The article points out things like Lucic retention and Sekera buyouts but for some reason seems to blame most on previous management.
Holland is responsible for continuing the death by 1000 cuts. If he continues to do so that narrative has to stop and Holland needs to be strung up.
Being dead cap free better happen well before McDrai contracts are up or heads should roll.
I like Holland but I agree, he’s not been perfect. I don’t know if I would’ve done the Sekeras buyout when he did. And he looks closer to the guy we loved in 2017 and missed in 2018.
I’m not a Kris Russell hater but I would’ve attached a pick to get out of that before Sekeras. Or dealt him for nothing.
I also look at moves like the John Marino deal. Why weren’t there conditions attached? Conditions if he played a certain number of games, conditions if he got a certain number of points? If he was nothing more than an AHL d-man paying a 6th isn’t a huge price. If the guy is good enough for their top-4 and he’s exempt from next summers expansion draft isn’t that worth a little more? And right now that’s what we traded away...for very little in return.
And I say the same about Joel Persson deal albeit he left for Sweden so it is moot anyway. Imagine if he found a role in Anaheim and got 45 points next year? You going to be happy with a 6th? I’m not.
I didn’t love the AA deal mostly because I was disappointed they lost Gagner. I think the thing this team has missed the most the last three seasons is a veteran who knows his role, respected in the room and guys might rally around ala Matt Hendricks. Gagner was as close to that as we were getting.