.