Management GM Pierre Dorion/Front Office Thread - Part IX [Mod Warning in post 1)

[umma gumma]

Most teams can match Ottawa financially, what they can't do is match the Sen's penchant for consistently finishing at the bottom and out of the playoffs. Maybe Arizona, and Buffalo can match, but UFAs aren't scrambling to sign there either. No one wants to waste a time limited career in a situation of perpetual suckage if they can avoid it. One of those places even has everything a rich young millionaire can ask for. Except an arena.

 

[DaveMatthew]

Most of the players we want have multiple teams presenting offers. For the most part all 31 other teams can financially match anything Ottawa can do…

So it comes down to the same money and things like taxes, city, and environment become important.

We have a stale hockey environment, in a smallville city, with bad taxes and cold winters.

Not a lot to push their beyond skiing at Pakenham and living in Carp.

It’s ignorant to think those kids don’t love hearing fans cheer - they comment about how fun it is playing on the road because the buildings have energy (even though it is for the other team).

Yeah, free-agents have multiple offers. But no, we won't be competing with 31 other teams. There is only so much cap space and so many roster spots.

Sure, if we're up against the Rangers, Lightning or Kings for a specific player, we'll probably lose out. But again, those teams can only sign so many guys.

And guess what? There are lots of smallville cities that aren't premium destinations for millionaires in the NHL. Living in Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Pittsburgh, St.Paul, Detroit, Columbus, Buffalo, Philadelphia, New Jersey or Washington isn't exactly the first choice of any uber-wealthy person. But they'll happily do it if the money and opportunity is right (this is true for athletes and highly-paid professionals in every other industry).

 

[Sweatred]

Yeah, free-agents have multiple offers. But no, we won't be competing with 31 other teams. There is only so much cap space and so many roster spots.

And yeah, if we're up against the Ranger, Lightning or Kings for a specific player, we'll probably lose out. But again, those teams can only sign so many players.

And guess what? There are lots of smallville cities that aren't premium destinations for millionaires in the NHL. Living in Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Pittsburgh, St.Paul, Detroit, Columbus, Buffalo, Philadelphia, New Jersey or Washington isn't exactly the first choice of any uber-wealthy person. But they'll happily do it if the money and opportunity is right.

Hard to be first Dave … NJ is basically across the River from Manhattan in an American city.

Ottawa may not always be last on players lists but it’s hard to be first against even crappier cities like Washington, Jersey, Pitt, Det etc.

It took me 20-25 minutes on a train from Madison SG to Jersey's rink - I’m sure if I had $8 million I could find a better way.

 

[DaveMatthew]

Hard to be first Dave … NJ is basically across the River from Manhattan in an American city.

Ottawa may not always be last on players lists but it’s hard to be first against even crappier cities like Washington, Jersey, Pitt, Det etc.

Try driving from Newark into mid-town Manhattan for dinner, and then park. On many nights, you'd get to Montreal from Ottawa faster.

Most players for the Devils live in and around South Orange/Morristown/Montclair, the affluent suburbs that are in the other direction from NYC.

 

[Tuna99]

Yeah, free-agents have multiple offers. But no, we won't be competing with 31 other teams. There is only so much cap space and so many roster spots.

Sure, if we're up against the Rangers, Lightning or Kings for a specific player, we'll probably lose out. But again, those teams can only sign so many guys.

And guess what? There are lots of smallville cities that aren't premium destinations for millionaires in the NHL. Living in Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Pittsburgh, St.Paul, Detroit, Columbus, Buffalo, Philadelphia, New Jersey or Washington isn't exactly the first choice of any uber-wealthy person. But they'll happily do it if the money and opportunity is right (this is true for athletes and highly-paid professionals in every other industry).

Nashville is unique in that’s it’s a smallish town like Ottawa steeped in history like Ottawa but has a party vibe and low taxes. Hockey team isn’t great but at least tires to compete every year.

The amount of players wanting to go to Nashville makes me think it’s a top 3 NHL destination.

 

[DaveMatthew]

Nashville is unique in that’s it’s a smallish town like Ottawa steeped in history like Ottawa but has a party vibe and low taxes. Hockey team isn’t great but at least tires to compete every year.

The amount of players wanting to go to Nashville makes me think it’s a top 3 NHL destination.

Nashville is a destination today, because (as you said) it's a great city and the franchise has built up credibility in terms of spending and putting together good teams.

That wasn't the case for the first 15 years they were in the league, when they weren't much of a destination for any UFAs, despite still being a great city with low taxes.

 

[Crosside]

Pierre to speak at 11

 

[AchtzehnBaby]

Pierre to speak at 11

Big announcements….

Branny grew an inch!

 

[Senator Stanley]

It's not too late to fire him...

 

[Knave]

It's not too late to fire him...

It seems unlikely. I am hoping it's playoffs or fired for Dorion this season and I'm not sure how we make the playoffs when any addition that would help us make the playoffs is treated like Fiala and you get a leak after we miss out with something along the lines of: "We like Fiala but 7 years is too long". While this big brain GM of ours trades away assets to pick up guys like Travis Hamonic and others at the end of their contract that was "too long".

If Dorion is a GM 6 years from now, do we trade a 2nd for Fiala in his twilight years? That seems like a Dorion move. But right now? 7 years too long.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

It's not too late to fire him...

I really have to respect Dorion's hustle at the very least. Never has someone gained so much power after dropping the ball. Truly a masterclass in failing-up.

 

[SensHulk]

It's not too late to fire him...

@theboard @annamelnyk @oliviamelnyk

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

I really have to respect Dorion's hustle at the very least. Never has someone gained so much power after dropping the ball. Truly a masterclass in failing-up.

honestly its inspirational. he's a complete fraud in his role as a GM and still going 6-7 years.

Anything is possible!

 

[SensHulk]

honestly its inspirational. he's a complete fraud in his role as a GM and still going 6-7 years.

Anything is possible!

I think he is now the 2nd longest tenured GM for the sens behind Bryan Murray…god I hope he doesn’t take over the top spot

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

I think he is now the 2nd longest tenured GM for the sens behind Bryan Murray…god I hope he doesn’t take over the top spot

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[JungleBeat]

A terrible media appearance from PD. Completely out of touch with reality.

 

[cudi]

A terrible media appearance from PD. Completely out of touch with reality.

so a regular media session for PD then?

 

[Sweatred]

A terrible media appearance from PD. Completely out of touch with reality.

Can you provide some context ? What did he say that makes you feel he’s completely out of touch with reality ?

 

[Tuna99]

It's not too late to fire him...

In Mike Milbury territory with this guy. When it’s finally over we look back trying to figure out what he was trying to do we’ll just end up where Islanders fans were thinking “what the hell was that all about”

 

[JungleBeat]

Imagine you're a FA and you hear Dorion whining about how he cant sign anybody here. It's pathetic really.

 

[Sweatred]

Imagine you're a FA and you hear Dorion whining about how he cant sign anybody here. It's pathetic really.

No … it’s reality - no UFA is sitting there shocked by what Dorion said … it’s common knowledge to them and they laugh at the ideas fans have of players moving to Winnipeg or Ottawa or whatever.

They just don’t share their feelings with Joe Q to protect the collective marketability of their players union members.

They are totally fine if tier 4 UFA’s like Dadonov or Matt Murrays get paid out in lower tier destinations.

 

[Sweatred]

Try driving from Newark into mid-town Manhattan for dinner, and then park. On many nights, you'd get to Montreal from Ottawa faster.

Most players for the Devils live in and around South Orange/Morristown/Montclair, the affluent suburbs that are in the other direction from NYC.

Nice place to live -

 

[Loach]

Maybe he is done. Once the lawsuit is sorted out in September, partners are brought in and things will change. Maybe he is a lame duck GM. Just going along. Bowness could be calling the shots now for all we know.

 

[DaveMatthew]

Nice place to live -

Yup. I've been to Montclair. Just as nice as Rockliffe, Manotick, Westboro or the Glebe.

 

[Sweatred]

Yup. I've been to Montclair. Just as nice as Rockliffe, Manotick, Westboro or the Glebe.

Cool Dave - I get you think players want to come here. It’s cute. It would be hard to spew the “I’m smarter than Dorion” stuff if it wasn’t true.