This is the half-assed rebuild that is becoming clearer in the rearview mirror by the day.
They sent out the letter, the fans bought in - but upper management didn't have enough patience in many regards to what I call "running through the bag". They pulled up after the Wilson incident which prompted Dolan to make an emotional decision that set them into a tailspin. Since then the roster has been engineered to win a Cup rather than to improve and focus on building the youth.
You could argue that last postseason's run was also damaging since it instilled some false-ish hopes. But regardless of beating a bunch of backups and getting insane play from Igor, I refuse to say that 20 playoff games in any fashion is a detriment to a young, building team. But lets not forget they brought in 4 very effective players to strengthen the depth and they all fit like a glove. This team is far removed from that and we knew it going in.
Whats happened this season has spiraled out of control. They arent this bad. We forget that even at the start of the year we were marveling at what could be. Miller was on his game, Fox was Fox, the kids were up high in the lineup. And of course you had Bread breading with 20+ points in the first 12 games, the PP and Mika were clicking. Then somewhere along the line Igor lost it and the team started letting up untimely goals, hitting posts and calling it bad luck.
This year they are finding ways to lose instead of finding ways to win. The reality is the team is somewhere in the middle of what we saw for the majority of last season vs what we are seeing now. And that team should be treated as such. Not a contender and looking to build the youth up for the future.
The problem is there are some stubborn, selfish decision makers who arent willing to look past themselves and their time here. Jimmy Vesey is a nice story but lets not forget this franchise (and its paying fans) waited 90+ years for a top 3 pick and we landed two of them in successive drafts. Only to see one of them bewilderingly benched in a playoff game. And we all thought the hockey gods were finally with us.
Sure they overachieved, I think we all realized that, but success is good thing right? that's how players take that step forward.
You just can't overlook the fact that they lost 6 players from that playoff run.
Yes, i'm aware of the cap and the $, but all that chemistry, and good feelings, all of what made that run so great, and the come from behind attitude, was the makeup of the players in that room.
As much as STrome's lack of finish frustrated us, I have to admit he was better for Panarin, and better for the team because apparently, he was a leader.
I get moving Reeves, but where's his replacement? How about having one in place before you moved another Lockeroom leader.
Mangement makes these moves like a corporation and want the same on ice results. It just doesn't work that way.
No mystery here. last trade deadline additions and some key role players are gone. No one in the room can make up for that.
Gallant is just desperately throwing Sh$% against the wall to see what sticks.
One other thing....
Getting the crap knocked out of them and standing up for themselves and being ready to contend for a playoff run are two entirely different things.
Adding some toughness should have been a day one priority with the rebuild.
if we give you MSL - then Gallant (Therrien) is going to do the same thing to us..
