I've always believed that Benning and Linden were the guys that were going to be tasked with tearing the team down. When the team starts to brim over with young players someone else will be brought in to build a contender. Probably in three or four years. It's going to be rough but I'm also glad they're getting on with the rebuild instead of dragging it out.
The returns they have been getting have been disappointing but not out of this world bad. They haven't "won" a trade yet. They've been getting 3rds when they should have got 2nds and stuff like that. Would it be better to put off the rebuild for another year if it meant the picks you get back are slightly better?
Benning has no idea what he is doing...
The ludicrous notion is that we are "intentionally tanking". Benning hands out draft picks like candy to acquire depth players (ex. Dorsett, Prust, etc...) No rebuilding team is going to hand out draft picks for NHL depth players unless its to fill holes and push for the cup. Not to mention, Benning isn't even getting good players or value back in his trades. Every move Benning has made has literally contradicted this notion. Starting with the Kesler trade. Benning literally targeted players like Sbisa and Bonino when young players such as Rakell and Karlsson should have been easily acquirable in that transaction. Furthermore, Benning goes and signs Vrbata, Miller, Richardson, etc... Those are the not the signings of a team trying to tank. Vrbata is a premium asset to acquire. Miller was acquired to give us better goal-tending and Richardson is a decent fourth line center. It may look like tanking when Benning incompetently overpays by resigning literally the two worst players on the team but do not be fooled as rebuilding teams do not acquire veterans nor do they trade picks away to acquire them.
The plan for that Benning has stated is to retool the team. I honestly believe than Benning has no clue what a retool is or has lost sight of the retool. Some of the moves made such as acquiring prime aged - youngish players like Bonino, Sbisa, Baertschi can be seen as inline with the "plan". However, getting rid of players like Lack, Matthias, and Kassian who are players that can help smooth over the transition and remain useful after the retool is completely contradictory to that. All of whom are arguably more valuable than the new transition players brought in. In addition, as mentioned earlier the trading of draft picks for veterans makes no sense as we are going to need more young players for a retool to actually be successful. Otherwise you are only going to end up with small window to contend and then it's back to square one. You know what that sounds an awful like? Trying to win the cup. The retooling (ideal) way is trading proven veteran NHL players to acquire younger non-proven NHL players. Ex. Trading Miller for Markstrom. Our entire philosophy is flawed and makes no sense. This leads me to believe that there is no real plan.
