Quote:
Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina
For me it is Button. As you outline, he really miss-managed some key situations and wound most of the good work that Coates had done. Boy - if they had just given Coates more time, what could have been.
I also look at the draft record and Riser's wasn't bad.
91 - blew the first rounder, but McCarthy was a solid 3rd rounder. The rest isn't great
92 - Fantastic. Stillman was a greaet pick at #6, putting up over 1000 games. But he found NHLers in Svehla (then given away), Bouchard and Hoglund.
93 - Blew the first, but found German Titov way down in the 10th.
94 - No home runs but a series of solid picks with Dignman, Clark, and a couple of other lessers.
95 - Denis Gauthier was a very solid pick at #20, and Wilm at #150 is good too.
His draft issue is a lack of home run picks but he did find players throughout various rounds.
Button
2000: Blew with with Krahn. Solid pick w/ Stoll who didn't sign. Moen is a good pick too I suppose.
2001: Kobasew is an ok pick at 14. Found Moss at #220
2002: Nystrom at #10 just isn't a good pick, though that first round ain't great overall. Lombardi at #90 is a home run. McBackup at #176 is also solid
So I guess overall the draft records are similar.
I still put Button as the worst.
The real shame of Riser's GM tenure is that it soured the memory of him as a player and his overall place in the franchise history. He would be remembered more fondly as a player if he wasn't such a terri-bad GM.
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All very good points. I think what makes Button's draft record all the more bad is that when he came in he was touted as a draft guru (and continues to be such for TSN) but he just wasn't good with the Flames.