Keep/Fire Drury and/or Laviolette

[Oscar Lindberg]

The guy inherited a team that was overachieving and won the President's trophy just last year. Name me a GM that would be able to tear down a veteran-laden team that was performing like that? He tried to make some decently major changes this past off-season but Trouba f***ed it up. He had no cap space...

He’s done nothing to show us he actually understands the underlying issues with this team since he took over. He’s hasn’t tried to fix the defense at all outside of the last 6-7 months, which has been a weakness for a while

And the whole Trouba messed up his plans is total BS. He tried to trade Trouba this summer and for one reason or another, it didn’t work out. Instead of pivoting and making other moves to change the makeup of this team and specifically the defense, he took his ball, went home and did nothing until November. To which he blew up the situation in the worst way.

And by the way, even if Trouba did go to Detroit, by all accounts Drury was planning on going after Guenztel with the money. Which, agains suggests he doesn’t understand the defense is a problem.

He gets paid to deal with these problems and have the vision to pivot if things don’t go as planned. Not pout to Larry Brooks about how Trouba and his wife messed up his plans.

 

[Ruggs225]

I hope fans start chanting fire Drury the last few games. Maybe it will wake Dolan up.

The offseason will be a failure if he is still here. Guy is the worst theing to ever happen to this franchise.

Sucked as a player
Sucked as a captain
Sucked as assistant gm and backstabbed everyone
Sucks as gm both with the product he puts on ice as well as how he handles employees.

The quicker he is fired to the sun the faster we can heal as a franchise.

He is an utter embarrassment for this organization.

But at least he won a little league world series.

 

[Guyute]

I hope fans start chanting fire Drury the last few games. Maybe it will wake Dolan up.

The offseason will be a failure if he is still here. Guy is the worst theing to ever happen to this franchise.

Sucked as a player
Sucked as a captain
Sucked as assistant gm and backstabbed everyone
Sucks as gm both with the product he puts on ice as well as how he handles employees.

The quicker he is fired to the sun the faster we can heal as a franchise.

He is an utter embarrassment for this organization.

But at least he won a little league world series.

He sucked as Hartford's GM. That team hasn't done squat in eons.

 

[Machinehead]

When was the last time you had 4 players taken in the top-10, including two in the top-2, completely bust? This is an organizational issue.

Brett Connolly - #6
Slater Koekkoek - #10
Jonathan Drouin - #3

All picked within four years. And that was the Lightning!

Within seven years, the Panthers picked:

Erik Gudbransson - #3
Jonathan Huberdeau - #3
Aleksander Barkov - #2
Aaron Ekblad - #1
Lawson Crouse - #11
Owen Tippett - #10

Only two of these guys were on the Cup team and only Barkov met expectations.

The Colorado Avalanche:

Matt Duchene - #3 (disappointment)
Tyson Jost - #10 (complete loser)
Bowen Byram - #4 (bust)

These are successful organizations.

Plenty of picks miss. We didn't put in the volume of picks that these teams did, traded away a lot of bullets while these teams succeeded with late picks, we tanked value where these teams traded guys who weren't huge hits for more value, and ultimately, we just don't have the vision that these teams had.

Good teams have a plan, have an idea where they're going, and they're aggressive in filling holes once an idea takes shape.

We got Panarin and Kakko and did a victory lap.

That's the organizational issue.

 

[McRanger92]

Brett Connolly - #6
Slater Koekkoek - #10
Jonathan Drouin - #3

All picked within four years. And that was the Lightning!

Within seven years, the Panthers picked:

Erik Gudbransson - #3
Jonathan Huberdeau - #3
Aleksander Barkov - #2
Aaron Ekblad - #1
Lawson Crouse - #11
Owen Tippett - #10

Only two of these guys were on the Cup team and only Barkov met expectations.

The Colorado Avalanche:

Matt Duchene - #3 (disappointment)
Tyson Jost - #10 (complete loser)
Bowen Byram - #4 (bust)

These are successful organizations.

Plenty of picks miss. We didn't put in the volume of picks that these teams did, traded away a lot of bullets where these teams succeeded with high picks, we tanked value where these teams traded guys who weren't huge hits for more value, and ultimately, we just don't have the vision that these teams had.

Good teams have a plan, have an idea where they're going, and they're aggressive in filling holes once an idea takes shape.

We got Panarin and Kakko and did a victory lap.

That's the organizational issue.

"Rebuilds" are bullshit and high draft picks dont matter.

 

[Machinehead]

"Rebuilds" are bullshit and high draft picks dont matter.

I don't necessarily disagree, I just think there's a time and a place for everything.

If anything, they should have been less aggressive around the time they got Kakko. You just traded the old core 12 months ago. See what you have.

Once it became apparent that Kakko is pretty much this, they should have been super aggressive and traded him for a different project. Maybe it was already too late, but he should have been gone after Turk scratched him in the '22 playoffs. At that point, what were you realistically expecting?

The Lightning didn't f*** around with Drouin, and Sergachev was a piece for them. Hell, Huberdeau already broke out and the Panthers still upgraded on him.

Don't know how true the smoke around Matthew was, but in retrospect, you would have traded anything on the roster except maybe Fox.

And Fox is another one. Going on 28 years old and still doesn't have a passable partner.

They shot their load once in 2019 when they arguably shouldn't have and have been asleep at the wheel just accepting what they have since.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

"Rebuilds" are bullshit and high draft picks dont matter.

What does this team have that makes you believe they can turn things around quickly? An overpaid goalie and 33 year old 1C on his fourth team? Another C who looks shot. The team's best most productive winger is getting up there in age. Cuyle is nice player but he's a role player on a Cup winning team (I would be ecstatic if he could replicate Kreider's career). Gabe could be a difference maker. What else? Otthman can't skate and can't score apparently. Laff is a mess. Trochek's year last year is looking more and more like it was a fluke. And as bad as this forward crop is, the defense is worse.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

"Rebuilds" are bullshit and high draft picks dont matter.

Ehh shades of gray. Generally speaking you’re not getting the top end center unless you’re picking high, which means the team sucks.

The argument can be made that those guys can be found with later picks but you need to have the organizational structure in place to identify the player, develop them, and be lucky.

But obviously rebuilding to rebuild doesn’t mean you’ll have success.

 

[McRanger92]

I don't necessarily disagree, I just think there's a time and a place for everything.

If anything, they should have been less aggressive around the time they got Kakko. You just traded the old core 12 months ago. See what you have.

Once it became apparent that Kakko is pretty much this, they should have been super aggressive and traded him for a different project.

The Lightning didn't f*** around with Drouin, and Sergachev was a piece for them. Hell, Huberdeau already broke out and the Panthers still upgraded on him.

Don't know how true the smoke around Matthew was, but in retrospect, you would have traded anything on the roster except maybe Fox.

And Fox is another one. Going on 28 years old and still doesn't have a passable partner.

They shot their load once in 2019 when they arguably shouldn't have and have been asleep at the wheel just accepting what they have since.

The veteran core had a lot of people inside and outside the organization fooled, including me up until the ECF last year... Lots of cliche bullshit with no substance. The organization never allowed their talented young players to have responsibility or put them in positions to reach their potential. Thats why you have to fire Laviolette and Drury. And move on from Panarin, Kreider, Mika, etc.

 

[NYR Viper]

My issue with the organization has been that they don't seem to have ENOUGH picks to get the slug of young talent required to build the depth needed. They may have thought they had that with Andersson, Chytil, Miller, Lundkvist, Kravtsov, Kakko, Lafreniere, Schneider but they have to have understood that not all of those players were going to make it. The downfall of this process was having 3 complete busts out of that group and 3 somewhat underperforming (Lafreniere, Kakko, Chytil) for various reasons. Miller and Schneider, I would say, are the only two who have reached what I would have considered their ceilings or close to it. Getting a solid top-6 d-man out of a later 1st round pick is decent value.

 

[McRanger92]

What does this team have that makes you believe they can turn things around quickly? An overpaid goalie and 33 year old 1C on his fourth team? Another C who looks shot. The team's best most productive winger is getting up there in age. Cuyle is nice player but he's a role player on a Cup winning team (I would be ecstatic if he could replicate Kreider's career). Gabe could be a difference maker. What else? Otthman can't skate and can't score apparently. Laff is a mess. Trochek's year last year is looking more and more like it was a fluke. And as bad as this forward crop is, the defense is worse.

Did I say anything about turning it around quickly? The Rangers will likely be a playoff team next year because the Metro is godawful and the flavor of the month Canadiens and Senators are only in by default. Im more interested in process than results. Rebuilding and purposeslly losing aint it.

 

[Machinehead]

What does this team have that makes you believe they can turn things around quickly? An overpaid goalie and 33 year old 1C on his fourth team? Another C who looks shot. The team's best most productive winger is getting up there in age. Cuyle is nice player but he's a role player on a Cup winning team (I would be ecstatic if he could replicate Kreider's career). Gabe could be a difference maker. What else? Otthman can't skate and can't score apparently. Laff is a mess. Trochek's year last year is looking more and more like it was a fluke. And as bad as this forward crop is, the defense is worse.

I don't know if it's about "quickly." At this point, they've cornered themselves into having to take a step back for a couple of years. That's just by virtue of having to get rid of some of their talented players. Panarin and Zibanejad still make the team score goals and they don't have any replacement for that in-house.

It's more so about having a vision -- you let it cook while also aggressively keeping it on track. It's about balance. The Rangers tried to slap together an instant winner on the flier that Kakko (Lafreniere wasn't even here when they started buying!) would be a Malkin/Eichel type of second pick. Meanwhile, the Sabres just suck for the sake of it and see what happens.

Neither approach works. The Rangers need to decide what they want to be, based at least partially on the in-house pieces you already have and want to keep, determine where the holes are, and take the best course of action to fill those holes, not to fill a pre-determined ideology about how much you should suck.

There's no vision. I make fun of the Lundqvist years, but at the very least, I knew what that team was. This team hasn't had an identity since early AV.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

What does this team have that makes you believe they can turn things around quickly? An overpaid goalie and 33 year old 1C on his fourth team? Another C who looks shot. The team's best most productive winger is getting up there in age. Cuyle is nice player but he's a role player on a Cup winning team (I would be ecstatic if he could replicate Kreider's career). Gabe could be a difference maker. What else? Otthman can't skate and can't score apparently. Laff is a mess. Trochek's year last year is looking more and more like it was a fluke. And as bad as this forward crop is, the defense is worse.

I think this team has some of the underlying pieces that are required to be a legitimate contender. But they lack the young top end talent and that’s the most difficult thing to acquire.

The pieces they have are arguably some of the easier things to find. It’s gonna take years though to get to that point of being a legit contender. Just getting into the playoffs does nothing for me

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

Did I say anything about turning it around quickly? The Rangers will likely be a playoff team next year because the Metro is godawful and the flavor of the month Canadiens and Senators are only in by default. Im more interested in process than results. Rebuilding and purposeslly losing aint it.

Ok, you didn't. And I'm not advocating for tanking or purposely losing so let me rephrase, what about this team gives you the confidence that they'll even make the playoffs next year? I hate playing the what if game but Ottawa, Buffalo, and the Canadiens are going to probably be even better next year. Maybe Washington or Tampa takes a step back next season but what route are you suggesting this team take?

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

I don't know if it's about "quickly." At this point, they've cornered themselves into having to take a step back for a couple of years. That's just by virtue of having to get rid of some of their talented players. Panarin and Zibanejad still make the team score goals and they don't have any replacement for that in-house.

It's more so about having a vision -- you let it cook while also aggressively keeping it on track. It's about balance. The Rangers tried to slap together an instant winner on the flier that Kakko (Lafreniere wasn't even here when they started buying!) would be a Malkin/Eichel type of second pick. Meanwhile, the Sabres just suck for the sake of it and see what happens.

Neither approach works. The Rangers need to decide what they want to be, based at least partially on the in-house pieces you already have and want to keep, determine where the holes are, and take the best course of action to fill those holes, not to fill a pre-determined ideology about how much you should suck.

There's no vision. I make fun of the Lundqvist years, but at the very least, I knew what that team was. This team hasn't had an identity since early AV.

There is no vision. I used to think there was a vision and then I watched this season unfold and saw things differently. Look, some of their problems are unfortunate -- namely Laff and Kakko being duds and Chytil having a head like a potato. And truthfully, had those two lunkheads popped (Miller too) you would have had a few years at least with a very, very formidable forward group. Maybe top 3 in the league. It would have been a natural progression to push them up and move guys like Kreider and even Zib further down the lineup. The GM could have used other assets like picks and players to acquire a legit LD instead of bringing in a rotating crop of forwards that leave two months later.

 

[McRanger92]

Ok, you didn't. And I'm not advocating for tanking or purposely losing so let me rephrase, what about this team gives you the confidence that they'll even make the playoffs next year? I hate playing the what if game but Ottawa, Buffalo, and the Canadiens are going to probably be even better next year. Maybe Washington or Tampa takes a step back next season but what route are you suggesting this team take?

Fire everybody. Kreider and Mika out, hopefully Panarin too. Use Trocheck and K'Andre to try to add young centers. Rossi seems like he'll be available. Can they pry McTavish out of Anaheim? I know people dont like Zegras but I dont think he's a lost cause. They another top 4 defenseman badly and I think they should use some of their cap space for that and sign one on the UFA market. The forward group is largely under 25 outside of the top guys. maybe give a guy like Brisson a shot in the middle at the NHL level? They shouldnt rule anything out with young guys already in the organization. These are just thoughts I have off the top of my head. Ill have more of a real plan once the season is over and we know the rules of engagement.

 

[majordomo]

He's not a good GM. And the moves he's made to "fix the squad" have not helped. Parssinen is a zero. Urho is a zero. Borgen is okay, but I'd much rather have Kakko. And all his rentals and acquisitions over the years have amounted to a hill of beans. Even Trocheck is having an abysmal season.


Drury is a joke.

To be honest, I think those deals were more to move "disgruntled" players rather than "fix the squad". Look how fast KK was gone after he spoke to the press.

 

[majordomo]

There's still time to throw that particular baby out with the bathwater. They'll have to live with Shesterkin's contract, unfortunately, but Tampa and Florida also were able to live with paying a goalie a lot.

This bum ain't Lundqvist and we don't have the star power to maintain the powerplay. It dried up this year and frankly, we saw it dry up eventually each playoff run as teams adjusted to it. It's not gonna be a winning strategy. It wasn't a winning strategy with the genuine article in the goal and I would argue a much more fitting supporting cast.

It's time to build around a forward like every successful franchise this century and most of last century.

It's time to learn how to play and win 5-on-5 -- period. Relying on goaltending and special teams, as we have seen over and over, is a recipe for disaster.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

Fire everybody. Kreider and Mika out, hopefully Panarin too. Use Trocheck and K'Andre to try to add young centers. Rossi seems like he'll be available. Can they pry McTavish out of Anaheim? I know people dont like Zegras but I dont think he's a lost cause. They another top 4 defenseman badly and I think they should use some of their cap space for that and sign one on the UFA market. The forward group is largely under 25 outside of the top guys. maybe give a guy like Brisson a shot in the middle at the NHL level? They shouldnt rule anything out with young guys already in the organization. These are just thoughts I have off the top of my head. Ill have more of a real plan once the season is over and we know the rules of engagement.

Not saying I disagree but you fire Kreider, Mika and Panarin out of a cannon to wherever, you're going to need to replace those goals. Krieder sucked this year and he was still 3rd on the team in goals. You're not getting quality players for them, maybe Panarin. The, hopefully next, GM only has so many bullets. I would for sure trade Trocheck and Miller for a young C. Now you got 4 reasonably productive forwards who's production you have to replace, if you're looking to make the playoffs next year. And the young guys? I only see one potential star, that's Gabe. Cuyle, nice player, Otthman, I don't know. Berard? Another nice young player. But do you really love that lineup? And honestly, if you're gonna make a big, big move with players you have, I think it has to be for that stud defenseman.

 

[McRanger92]

Not saying I disagree but you fire Kreider, Mika and Panarin out of a cannon to wherever, you're going to need to replace those goals. Krieder sucked this year and he was still 3rd on the team in goals. You're not getting quality players for them, maybe Panarin. The, hopefully next, GM only has so many bullets. I would for sure trade Trocheck and Miller for a young C. Now you got 4 reasonably productive forwards who's production you have to replace, if you're looking to make the playoffs next year. And the young guys? I only see one potential star, that's Gabe. Cuyle, nice player, Otthman, I don't know. Berard? Another nice young player. But do you really love that lineup? And honestly, if you're gonna make a big, big move with players you have, I think it has to be for that stud defenseman.

You have to give them a shot. They are in the organization, thats half the battle. And why cant Cuylle or Laf score 30 goals on the top PP unit? Im notruling out what these guys cant do until I see them in roles that even make it possible. Plenty of bad rosters have made the playoffs with good goaltending and defensive structure. The next coach has to care about defense. We havent had one who does since torts.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

You have to give them a shot. They are in the organization, thats half the battle. And why cant Cuylle or Laf score 30 goals on the top PP unit? Im notruling out what these guys cant do until I see them in roles that even make it possible. Plenty of bad rosters have made the playoffs with good goaltending and defensive structure. The next coach has to care about defense. We havent had one who does since torts.

You do. I just don't think you're going to see the results you want/need to get back into the playoffs next year with them leading the way. Especially with the work that needs to be done on the backend.

 

[McRanger92]

You do. I just don't think you're going to see the results you want/need to get back into the playoffs next year with them leading the way. Especially with the work that needs to be done on the backend.

Im ok with that as long as they try it. We all should be, because its a shift from what theyve done consistently without ultimate success for 20 years.

 

[Mike in Houston]

You have to give them a shot. They are in the organization, thats half the battle. And why cant Cuylle or Laf score 30 goals on the top PP unit? Im notruling out what these guys cant do until I see them in roles that even make it possible. Plenty of bad rosters have made the playoffs with good goaltending and defensive structure. The next coach has to care about defense. We havent had one who does since torts.

You have to have a GM and coach work in tandem and say, the team is going to be built around these young guys. They are in your top six nightly. We're going to live and die with them, win or lose. I just don't know if keeping the same regime in place will do that.

 

[toNYRico]

Both need to go. Phil Housley needs to be blasted to the sun. What is Drury's biggest achievement as a FO executive with NYR? Firing Nick Bobrov?

 

[The Last Red]

Both need to go. Phil Housley needs to be blasted to the sun. What is Drury's biggest achievement as a FO executive with NYR? Firing Nick Bobrov?

Which is ironic, given that Bobrov is having a very good run with the Canadiens (Hutson, Demidov, Hage, Fowler . . .).