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Originally Posted by transplant99
I agree 199% but the truth is that BT really has been pretty damn good at getting his own guys to sign fair deals and as such likely feels empowered that he can do it again here.
He needs to win this year IMO (make playoffs) or he is gonzo.
Pretty unlikely he could have dealt JG and gotten back anything close to the offense he would have lost. So with DS in control of the type of hockey they are going to be playing, BT is gambling on re-signing JG and brought in a bunch of defense first players with the hopes it saves his job.
Losing JG for no return to UFA is an unmitigated disaster for this franchise though, and its a real possibility if the team is comfortably looking to be in the playoffs on March 21. Hard to blame BT in this scenario when the future doesnt matter to him if he is out at years end.
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BT has been good in RFA negotiations. Remains to be seen when up against UFA, that will be next level wizardry status if he gets value deals this time.
I think what you’ve highlighted with BT this year is precisely the problem. The franchise is at a crossroads (IMO) and you have a lame duck GM fighting for his job, with moves that satisfy the win or get fired mandate, but fall well short of strategic moves for the good of the organization in the long run.
With two franchise altering departures potentially on the horizon in Johnny and Tkachuk, I hope there’s more being considered than if this team plays in May or not.