It is a results league, yes. But results are ultimately at the hands of the players and coaches.
For the GM, I think the pertinent question is: is he putting the pieces in place to set the team up for success? Does he have a good vision, and plan to execute it? Are they doing a good job with scouting and developing players? Does he manage the cap well? Is he capable of making good trades to fill holes and improve the team?
And in attempting to determine those things, it is important to separate the decisions and the process from the actual results. If you do everything right, but then a couple key players just lose their mojo, or there are key injuries, or other things like that which are beyond the control of the GM, they need to be filtered out. Conversely, sometimes you just get lucky and a 6th round pick turns out to be a top 6 winger. Those things also need to be filtered out.
Stability, and consistent execution over the long term, are vital elements that fans often don't consider enough. IMO, those are the things that matter for a GM. Stability is huge.
If you are confident that the GM and the management team are doing things they are supposed to be doing, and doing them well, I think it is important to be patient, and allow that stability to solidify your franchise. Management's job is to create the environment that will allow success to happen.
IMO, Treliving and his team are doing those things. There are problems with the lineup, and the coaching, and there have been a couple bad decisions on the free agency front, but I think we have solid and stable management.
IMO, Treliving is doing a good job and is not the problem. Having said that, he has to get the coaching right, and I don't know how much more leeway you can give him on that.
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