Our board just bitches. Everyone complained about the bottom 6 from this time last year through the whole season. Dubas goes out and signs legitimate bottom 6ers to short term deals (aka not 6 years for Wood or 7 years for Engvall or going after Reaves) and people don’t like it. I say that as someone that didn’t like bringing in Eller.
In terms of the top of the line up, Smith for a 3rd is a nice piece of business. Graves getting 4.5 is pretty decent cap hit when Dumo, Soucy, Clifton are getting 3M+
If you want to give him a C because you don’t like Jarry’s term I think that’s fair and you’re entitled to it, but I see the “Fs” and complaining and think he could’ve traded for Vasilesky and people would still be unhappy.
Well some of the board yes... I think you would put me in that category, but I have logic to back up my case for reality.
You are correct, people hammered the bottom 6 because of their lack of performance. But where I deviate from the mob is that the bottom 6 was a symptom of the real problem with the franchise.
Here are the issues that a real GM with foresight would need to resolve moving forward.
1). Terrible asset management. Overpay, Undersell, Undervalue
2). Roster construction: My gosh, yes the bottom 6 was awful last year, but want to know why the Pens missed the playoffs? Their stars have aged into a Phil Kessel style of protection first. I don't blame them, they should. But if this team is going to be successful, you better surround them with players that are preferably young, gritty and constantly playing with an edge. The fact that they are once again stacking the bottom 6 with more vets will lead to an even more horrific collapse next season.
3). Allowing an overrated coach run roughshod over the organization. A coach who has had a huge hand with the creating the first two problems listed above. A coach who thought he reinvented the sport when in all actuality, the organization stumbled into catching the rest of the league flat footed in 16 & 17. Remove that 18 month stretch out of sullys resume, he's a below average coach... or average at best.
I keep waiting for a GM to act boldly and change the status quo. Dubas has simply given his version of more of the same. There is currently no hope for this franchise and I'm ok with that. But what disgusts me based on the current direction, it will be at least another 5 years before they get started with having a plan to compete once again.
