My issue with these types of articles is that in the end it’s fun but meaningless unless this is done for all or several GMs and a comparison is done.
A GMs performance is not weighed against a fans estimation of perfection, especially a jaded fan like this guy. Rather it’s a comparisons with other GMs and their relative performances, along with considerations for the context that each GM operates in.
The reality is that all GMs have a laundry list of gambles that didn’t pan out, big moves that flopped, and various moves that worked out to varying degrees.
Add in a healthy dose of luck and in the end even a cup win isn't even a definitive sign of the ‘best’ GM. Still, the best overall meaningful evaluation of a GM is not a list of moves, but rather what the team looks like on the ice. This is why to me Dorion continues to hold his job. Regardless of how many minor moves rustle jimmie’s, the team on the ice is widely regarded as one of the very best up and coming squads, and we still have a handful of intriguing prospects to add into depth roles.
If/when the roster bringing to falter before ‘success’ is achieved, that’s when we’ll be able to start to accurately evaluate PD’s role here as GM, in my opinion. At this point folks are judging the artist before the work is complete. Not to say we can’t/shouldn’t evaluate in the fly, this is a hockey forum after all, but it is premature no matter how we try and slice it.
It was a nice spread of roster moves framed by a singular fan perspective though, which is interesting in and of itself.
