Quote:
Originally Posted by btimbit
I really couldn't disagree more. Giordano was a fair deal and it's up next year anyway. Hanifin is paid in line with 2nd pair dmen. Ryan is paid as a 3rd liner and his contract is up in a matter of weeks so seems like a non-issue.
Honestly, the only one I don't like is Backlund
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Yeah, Giordano's contract is totally fine. You always knew it was going to hurt a little bit during the tail end, but Tree's even done a good job in planning a transition in having Hanifin and Valimaki.
Ryan's contract was a year too long - but that's free agency. Backlund's deal was also too long.
The one thing I will say is that I think if this team wanted to establish a winning culture, building a leadership group around Giordano and Backlund was a mistake. They've been here through this entire 7 year run, and just seemed to carry on the pre-existing culture of mediocrity. When it comes to building from the ground up (like they should have done), you can't get sentimental - and you can't be afraid about truly bottoming out.
I understand the fear in not wanting to be too bad, because you don't want a losing culture to set-in, but when you already had a losing culture - what are you afraid of? Hire the right coach, set out to build the right leadership group and believe in your own ability to set the cultural tone.