The core of those teams being between 25-30yo and supplemented with steady vets (Greene, Boychuk, Zajac, Leo) was the correct approach to roster construction considering the coach and the goaltending.
Problem is, the 2024 roster is composed of 80ish% of the teams who made the back to back ECF runs. That is 4 and 3 years ago, and these players have aged accordingly. I think that is the core issue, believing that this group of players is the same that they were 3 & 4 years ago which is compounded by the fact that the Coach is no longer here.
That belief is insanity to me...not like they were Elite players to begin with who can continue their greatness into their late 30's (Crosby, Ovi, Malkin, Stamkos, Kopitar).
Every time I heard "the game has passed Lou by" I kinda rolled my eyes, because I don't think he is an idiot who can't see how the game has changed. But now I'm buying into that the GM game has passed him by because of his inability to adapt to what is needed on his roster.
I compare it to Nick Saban who was the biggest proponent of "old-time" Power-I running game with a steady QB and great defense to win games. I'm sure he fought the new wave of mobile-dynamic QB's in a spread offense, but he dove in headfirst and hired Lane Kiffin. He then went out and recruited guys like Jalen Hurts, Tua, Jalen Milroe and had high flying offenses with uber-talented WR's.
HE ADAPTED. Lou has shone that he cannot (maybe a better word is WILL NOT).
The problem is Lou is all over the place. First he brings in a coach who believes in creating offense out of defense and over a 5 year period retools the team to match that style of play. But 5 years later he does a 180 degree about face and hires a coach who believes in creating defense through offense, but the team is still better suited for the former style of play. He panics and signs players like Gauthier and Engvall in desperation. Roys offensive minded system is better suited towards the roster Lou inherited from Snow when he had players like Leddy, Eberle, Beauvillier, and Toews- heck even Bailey (players who can actually skate) who would have thrived under Roys system.
The problems the team is having now is because Lou should have attempted to hire Roy the moment he fired Trotz, when he still had the younger roster, when he still had the assets and picks to trade for fast agile forwards they need now instead of desperation trades he made. Instead of hiring Roy immediately he inexplicably hires Trotz protege Lambert who for the first year tried to continue with the "play not to lose" mindset and when that failed he tried to adapt a hybrid system with the defense getting more involved in creating offense and loosening up the reins somewhat on Barzal. But as I said back then, you can't play Trotz hockey half assed. You either do it or you don't. All that created was a shooting gallery in front of our goaltenders and reinforced the turtling and playing back on their heels mentality that continues to plague the team to this day.
That is the primary reason why I argue that the hiring of Trotz was ultimately a HORRIBLE decision for this club. It's this pusher mindset he instilled on this team. This idea of falling back when you have even just a 1 goal lead. It's this mindset which is whats blocking this team's ability to move forward and the inability to hold onto a lead by being a threat to score the other way. That, and a roster that is not particularly suited towards Roy hockey.
Look I get it. 2 ECF is whole heck of a lot more fun for a team that has not made it out of the first round for what seemed like forever, though they did do it during Capuano's tenure once. I moved to Tampa in 2005 and live twenty minutes from Amelia Arena. Since 2015 I watched the local club make the ECF
SIX times and win 2 Stanley Cups in succession in 2020 and 2021. I also have the privileged history of watching the Dynasty Islanders win 19 straight playoff series and 4 Cups in a row.
That's success. So if you think that I am going to agree with you that after going for broke all you have to show for it was 2 ECF. You are mistaken. I would have thought that GM did not do a particularly good job. He was never the right GM for this organization given his history the owners of this organization should have known better. The last time he had full control of an organization he was well past his prime and he drove that organization to the ground just as it appears he is doing with this one. And I hate to say it but I told you guys this would happen 5 years ago when he was hired but everyone seemed to be drinking the Kool Aid.
He hired the right coach, he just made the grave decision of hiring him too late. Look folks, I still believe this team can make the playoffs if the players completely buy into what he is asking of them. So all is not lost but regardless of what this team does, roster changes or not we are looking at another rebuild in the next decade or so. So they should just do the best they can with what they have in front of them and hope for the best.
Just remember...Those rosters that made those runs 5 years ago were basically totally constructed by Snow. Consider that and realize that Lou really is not needed - Like at all.
Hate to say it but, Yup.
