In terms of impact, the verdict is still out on Treliving. Considering the expectations coming in, I think he does not compare favourably to his predecessors.
Sutter had a young team that had a really great winger, but little in the way of expectations. He made immediate impact as GM, and it was obviously tied to the tenure he had as coach and the visibility that gave him in to the team. Nailed the goaltending requirement. Immediate transition from 7 years out of the playoffs to Stanley Cup finalist and afterwards several annual playoff appearances. The scouting grew under his watch.
Feaster was brought in after Sutter’s core had run its course, and his brother hire was falling short. Feaster was brought in to blow it up (positioned as letting the core have a last go at it, but pretty much to change the old guard). He did this, spent his year letting the vets try, then blew it up, and the team quickly had an identity. Hockey ops grew more, key pieces of the core were put in place. Move away from big Western Canadian boys to speed and hockey IQ. He did this all in only 3 years. Did the dirty work.
Treliving came in when the dirty work was done, saw an early playoff round win with the team Feaster left, and has really not accomplished anything further on the ice. In 4 years. You can argue they are better on paper, or that they have a good and deeper set of prospects.
His GG hire was because the team had, as it was positioned, gone as far as it could under Hartley. That is one of his major stamps on the club. Not looking so good at all.
I don’t know. What is disturbing is that Sutter had a pedigree, certainly with success as a coach. Feaster, for what it is worth, had a Cup on his resume and brought in a coach with a Cup as well, who has won at many levels.
Enter BT, who is a first time GM, learning on the job, and he hires a guy to coach who has potential but really not much of a resume. Sometimes I think it makes sense that a new GM is comfortable with a coach that is no threat to him for political reasons. It does not give me confidence.
Maybe they thought that the presence of Burke made it ok to make this some kind of internship franchise for the inexperienced to cut their teeth.
I don’t know. 4 years is I guess a short time to assess the impact of a guy learning on the job. Wasn’t too long for the other guys to have impact
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