Barracuda News & Discussion VII

[Sharksfan66]

So much whining going on by guys on the Cuda. Between Ports & Bords this year and Kaut last year...it really makes me wonder...Is there something uniquely dysfunctional about this org or is this a pretty common thing for guys to complain at year's end and seek a new team?

I know I'm probably coming across with major old man yells at clouds vibes right now, but I miss days when players who felt they didn't get a fair shake took some personal responsibility over their fate and worked harder to make an impact the following season instead of complaining to the media. Is this what our sport has become?

 

[Sharksfan66]

I wonder if some of this has to do with his family and the new little one still being in Buffalo? Though jumping to the KHL, while more lucrative, doesn't close that distance.

Nor does it get him closer to the NHL.

Does he want an NHL shot as he's saying or does he just want more $$? I'd respect him more if he just came out and said "I only have so many years I can play this sport at a high level, so I am grateful to the opportunity the Sharks have given me but I'm going to have to do what's best for my family by heading to Russia next year" Like I think we'd all get it if you break your contract under these circumstances. But the whole "I never got a fair shake" thing is just silly. He had a shot and I'm no pro scout but I think I saw enough to be confident he's not going to get more games with another team no matter how good of a season he puts up in the KHL. Is the K even a better league than the A at this point?

 

[Hobocop]

So much whining going on by guys on the Cuda. Between Ports & Bords this year and Kaut last year...it really makes me wonder...Is there something uniquely dysfunctional about this org or is this a pretty common thing for guys to complain at year's end and seek a new team?

I know I'm probably coming across with major old man yells at clouds vibes right now, but I miss days when players who felt they didn't get a fair shake took some personal responsibility over their fate and worked harder to make an impact the following season instead of complaining to the media. Is this what our sport has become?

I don't really perceive what Bordeleau said as whining, seems like he has a pretty accurate view of his time here.

Poturalski, I dunno. It's not like the guy is young, he's 31 and just finished his tenth professional season. Seems like a long time to think to yourself "This is the year I finally break through into the NHL." Have been a big fan of the guy in his time here but wanting to walk away from your second year here over a lack of NHL opportunities just doesn't seem... I dunno. Reasonable?

 

[LadyStanley]

Ahl locker clean out comments incoming

 

[LadyStanley]

 

[LadyStanley]

 

[Sharksfan66]

I don't really perceive what Bordeleau said as whining, seems like he has a pretty accurate view of his time here.

Poturalski, I dunno. It's not like the guy is young, he's 31 and just finished his tenth professional season. Seems like a long time to think to yourself "This is the year I finally break through into the NHL." Have been a big fan of the guy in his time here but wanting to walk away from your second year here over a lack of NHL opportunities just doesn't seem... I dunno. Reasonable?

I appreciate the compassionate take. Easy to forget these guys are human, and as you said, it must suck to think year after year "this is the year I finally break through."

But also, as humans, you'd hope they have friends in their life who are shooting them straight.

On Bords, I took this quote below to be him effectively saying he never made it because the GM who drafted him left and the new crew never gave him a shot. Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but I don't know why else he would bring up DW leaving.

 

[OrrNumber4]

On Bords, I took this quote below to be him effectively saying he never made it because the GM who drafted him left and the new crew never gave him a shot. Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but I don't know why else he would bring up DW leaving.

He has a point. Think about Dylan Gambrell's career...

 

[Hobocop]

On Bords, I took this quote below to be him effectively saying he never made it because the GM who drafted him left and the new crew never gave him a shot. Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but I don't know why else he would bring up DW leaving.

Because once DW left, the new regime had no interest in using him. Pretty much just as he said.

People can argue about whether that's the correct decision or not, but what happened after Doug Wilson left? Grier came in, focused more on size, wanted to build around his own guys, and blocked players like Bordeleau with Svechnikov, Lindblom, etc. Not unusual for new management to want to build around their own players rather than what they inherited, and I never read into the situation as being more complicated than that.

See also: Sasha Chmelevski.

 

[Sharksfan66]

Because once DW left, the new regime had no interest in using him. Pretty much just as he said.

People can argue about whether that's the correct decision or not, but what happened after Doug Wilson left? Grier came in, focused more on size, wanted to build around his own guys, and blocked players like Bordeleau with Svechnikov, Lindblom, etc. Not unusual for new management to want to build around their own players rather than what they inherited, and I never read into the situation as being more complicated than that.

See also: Sasha Chmelevski.

This feels like one of those things a player tells themselves to avoid responsibility.

In reality, Grier is fine with smaller players, they just have to actually be effective (see Eklund, Granlund, Cagioni, etc). And Eklund & Ferraro would probably laugh at the idea that you have to be drafted by GMMG to get playing time under the current regime. As for bringing in other guys, every team in the league will do this. Every last one. What did he expect? A roster spot on a silver platter? You have to earn your spot, if you can't beat out guys like Svechnikov, Lindblom, etc. you don't belong at this level.

And I say this as someone who had all the hopes in the world for Bordeleau after he put the dagger in Vegas' playoffs hopes in 2022. But being realistic, the guy has showed absolutely nothing in the 30+ NHL games he's gotten since to warrant more of an opportunity.

 

[Sharksfan66]

He has a point. Think about Dylan Gambrell's career...

IMO Gambrell has shown he belongs at the NHL level far more than Bordeleau, and that's saying something. Also Gambrell was a DW pick, whom Grier brought back.

I don't get your point?

 

[OrrNumber4]

IMO Gambrell has shown he belongs at the NHL level far more than Bordeleau, and that's saying something. Also Gambrell was a DW pick, whom Grier brought back.

I don't get your point?

Grier didn't bring Gambrell back...

 

[Hobocop]

This feels like one of those things a player tells themselves to avoid responsibility.

In reality, Grier is fine with smaller players, they just have to actually be effective (see Eklund, Granlund, Cagioni, etc). And Eklund & Ferraro would probably laugh at the idea that you have to be drafted by GMMG to get playing time under the current regime. As for bringing in other guys, every team in the league will do this. Every last one. What did he expect? A roster spot on a silver platter? You have to earn your spot, if you can't beat out guys like Svechnikov, Lindblom, etc. you don't belong at this level.

And I say this as someone who had all the hopes in the world for Bordeleau after he put the dagger in Vegas' playoffs hopes in 2022. But being realistic, the guy has showed absolutely nothing in the 30+ NHL games he's gotten since to warrant more of an opportunity.

Haha. Okay. You went this route, I wasn't really expecting that. I actually thought you were curious why he brought up DW leaving. I don't actually know what I said in that post that wasn't just literally a blow by blow description of what happened with the regime change and apparently it's what someone tells themselves to avoid responsibility.

Mike Grier signed the guys I mentioned (including Lindblom at 2.5m, yeah I'm sure someone just needed to "beat him out" and they'd be on the roster) and then for the most part didn't call up anybody from the AHL unless there was an injury. I don't really know what beating those guys out means when nobody gets called up anyway. It wasn't going to happen.

If your position is that Thomas Bordeleau didn't do enough to get his spot, then we'll just leave it at that, because there's literally nothing on these boards that interests me less than conversations about whether Bordeleau and Gushchin did enough to get NHL time.

I mean, to put my viewpoint on it simply, it's as if Bordeleau was an apple, and Grier wanted oranges. Bordeleau wasn't going to get an opportunity by being better at being an apple.

 

[Sharksfan66]

Haha. Okay. You went this route, I wasn't really expecting that. I actually thought you were curious why he brought up DW leaving. I don't actually know what I said in that post that wasn't just literally a blow by blow description of what happened with the regime change and apparently it's what someone tells themselves to avoid responsibility.

Mike Grier signed the guys I mentioned (including Lindblom at 2.5m, yeah I'm sure someone just needed to "beat him out" and they'd be on the roster) and then for the most part didn't call up anybody from the AHL unless there was an injury. I don't really know what beating those guys out means when nobody gets called up anyway. It wasn't going to happen.

If your position is that Thomas Bordeleau didn't do enough to get his spot, then we'll just leave it at that, because there's literally nothing on these boards that interests me less than conversations about whether Bordeleau and Gushchin did enough to get NHL time.

I mean, to put my viewpoint on it simply, it's as if Bordeleau was an apple, and Grier wanted oranges. Bordeleau wasn't going to get an opportunity by being better at being an apple.

I guess time will tell. If he flourishes elsewhere, I'll eat my words. As it is, I think Bordeleau simply failed to rise to the occasion. Time will tell.

 

[Sharksfan66]

Grier didn't bring Gambrell back...

Oh my gosh... I totally confused him with Noah Gregor.

Now I'm especially curious as to what your point is.

 

[Star Platinum]

Because once DW left, the new regime had no interest in using him. Pretty much just as he said.

People can argue about whether that's the correct decision or not, but what happened after Doug Wilson left? Grier came in, focused more on size, wanted to build around his own guys, and blocked players like Bordeleau with Svechnikov, Lindblom, etc. Not unusual for new management to want to build around their own players rather than what they inherited, and I never read into the situation as being more complicated than that.

The reality is that general managers will give their own draft picks much more opportunity because every failed draft pick reflects poorly on them for drafting them in the first place. How many times did the 49ers try to force feed Trey Lance into the starting lineup despite him never having done anything to earn playing time? They had to justify that trade. Once he threw five picks in a preseason game and looked incompetent doing it, they had no choice but to trade him off for what they could get, which was a measly fourth round draft pick (which honestly seems a steal at this point).

A new general manager has no investment in you as a young player. If you don't fit what his vision is, you better play well enough to force yourself into a chance and Bordeleau never did that.

 

[OrrNumber4]

Oh my gosh... I totally confused him with Noah Gregor.

Now I'm especially curious as to what your point is.

GMs and scouts get attached to their prospects. Bordeleau may have a point; DW or his son might have given Bordeleau more opportunities.

 

[Munnyro]

I'm surprised notable RFAs didn't get more of a kick at the can this year over Grunstrom/Gregor/etc. I get it, just figured there was nothing to lose.

Always remember Bords for sending Vegas to the shadow realm.

 

[Cas]

IMO Gambrell has shown he belongs at the NHL level far more than Bordeleau, and that's saying something. Also Gambrell was a DW pick, whom Grier brought back.

I don't get your point?

Dylan Gambrell is not an NHL player on his best day (particularly as evidenced by his not playing an NHL game in the last two years). Neither is Noah Gregor, who should have now played himself out of the league.

 

[Patty Ice]

Grier didn't bring Gambrell back...

I think he has him confused with Gregor. Same draft.

 

[Erep]

GMs and scouts get attached to their prospects. Bordeleau may have a point; DW or his son might have given Bordeleau more opportunities.

Dylan Gambrell is not an NHL player on his best day (particularly as evidenced by his not playing an NHL game in the last two years). Neither is Noah Gregor, who should have now played himself out of the league.

But Dylan Gambrell did play 200 NHL games. Obviously, completely undeservedly. But it really makes me laugh at all the statistical models that try to evaluate the worth of a draft pick based on a threshold of games played, and how bad development systems will try to force themselves to be right about a guy when they obviously are not.

 

[Cas]

But Dylan Gambrell did play 200 NHL games. Obviously, completely undeservedly. But it really makes me laugh at all the statistical models that try to evaluate the worth of a draft pick based on a threshold of games played, and how bad development systems will try to force themselves to be right about a guy when they obviously are not.

200 games really is not enough to say "this player is a settled NHL player). Maybe they need to go to 500 (how many non-NHL quality players make it there - Reeves?), but then they can't evaluate a pick as a success until a player is close to 30 under most circumstances.

 

[Star Platinum]

GMs and scouts get attached to their prospects. Bordeleau may have a point; DW or his son might have given Bordeleau more opportunities.

Oh he has a point, but he probably also thinks he earned a shot. He really didn't.

 

[Star Platinum]

I'm surprised notable RFAs didn't get more of a kick at the can this year over Grunstrom/Gregor/etc. I get it, just figured there was nothing to lose.

We seemed to think that throwing guys out there who made zero impact on the ice either offensively or defensively was important. Not saying Bordeleau would have made any more of an impact, but this is what happens when you sign way more end of the bench talents than you need and then you can't send any of them to the AHL without exposing them to waivers to give someone else a shot. Grier seemed to think that creating competition would cause one of them to work hard enough to stand out from the others, but Graf was the one that ultimately outshone them all.

 

[TheBeard]

I guess time will tell. If he flourishes elsewhere, I'll eat my words. As it is, I think Bordeleau simply failed to rise to the occasion. Time will tell.

I think expecting any kid to go up to the big club and immediately excel is just foolish.