Mirka the Turka
Jesus loves you
- Oct 20, 2022
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Greatest GM of all time vs Connor McDavid
- Thread starter Mirka the Turka
- Start date
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DrunkTurtle
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- Jan 30, 2025
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Dr John Carlson
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WarriorofTime
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- Jul 3, 2010
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Greatest GM probably needs 10 years to realize their advantage. GM’ing has too much luck involved in the process that can’t be controlled as easily.
ponder719
Abols to Abols, Dust to Dust
I don't trust our current GM to surround McDavid and Michkov with sufficient talent to win a Cup.
While I think Sam Pollock was the greatest GM of all time, I think for this purpose I'm resurrecting Keith Allen, because the biggest problem with the Flyers is that we need someone in that job who the Foundational Titans will show deference to, rather than the other way around, and Allen was the man they all owe their careers to. Get him up to speed with modern rules, get the Titans to shut the F up and let the man work, and I think we finally have something going.
While I think Sam Pollock was the greatest GM of all time, I think for this purpose I'm resurrecting Keith Allen, because the biggest problem with the Flyers is that we need someone in that job who the Foundational Titans will show deference to, rather than the other way around, and Allen was the man they all owe their careers to. Get him up to speed with modern rules, get the Titans to shut the F up and let the man work, and I think we finally have something going.
aylib
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Sasha Orlov
Lord of the Manor
- Jun 22, 2018
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The Gr8 Dane
L'harceleur
tarheelhockey
Offside Review Specialist
Assuming we’re talking about Sam Pollock, the typical favorite as greatest GM.
McDavid
Pro:
- Best individual player in the league for at least the short term future
- Plays center, which makes him easy to build a competitive team around
- Hungry for a Cup so you can count on him giving you his best
Con:
- You’re really only getting the back end of his career, when he might decline
- Not the easiest player to build around, as we saw with the Oilers taking some time to get it right
- Presumably you’d have to deal with the cap consequences which could make it even harder to build around him
Pollock
Pro:
- Excellent evaluator of talent, masterful in building development systems
- Bold about taking advantage of other GMs’ vulnerabilities
- Proven ability to re-tool championship teams on the fly
Con:
- His success was largely based in the days before the entry draft, a system which no longer exists
- He had tremendous financial advantages which don’t exist in a cap world
- He is dead, which will limit his effectiveness as a leader
On balance, I’d take my chances with McDavid.
McDavid
Pro:
- Best individual player in the league for at least the short term future
- Plays center, which makes him easy to build a competitive team around
- Hungry for a Cup so you can count on him giving you his best
Con:
- You’re really only getting the back end of his career, when he might decline
- Not the easiest player to build around, as we saw with the Oilers taking some time to get it right
- Presumably you’d have to deal with the cap consequences which could make it even harder to build around him
Pollock
Pro:
- Excellent evaluator of talent, masterful in building development systems
- Bold about taking advantage of other GMs’ vulnerabilities
- Proven ability to re-tool championship teams on the fly
Con:
- His success was largely based in the days before the entry draft, a system which no longer exists
- He had tremendous financial advantages which don’t exist in a cap world
- He is dead, which will limit his effectiveness as a leader
On balance, I’d take my chances with McDavid.
Golden_Jet
Registered User
- Sep 21, 2005
- 28,170
- 15,039
With 4 nations break, guess this is summer down time now.
Went with McDavid, and thus will go with second best GM
Went with McDavid, and thus will go with second best GM
JaegerDice
The mark of my dignity shall scar thy DNA
- Dec 26, 2014
- 25,720
- 10,437
Does this have to be an actual GM, or can it be some hypothetical 'GOAT GM'?
I can't think of a specific GM I would take over McDavid off the top of my head, but I'm inclined to take the hypothetical 'GOAT GM,' at least as a concept.
The reason being, looking back at some of the consensus best players in the world:
Wayne Gretzky: Played 20 seasons, won 4 cups.
Mario Lemieux: Played 17 seasons, won 2 cups.
Gordie Howe: Played 26 seasons, won 4 cups.
Sidney Crosby: Played 19 seasons (so far), won 3 cups.
Etc.
There are A LOT of teams that win the cup WITHOUT the best current player in the world on their roster.
Indeed, more individual rosters have won the cup without the best player on Earth than have won it with.
So if I could have some hypothetical GOAT GM that would always make the right call, make the right deal, pick the right player... I'd take that guy.
I can't think of a specific GM I would take over McDavid off the top of my head, but I'm inclined to take the hypothetical 'GOAT GM,' at least as a concept.
The reason being, looking back at some of the consensus best players in the world:
Wayne Gretzky: Played 20 seasons, won 4 cups.
Mario Lemieux: Played 17 seasons, won 2 cups.
Gordie Howe: Played 26 seasons, won 4 cups.
Sidney Crosby: Played 19 seasons (so far), won 3 cups.
Etc.
There are A LOT of teams that win the cup WITHOUT the best current player in the world on their roster.
Indeed, more individual rosters have won the cup without the best player on Earth than have won it with.
So if I could have some hypothetical GOAT GM that would always make the right call, make the right deal, pick the right player... I'd take that guy.
dirtydanglez
Registered User
- Oct 30, 2022
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MCR74
Registered User
- Nov 11, 2022
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Trick question, the Greatest GM of all time would find out a way to get McDavid.
- Jan 24, 2007
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In 2025 I don't believe the greatest GM of all time has any real significant edge, front offices are collaborative efforts with input from coaching/scouting/analytics and finally the owner. If we are talking like 50 years ago when scouting and analytics were very immature, then possibly the greatest GM is more valuable but probably not.
Realgud
Not good enough for SKA
- Nov 4, 2013
- 5,866
- 7,359
Valid point
Realgud
Not good enough for SKA
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Sam de Mtl
Registered User
- Oct 11, 2021
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I'd take the guy who could build a complete roster over the individual who could score the most goals.
That said, I agree Pollock couldn't lap the field like he did 50 years ago. Still, I'd like to think a generational GM would adapt and find a way to win, just like I think generational players from yesterday would adapt and thrive.
I disagree that being dead is a disadvantage. Sam Pollock was intimidating when he was alive. Getting a call from the ghost of Sam Pollock would be much scarier. If your tea leaves suddenly spell "Send me your 1st-round pick", there is no negotiation.
