The problem with Dubas's "vision" right now as I see it...
- in terms of futures, we currently don't have a second-round pick in 2025. This whole getting younger model (which I am 100% on board with) only works when you have the draft capital to pull it off. I think Dubas has been too cute with some of his moves. Like getting involved in the St. Louis RFA situation, and the swap of prospects with Wpg. We did not advance in those moves, we stayed in the same place. You have to do more.
- the second part of his vision is to stay competitive for the duration of the legends' careers. Here he has failed miserably imo. You are not staying competitive by adding other teams' rejects and fourth-line talent. Boston no longer wanted Grz; he is now a first-pairing disaster here. St. Louis paid to get rid of Hayes; he looks done as an NHLer. Nashville paid to get rid of Glass; he is a fourth-liner, nothing more than that. LA wanted to get younger at center so they passed on Lizotte; he is a fourth-liner, nothing more (when healthy). Anthony Beauvillier has been on four teams and everybody figured out that he gets chances but cannot score to save his life; here's your brand new first-line winger!
Nashville, a team that added two 40-goal scorers this off-season for the present, also boasts three first-round draft picks in 2025!
You wanna do both, Kyle? Ask the Predators how it is done.
We all saw the PP last season. It was not something that could be fixed with the personnel we have. THAT is why some of us were screaming to sign a Stamkos or trade for a Laine. Instead, we signed Beauvillier as the first-line solution to our problems.
It is useless to further discuss Sullivan at this point, so I will no longer do so. But Dubas is definitely not doing his job. Oh he is doing a little bit of this while also doing a little bit of that. But he is failing at both ends.
I get the frustration. I honestly do but I don't think it's a problem with Dubas's "vision". His "vision" is roughly the same as Hextall's, it's the one that I imagine every single GM would have for the Penguins as well. The reality is that we are destined to be in a middle-ground purgatory for a couple of years. This is the tax payment for 15 years of cup contention and having the privilege of having two all-time greats on the roster. We are half-in and half-out. Whether or not anyone agrees with that approach is irrelevant because that's what the organization is doing. They aren't going all in and giving up prospects and draft capital for win-now players and they aren't stripping it down to the studs and discarding guys like Malkin and Crosby. They are content with a balance. They will support Sid until he retires and then rebuild.
They are going to collect young players and picks to bolster the next generation. That is hardly controversial. It doesn't matter that McGroarty isn't the next Iginla. It doesn't matter is Pono isn't the next Malkin. It doesn't matter that Brunicke is back in Juniors. These aren't meant to be foundational players that you build around. They are meant to be support players. No different than Orpik, Whitney, Armstrong, and the slew of young guys they traded for and collected from 2000 to 2005. Then when you really suck circa 2027 and you get that 1ov and next big thing, you have the supporting cast to put around them. You want to be New York or LA when they add Laf/Kakko or Byfield. You don't want to be Chicago, who adds Bedard and surrounds him with absolute garbage, except for the fading mercenaries who are only willing to come to your hellhole because of money.
The Predators are an interesting example but I don't think it's a stretch by any means to say that's the exception not the rule. They gave up McD and Askarov. Those are two BIG assets. They gambled on Saros who is 29 (which is fine) and they gambled on being able to replace McD via FA in Skjei. Meanwhile, they added several guys who are well north of 30. The Pens and the Preds are NOT in the same part of their cycle. They are essentially where the Penguins were circa 2018/2019. If we added a 34yo and 30yo 40g wings, we all would have cheered. If they added them in FA this year, we would have all groaned (rightfully). But interestingly enough, we could easily be where they are next season. Trading Pettersson and Blomqvist out for 1sts and then adding Taylor Hall and Sam Bennett. But is that a better version for the team moving forward?
Yeah but we got a great top line winger in Michael Bunting and a bunch of shitty prospects that will never play for Jake Guentzel. Great trade!
I am forced to take you off ignore and I see you're still laying down the same pile of shit posts that you were 8 months ago. Good. f***ing. Lord.
Please do everyone two favors: 1. Stop making GDTs and 2. Leave forever if you hate it this much.