1. I’d start sooner than later. After the last couple of games I hold little hope this team will make the playoffs. I fire the coach now. The real reason? I want to see this group under a different coach. Interim coach must be interested in a more active defense but will obviously be an internal person. Huska, Conroy, Gelinas are the potential choices. Side benefit and media fan excuse is that it is a shake up, one last ditch effort but real motive is to see all players under a different lens.
2. Virtually all coaching staff terminated. Glenn, assistants, goal coach. Gelinas might survive - depends on 3.
3. Offseason requires a new coach. Hopefully a veteran but I don’t know who’s available yet. First choices Tortes, Hitchcock. Also would like an associate head coach who comes in with the clear expectation to be the next coach when the coaches shelf life expires. I have a very specific motive for that. I want Todd Rierdon on my staff. He won’t come as an assistant but I need a short term veteran motivator coach.
4. Need to add a RW who can score 20+. First choice likely Gallagher if I can get him. Must be right handed. Prefer gritty, large, 22-26. He shoots left but I’d love Mantha. Would then be shopping for a 2nd player with a right shot.
5. To get said player I’m willing to trade a D not named Giordano or Brodie. Willing to trade Fox, Kilington, depth forward prospects, a 2018 pick (that will be a late one ha), a 2019 pick that isn’t my 1st.
6. My no trade list includes Tkachuk, Giordano, Hamilton, Gaudreau, Anderson, Valimaki, Monahan, Backlund, Ferland.
7. In that trade or a 2nd trade, I’m looking also for a depth forward. Again, prefer a RH, RW. I would consider signing Kane to fill one of the holes but depends on the numbers. I need the cap room for Tkachuk and Ferland and Bennett if he isn’t part of my package out. I would also move more if I can improve my 2018 draft (ie a 1st or 2nd back) but it isn’t first priority and not sure I can do that and what’s above. Still, I’m willing to trade a blue chip D man and at least one maybe 2 blue chip prospects. One of whom (Fox) I believe to be highly coveted.
8. Brouwer. Would love if I could trade him out. Willing to retain the max. Won’t buy him out for 1 more year though. Will keep him in the bottom group if I have to this year.
9. Can I extend Tkachuk early? Sure will try.
10. Players under evaluation for next year, for the trade etc. Brodie, Stone, Hamonic, Shore, Lazar, Bennett, Hathaway.
11. Treliving. Depends what he tells me his plan is. Depends if he can honestly evaluate his own mistakes and where he did okay things but that didn’t work out. Is he learning and getting better? Does he have the respect of other GMs? Can he get the moves done? Will he make faster decisions and will he get contracts done earlier without signing bad ones?
12. Ken King. I like Ken but he seems redundant now if we aren’t working on an arena deal. Didn’t really get the job done. I might be looking for a new face in that role.
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