I do see where you’re coming from, but in all fairness to Dorion, he was using this input when looking for high character guys in the bargain bin, while not focusing on high skill.
The more we’re looking to compete, the less we seem to be looking for hidden attributes in the bargain bin.
It’s no surprise that this would be the summer where we brining in an AGM with experience in pro scouting given the change in direction in play acquisitions we’ve seen.
I think folks are always going to wonder though whether vet & character guys and players with some skill are mutually exclusive, or whether you can have both traits in the same player.
Where it gets murky is knowing whether every single player with that combination of traits were available. Certainly the first year of COVID where the season didn't start until January there was a glut of unsigned players that signed short (i.e., 1 year) & modest ($1 to 1.5 m) contracts. So, there were players with that combination at the last moment so speak back then. With regards to availability (which players would come to Ottawa), no one knows for sure which it opens it up to spin and narratives.
And hard to say what the plan was all along (years ago) when it comes to hiring an experienced exec with pro player development experience. All we can say is it didn't happen while EM was alive and did happen after EM passed away.