The team Treliving built

[Vinny01]

Looking at the roster with the exception of 2 players this is Treliving's team.

Forwards:
Monahan - drafted by Feaster, signed by Treliving
Gaudreau - drafted by Feaster, signed by Treliving (inevitably)
Brouwer - signed by Treliving
Bennett - drafted by Treliving
Tkachuk- drafted by Treliving
Ferland- drafted by Sutter, signed by Treliving
Shinkaruk- traded for by Treliving
Backlund - drafted by Sutter signed by Treliving
Frolik - signed by Treliving
Bouma - drafted by Sutter, signed by Treliving
Chiasson- traded for by Treliving
Bollig - traded for by Treliving

Defense
Giordano- signed by Sutter, re-signed by Treliving
Brodie- drafted by Sutter, signed by Treliving
Hamilton- traded for and signed by Treliving
Jokkipakka- traded for by Treliving
Wotherspoon - drafted by Feaster signed by Treliving
Engellend - signed by Treliving

Goalies
Elliott- traded for by Treliving
Johnson - signed by Treliving

That leaves Wideman (signed by Feaster), Smid (traded for by Feaster) and Stajan (traded for by Sutter, signed by Burke) as the only roster players that Treliving hasn't either brought into the organization, or a player that he negotiated their current contract. There are other possibilities as the season opens in Porier, Kulak, Klimchuck, Culkin make the team (drafted by Feaster, signed by Burke or Feaster). Even other top prospects Gillies and Jankowski that were drafted by Feaster were signed by Treliving. Lastly with the Gulutzan hire he has brought in his own head coach.

Safe to say this is the team he built and it is going to be an exciting season. I didn't realize until I drilled down a bit just how many players he hass had a hand in acquiring or retaining. I am a fan of Treliving so far it seems he is a very smart and hard working guy. I have enjoyed his traded to date as it feels really good to win trades for once after a long period under Sutter (2010 edition) and Feaster (minus the Erixon and Cammalleri deals) losing trades badly. To date I have given Treliving a pass on the teams performance. Now that this is undeniably his team the praise or hate that comes with the teams performance over the next few years will rest on his shoulders.

Is it time to drop the puck yet?

[TheScorpion]

I wouldn't equate re-signings to "building", but maybe that's just me. I don't think of the Blackhawks as the team Stan Bowman built, because the guy who drafted most of their stars and really crafted that team into a powerhouse was Dale Tallon.

I don't think of Gaudreau, for instance, as a Treliving move. He was drafted by Feaster, who relied on his scouting staff to find him. Treliving had no responsibilty in regards to acquiring him. Same goes with Giordano. That was a Sutter-regime signing. Just because Treliving re-signed him doesn't mean that he was "building the team", because Giordano was a Flame long before Treliving arrived.

Just my thoughts.

[shadowlord]

I feel like if we're going to look at Treliving's team, it should include coaches, scouts and front-office staff (i.e. Craig Conroy).

It should also include (successful?) players that Treliving chose to trade away or let go and how they turned out. Notable non-Treliving examples are Phil Kessel or Nick Bonino.

[CroFlames]

Don't forget Treliving brought in his own coaching staff too now.

I'd agree this is totally Brads team now.

[Finger Cookin]

I don't think the act of re-signing a RFA makes a guy Treliving's guy. The vast majority of RFA's around the league are re-signed by the organization that drafted them until they hit UFA status or can be extended into UFA years.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

He may not have "built" everything, but it is his team now, no doubt. Signed the guys he wanted to keep and cleaned house on those he didn't (with the possible exception of Wideman). No excuses, hopefully, just results.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I wouldn't equate re-signings to "building", but maybe that's just me. I don't think of the Blackhawks as the team Stan Bowman built, because the guy who drafted most of their stars and really crafted that team into a powerhouse was Dale Tallon.

I don't think of Gaudreau, for instance, as a Treliving move. He was drafted by Feaster, who relied on his scouting staff to find him. Treliving had no responsibilty in regards to acquiring him. Same goes with Giordano. That was a Sutter-regime signing. Just because Treliving re-signed him doesn't mean that he was "building the team", because Giordano was a Flame long before Treliving arrived.

Just my thoughts.

We will have to agree to disagree. I am not discounting Sutter or Feaster for their picks but those players are on the team today with contracts that were negotiated and signed by Treliving.

At this stage of the game the Blackhawks are Bowman's team but even then some of the major contracts were not signed by him. Looking at the Flames we have a 4th line C and bottom pair D that are here with no thanks to the current GM.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

I don't think the act of re-signing a RFA makes a guy Treliving's guy. The vast majority of RFA's around the league are re-signed by the organization that drafted them until they hit UFA status or can be extended into UFA years.

Sweeny and Hamilton say hi. I do agree signing RFA's is easier than retaining UFA players but how does Treliving not get credit for the amazing Brodie RFA contract. Brodie is praised for how good he is and how cheap he comes. Treliving negotiated that deal at the right time and the Flames will benefit greatly for it over the next several years.

Treliving doesn't get all the credit for the players on the team but he does get credit for putting this team together and keeping it together with his contracts he signs

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

I don't think the act of re-signing a RFA makes a guy Treliving's guy. The vast majority of RFA's around the league are re-signed by the organization that drafted them until they hit UFA status or can be extended into UFA years.

In a situation in which a team chooses to pass over their pending RFAs then I definitely think those players who are retained are clearly part of the manager's long term plan. Treliving dismissed Ortio, Colborne, Jooris, Shore, Arnold, and others, and settled on signing only Monahan, Gaudreau, Wotherspoon, and Freddie Hamilton. These four players under these circumstances should be regarded as "Treliving's guys."

[bigrangy]

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

He may not have "built" everything, but it is his team now, no doubt. Signed the guys he wanted to keep and cleaned house on those he didn't (with the possible exception of Wideman). No excuses, hopefully, just results.

This. Before this season, you couldn't really hold BT accountable for how the team performed. He has now made his bed, and he should be held accountable for any failures of the team going forward. He won't get all of the success (since he didn't draft any of the team's best players), but his job will be on the line if things go south. I hope this doesn't affect how he runs the team, since I'm pretty happy with the roster management under his tenure.

Aside: I wonder if he ever consider relieving Burke of his duties. It's his team now, might as well make that clear to everybody else. I'm not sure if Burke is an asset to this team anymore.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by bigrangy

This. Before this season, you couldn't really hold BT accountable for how the team performed. He has now made his bed, and he should be held accountable for any failures of the team going forward. He won't get all of the success (since he didn't draft any of the team's best players), but his job will be on the line if things go south. I hope this doesn't affect how he runs the team, since I'm pretty happy with the roster management under his tenure.

Aside: I wonder if he ever consider relieving Burke of his duties. It's his team now, might as well make that clear to everybody else. I'm not sure if Burke is an asset to this team anymore.

I agree with the fact the failures rest with him but disagree that he won't get credit for the success. Similar to Brodie and his amazing contract for a 40+OT 2 way Dman if Monahan goes for 40 goals and 75pts this year Treliving will be praised for the great contract he signed for such an impact player

Also Burke is Treliving's boss he would fire Tree not the other way around

[Gaudreauvertime]

I have a hard time giving credit for RFA signings, especially for guys who have yet to be signed.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Gaudreauvertime

I have a hard time giving credit for RFA signings, especially for guys who have yet to be signed.

I get it about Gaudreau but I fail to recognize how Treliving doesn't get credit for the Brodie, Backlund, or Monahan contracts? Brodie is a steal and he got 5 years term on the deal. If Brodie was paid $8M there would be a lot more critics than he has now (which is virtually none). That credit goes to Treliving who signed him before he broke out

[Gaudreauvertime]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

I get it about Gaudreau but I fail to recognize how Treliving doesn't get credit for the Brodie, Backlund, or Monahan contracts? Brodie is a steal and he got 5 years term on the deal. If Brodie was paid $8M there would be a lot more critics than he has now (which is virtually none). That credit goes to Treliving who signed him before he broke out

I think he gets credit for Brodie for sure, because it is so far below market. Guys he resigned at more or less market value, I don't think that's really a big deal. Yea he did it, but he didn't really save us any money.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

In a situation in which a team chooses to pass over their pending RFAs then I definitely think those players who are retained are clearly part of the manager's long term plan. Treliving dismissed Ortio, Colborne, Jooris, Shore, Arnold, and others, and settled on signing only Monahan, Gaudreau, Wotherspoon, and Freddie Hamilton. These four players under these circumstances should be regarded as "Treliving's guys."

That's fair. I also think every GM in the league re-signs Gaudreau and Monahan, 99 times out of 100. It's probably just more nuanced than X re-signing player Y making player Y X's guy.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Gaudreauvertime

I think he gets credit for Brodie for sure, because it is so far below market. Guys he resigned at more or less market value, I don't think that's really a big deal. Yea he did it, but he didn't really save us any money.

Wait, what?

Is the point of the OP to demonstrate Treliving's capabilities as a general manager? I understand the whole point of this discussion to centre on those players that the GM has targeted to be the building blocks of his team. In other words, ALL of those RFAs that have been qualified and then signed appear to be part of Treliving's plan for this team.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

That's fair. I also think every GM in the league re-signs Gaudreau and Monahan, 99 times out of 100. It's probably just more nuanced than X re-signing player Y making player Y X's guy.

Without question.

The OP stated above:

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Safe to say this is the team [Treliving] built and it is going to be an exciting season. I didn't realize until I drilled down a bit just how many players he hass [sic.] had a hand in acquiring or retaining...

This was offered on the heels of the following observation:

Looking at the roster with the exception of 2 players this is Treliving's team.

I think the point here being that the team that takes to the ice this season is a near-complete approximation of Treliving's vision for winning the Stanley Cup. That vision is not made of whole cloth, but has been assembled from existing pieces and inserting new pieces to supplement those that were already there. Part of being a good GM is recognising the strengths of a team that were already in place before one begins shaping the team; Treliving has done well with that, and he deserves credit for it.

[Gaudreauvertime]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Wait, what?

Is the point of the OP to demonstrate Treliving's capabilities as a general manager? I understand the whole point of this discussion to centre on those players that the GM has targeted to be the building blocks of his team. In other words, ALL of those RFAs that have been qualified and then signed appear to be part of Treliving's plan for this team.

They are, but for the vast majority of those players, it's not like it was a hard decision to qualify and sign those players.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Gaudreauvertime

They are, but for the vast majority of those players, it's not like it was a hard decision to qualify and sign those players.

So, what does that have to do with this discussion? Is it that only "hard decisions" count toward team building? That doesn't make any sense at all.

[Vinny01]

Exactly Textcritic that is the point I was trying to make.

This summer Treliving really put his stamp on the team. He fired Hartley and replaced him with Gulutzan. He let several RFA's go that were once considered pieces of the future in Colborne, Jooris, Arnold, Agostino. He is in the process of signing 2 of the key players he inherited when he took the job. Lastly the only remaining players that are on the team playing on contracts he didn't sign are a 33 year old 4th line C and a 34 year old bottom pair D.

George McPhee is the only GM I know that is employed that will have a roster of pkayers he picked entirely on his own. Treliving in his 2+ years on the job has picked the players in the organization that he wanted to keep and has added several himself via draft, trade and free agency. This is truly his team and he should be praised or scolded accordingly for it