[Rumour] Blue Jackets were offered both Jeff Carter and Mike Richards (back in 2011)

[Locke]

Originally Posted by edslunch

This is a good illustration if the different phases of a rebuild. If Columbus had done this full deal it would have shredded their depth - they just didn't have it. LA on the other hand gave up Simmonds, Schenn, Johnson, plus for these two and went on to win the cup - they had the depth and prospects to do that

And they didnt have to blow it all up afterwards.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Locke

Richards is going through his 'Yzerman' phase where hes changing his personal game to suit his team's needs.

He probably could very easily be on Columbus and be scoring 30 goals and that team would still be treading water.

He might be able to score 30 goals somewhere else.. but its not like he's an offensive dynamo. He had 30 and 31 goal seasons... its not like he was ever 30 goals in the bank.

[DionTheDman]

Originally Posted by Dagger

I would love to hear how he managed that. How is it possible to have run that team into the ground when Maclean left him with NOTHING except for Rick Nash. He left them in respectable shape. Read the series below from one of the most respected and knowledgeable hockey minds on HF, who writes a detailed timeline and synopsis of Howson's reign.

http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/sh...1389429&page=3

Excellent and interesting read. Is he actually a known individual in the business of hockey, or just a really really really dedicated fan?

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Dagger

I would love to hear how he managed that. How is it possible to have run that team into the ground when Maclean left him with NOTHING except for Rick Nash. He left them in respectable shape. Read the series below from one of the most respected and knowledgeable hockey minds on HF, who writes a detailed timeline and synopsis of Howson's reign.

http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/sh...1389429&page=3

Man hard to read, not the writing but the incredable irritating popups on that site.

[Tinordi]

Originally Posted by Dagger

I would love to hear how he managed that. How is it possible to have run that team into the ground when Maclean left him with NOTHING except for Rick Nash. He left them in respectable shape. Read the series below from one of the most respected and knowledgeable hockey minds on HF, who writes a detailed timeline and synopsis of Howson's reign.

http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/sh...1389429&page=3

Thanks, that's as good an assessment of any GM/team I've ever read.

[DionTheDman]

Originally Posted by T@T

Man hard to read, not the writing but the incredable irritating popups on that site.

Chrome/Firefox, adblock, etc. etc.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by Dagger

You can't fault him for making that deal. He didn't know that Carter would pout the way he did, and give noticeably less effort whilst he was there. If you were in a position like he was where you have a franchise with a reputation for losing but having the pieces to take the next step, if you can make a deal for Jeff Carter to change the perception of your team and give Rick Nash some help then you do it. Free agents of Jeff Carter's stature don't sign with the Columbus' of the world, so a trade was the only way to bring in high level talent that can step in the lineup right away.

There were rumors of Carter/Richards in Philly

all the 'dry island' stuff was well known, I just don't think that's the type of guy you mortgage the future for

[DOOM]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

There were rumors of Carter/Richards in Philly

all the 'dry island' stuff was well known, I just don't think that's the type of guy you mortgage the future for

[d_phaneuf]

yes they are good players, no one is doubting that

putting them in a good franchise and on a good team works wonders for guys like that

those two in Columbus wouldn't have let to a cup, look at how much Carter pouted, you would have had 2 guys doing that, they didn't want to go to a rebuild

[Locke]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

yes they are good players, no one is doubting that

putting them in a good franchise and on a good team works wonders for guys like that

those two in Columbus wouldn't have let to a cup, look at how much Carter pouted, you would have had 2 guys doing that, they didn't want to go to a rebuild

You could say the same about the vast majority of players in their prime.

But, would it have made Columbus better? Short term or long term?

As I said before, I dont think it matters either way, Columbus is garbage, be it Maclean's fault, which a lot of it was, or Howson's, it really depends on what the goal was.

If their mandate was to be exciting and win games in order to establish their STH and fanbase and make the team viable then he probably should have done.

If their mandate was to win the Stanley Cup in 3-5 years then he probably should have done it.

In the end though, it was selling future for a hopeless present, even if that future might also have been hopeless sometimes you have to take that in order to establish the franchise on some relatively level financial ground.

[Dagger]

Originally Posted by DionTheDman

Excellent and interesting read. Is he actually a known individual in the business of hockey, or just a really really really dedicated fan?

Sorry just saw this now....from what I know he's just an incredibly dedicated fan who's extremely bright. He also has this excellent post on Gary Bettman that really debunks a lot of myths about him.

http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/sh...d.php?t=891378

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Thanks, that's as good an assessment of any GM/team I've ever read.

Really enjoyed that, but he lost me at this line:

"- The Rick Nash trade brought in Tim Erixon, who's exceeded everyone's expectations."

[memphusk]

They bother learned what losing does. Then after they lost, they learnt how to win. I would take both if those guys in a heartbeat.