Quote:
Originally Posted by polak
The pro-Brad fans seem to be really hung up on defending Brads trades on paper.
Us "no patience" fans as you say, aren't doubting that he can win trades or negotiate well. We doubt the plan in place. This team looks more and more like a team that is just not built well. Has no identity, no real strength and nothing really to develop. Please tell me what part of Brads plan looks like it's working to you guys? What area looks like a strength? Seems like the only thing we were good at last year, our offense, was solely due to the high flying offensive system which tanked the teams defense in favor of inflated goal totals. Now we don't have the "High flying offensive D system" or the "terrible Goalie" excuse for our defensive woes but we've also lost pretty much all of our scoring. We have a team that can't play short handed or score on the PP and hasn't really been able to do either consistently for two years under two different regimes now.
We also are being told by the optimistic fans that we shouldn't expect linear progression in a rebuild, ignoring the fact that two years of regression is not a positive sign in anyway, you can't say that and then also assume that Bennett, Hamilton, Monahan are just young players and they guaranteed to improve. Most players don't continue to improve. Lots of players show signs of some skill but can never put it together.
I don't know. Maybe you can convince me I'm wrong but things are grim so you can stop complaining that the diehard fans of the 30th place NHL team who have had to deal with 8 years of crap and (sure, I'll give it to you) 4 years of poor rebuilding garbage are beginning to get fed up.
|
No Identity - I agree with you. However, what was their identity for the last 3 seasons (for the most part)? "Hard working" and "Rebuilding". Let's hold that thought for a second, while we look at the 2nd major point in your post.
Linear rebuilds.
Tonnes of rebuilds are not linear. Point out the ones that have been. You will be surprised how most of them aren't.
The organization has undergone 2 philosophical changes during their rebuilds.
1) Feaster didn't care about size - he wanted skill and speed. That's fine, until Johnny breaks a finger and everyone is looking down at their skates. Burke wants a better mix. That is ongoing. I argue it is easy to build a tough but unskilled and slow team. I think it is harder, but still easy to build a fast but undersized team. Every team wants to add size, speed and skill in one package. That is why those players are so valuable.
2) Burke liked how Hartley ran things. Treliving had a different view. He is a much more analytical guy. They just made a big philosophical shift in how this team is going to play.
So identity - that relates to point 1 and 2.
Not only are most rebuilds 'up and down' processes, but when you are making changes at the philosophical level, it adds to this 'up and down' yo yo. Worst thing you can bring into this equation is impatience. I think Burke's experience in Toronto really opened his eyes, and Treliving himself has stated numerously that moves 'have to make sense long-term'. I see nothing that he is done that conflicts this.
IMO, Treliving started taking the heat as soon as he fired Hartley. Not because it was the right thing to to or the wrong thing to do, but as a GM, you seem to only have 'x' amount of head coach replacements before you get replaced - unless you have won a couple of Stanley Cups in that organization. Keep changing the coaches, and eventually the organization decides to change you. The clock started ticking the moment Hartley was fired (IMO).
However, most of his moves have been positive. He hasn't crippled the organization long-term in any way. Whatever assets used brought back long-term assets. Older players didn't get really long contracts either. Some were mistakes, but none of them really hurt this organization. The biggest thing he did is the coaching change, and we will have to see what that looks like closer to the end of the season. It may pay off in the long run, or it may just help get you your personal wish - Treliving closer to being replaced.