End of Year Press Conference

[Taro T]

I'm not sure I follow: You believe Pegula separated DR because he thought DR was prepared to go too nuclear? Or do you believe that, had DR really gone full-on tank in 13-14, he'd still be here along with other players that GM TM jettisoned?

 

Not because DR was "prepared" to "go nuclear" but rather because he HAD gone nuclear. They were 4-15-1 under RR and it's kind of amazing they even won that many. The team was completely outmatched as RR was NOT ready for the big time and DR hadn't even interviewed any other candidates the prior off-season.

 

Not sure if it was insubordination, or being the ultimate "yes man" but we were told that upper management wanted 30th & there was no friggin' way DR would let it slip away. (They want an all time lousy team, well, let's see how they like THIS all time lousy team.)

 

DR was let go because the ####ing team was un-####ing-watchable. There would have been unreparable damage to the fanbase had that tire fire been allowed to continue burning. TM kept that bad team bad, but they were competitve (though still losers) which could not be said for RR's last squad.

 

TM showed, as did Lamiorello, that you can reach your goal of being the worst but still make it a close contest if you have a plan for what you're doing and understand what you're trying to accomplish LT. Does anybody honestly believe that a DR built team, coming off of what he'd left here in November 2013, would have gotten to 80+ points this season? This team would have, at best, been Columbus IMHO.

 

Had DR assembled a "lovable bunch of losers" he MIGHT have survived. (Primarily because that's what his bosses seemed to want.) He didn't. That team was loathsome and he paid the price for it.

[That Aud Smell]

DR was let go because the ####ing team was un-####ing-watchable.  . . . TM kept that bad team bad, but they were competitve (though still losers) which could not be said for RR's last squad.

 

TM showed, as did Lamiorello, that you can reach your goal of being the worst but still make it a close contest if you have a plan for what you're doing and understand what you're trying to accomplish LT. 

Had DR assembled a "lovable bunch of losers" he MIGHT have survived. (Primarily because that's what his bosses seemed to want.) He didn't. That team was loathsome and he paid the price for it.

 

[Thorner]

Not because DR was "prepared" to "go nuclear" but rather because he HAD gone nuclear. They were 4-15-1 under RR and it's kind of amazing they even won that many. The team was completely outmatched as RR was NOT ready for the big time and DR hadn't even interviewed any other candidates the prior off-season.

Not sure if it was insubordination, or being the ultimate "yes man" but we were told that upper management wanted 30th & there was no friggin' way DR would let it slip away. (They want an all time lousy team, well, let's see how they like THIS all time lousy team.)

DR was let go because the ####ing team was un-####ing-watchable. There would have been unreparable damage to the fanbase had that tire fire been allowed to continue burning. TM kept that bad team bad, but they were competitve (though still losers) which could not be said for RR's last squad.

TM showed, as did Lamiorello, that you can reach your goal of being the worst but still make it a close contest if you have a plan for what you're doing and understand what you're trying to accomplish LT. Does anybody honestly believe that a DR built team, coming off of what he'd left here in November 2013, would have gotten to 80+ points this season? This team would have, at best, been Columbus IMHO.

Had DR assembled a "lovable bunch of losers" he MIGHT have survived. (Primarily because that's what his bosses seemed to want.) He didn't. That team was loathsome and he paid the price for it.

This is a great post.

[LGR4GM]

I wonder if the difference between Winnipeg's treatment of Kane aND Buffalo's is Winnipeg was content with Kane not opening up and so they just didn't really include him. Versus in Buffalo the players have deliberately engaged with him in a social setting making him feel part of the team even if he was standoff ish at times. Instead being like fine be that way, they tried even harder to include him. Just a thought.

[Taro T]

I wonder if the difference between Winnipeg's treatment of Kane aND Buffalo's is Winnipeg was content with Kane not opening up and so they just didn't really include him. Versus in Buffalo the players have deliberately engaged with him in a social setting making him feel part of the team even if he was standoff ish at times. Instead being like fine be that way, they tried even harder to include him. Just a thought.

Dustin Byfuglein hates black people. ;)

 

It seems Kane is a 'keep to himself' type, which is fine. (From the 2 minutes of edited footage they showed of the parent's roadie, his dad seems the same way.)

 

Being a top draft pick, there were expectations in Atl/Win that he couldn't live up to. Here, he doesn't have those expectations and is what we expected. (1st line wheels & hands, but w/ a flaw (poor vision) which is why he was available.) Paille was a key part of the B's win, but was never going to be able to be a 4th liner here. Sometimes very good (but not great) players need a change of scenery to meet their ceiling. Evander seems to be 1.

[That Aud Smell]

It seems Kane is a 'keep to himself' type, which is fine. (From the 2 minutes of edited footage they showed of the parent's roadie, his dad seems the same way.)

 

GM TM is on record saying he needs to be less so.

Edited April 18, 2016 by That Aud Smell

[qwksndmonster]

GM TM is in record saying he needs to be less so.

I've loved this about GMTM.  Dude demands a lot of his players.  I don't remember Darcy ever saying anything even remotely negative about his players in public.

[Rasmus_]

We are drafting a defender at #8

 

His name is Jake Chychrun.  I'm pretty much locked in on this at this point.  

[Derrico]

His name is Jake Chychrun.  I'm pretty much locked in on this at this point.  

You think he lasts until 8th or 9th?  I have my doubts.

[Sabel79]

Tangentially related to the thread topic, but I'm going to have to leave this here. It made me laugh...

[Stoner]

Tangentially related to the thread topic, but I'm going to have to leave this here. It made me laugh...

That is funny!

[#freejame]

His name is Jake Chychrun.  I'm pretty much locked in on this at this point.  

If you had told me last October we were going to draft Chychrun I would have guessed we finished third. I'd love for him to be available at eight but I have my doubts.