Beech
Registered User
- Nov 25, 2020
- 3,192
- 1,140
I disagree. The 95% casual fan, ate this up. Like soup on a cold winter day.I don't think most believed in what they were doing in general though. Tons of criticism of their operation and their decisions in bubbles. That doesn't mean some of the more bold stuff wasn't met with excitement and the fans weren't starved for some competitive hockey after essentially folding for years.
The Dadonov/Murray summer seemed like a time the team was willing to spend some dough. They were both relatively short term deals too, so I think most were excited by the idea the team wasn't just playing broke rebuild team anymore. Cautious optimism it felt like.
The DeBrincat move wasn't exposed as being so bad until we knew he was a bad fit, had telegraphed and exit from the beginning, and Dorion went through with it despite being denied talking to their camp after he requested. That changes a lot there. Assumption obviously wasn't that we'd be selling low on him 1 year later.
The Chychrun move could have been solid, but it seems the pro scouting let us down. He's clearly not the player he was assumed to be. I think what's important to note with Chychrun is that regardless of what fans thought of the player, Dorion once again put himself in a position of a big acquisition of a player with not much runway. He basically had 2 years left after they finished out that one he was acquired during. It burned him again like it did with Duchene and DeBrincat.
The 5% diehard, was mixed. For some reason, the Cat was now seen as Mike Bossy. This guy who was going to fill the net with pucks..
Chyc was supported by all.. A boy with local ties, a stud Dman. We all ate it up.
the reality is, the CAT and Chyc were part of a storm. A failed rebuild, showing signs of collapsing. (Logan Brown gone, Colin White gone, JBD and Thomson stalled, Formenton on his way out) 5 pieces, assumed to be cornerstones fizzled. So now, panic and trade. All the while the apple needs polishing to be sold and the present owner is losing 30 M a year.