Official Francesco Aquilini Thread

[God]

"I think they have learnt over the years how much involvement there should be, how much involvement they can talk to our president or GM, but at the end of the day I think we all learned the hockey decisions have to be...you have to have a game plan, and you have to stick with that game plan with the management team that you have. The involvement is like any other owner wants to know what's going on as the season goes, but I know over the years it hasn't been as much as when they first came in, but they've wanted to learn about the team."

basically confirming the meddling (also, it's probably still going on lol)

 

[Diamonddog01]

basically confirming the meddling (also, it's probably still going on lol)

Ya think? I feel the majority of poor decisions management has made (with the exception of the atrocious Dickinson trade and the bad Lekkerimaki pick) is directly attributable to ownership. He is a massive issue for this organization.

 

[Hit the post]

Ya think? I feel the majority of poor decisions management has made (with the exception of the atrocious Dickinson trade and the bad Lekkerimaki pick) is directly attributable to ownership. He is a massive issue for this organization.

Jim Benning did some pretty hefty damage on his own. Two of which are Willie D. & Travis Green. I doubt Fredo had anything to do with Dumb & Dumber.

 

[Diamonddog01]

Jim Benning did some pretty hefty damage on his own. Two of which are Willie D. & Travis Green. I doubt Fredo had anything to do with Dumb & Dumber.

I was speaking of current management but we'll have to disagree regarding his influence on the previous management group. I think he has set the overall direction / anti-rebuild approach for a decade now.

 

[Breakers]

He's heavily involved, and it isn't even debatable

Just going back through the management thread, and this thread people still don't think he is involved which is out of this world Naive

I mean they have Stan Smyl do this Q&A even though he hasn't been with the team for the end of 2022 because his wife tragically passed.

 

[Hit the post]

He's heavily involved, and it isn't even debatable

Just going back through the management thread, and this thread people still don't think he is involved which is out of this world Naive

I mean they have Stan Smyl do this Q&A even though he hasn't been with the team for the end of 2022 because his wife tragically passed.

Just when I thought I couldn't think any less of Fredo....

 

[Bubbles]

Poor Steamer. He's not involved in any day to day operations and is trotted out to answer fan questions.

 

[mathonwy]

Jim Benning did some pretty hefty damage on his own. Two of which are Willie D. & Travis Green. I doubt Fredo had anything to do with Dumb & Dumber.

Fredo is a negligent mofo because he turned a blind eye while Weisbrod and Jimbo foobar’ed things over and over again.

We were bled like a stuck pig and FAQ smiled and kept asking for more.

 

[Kevinsane]

Photoshops his outdated Twitter pic. Slumlord. Plantation boss mindset with his blueberry farms. Allegedly beat his children.

And there are still people who wonder if someone like this meddles????

 

[mathonwy]

delete

 

[Fatass]

Photoshops his outdated Twitter pic. Slumlord. Plantation boss mindset with his blueberry farms. Allegedly beat his children.

And there are still people who wonder if someone like this meddles????

I don’t know I feel FA meddles I need actual hockey ops. But from the moment he bought the club he’s clearly set the course (no rebuilding moves) and fires anyone who disagrees.

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

Poor Steamer. He's not involved in any day to day operations and is trotted out to answer fan questions.

Ownership and management are ducking the media and their "customers."

I can bet you JR and Aqua would be front and center if this team was top of the table.

 

[Hit the post]

Poor Steamer. He's not involved in any day to day operations and is trotted out to answer fan questions.

His wife who passed away also was involved in helping out the players wives back in Smyl's playing days. For example, when Larionov & Krutov first came over, she did her best to get their families acclimated to their new work environments. Team was still a rather small business (by big league sports standards) & didn't have the payroll to have full-time personnel to handle those things. As far as I know, it was essentially "volunteer" (ie., unpaid) work for her.

 

[Frankie Blueberries]

I don’t know I feel FA meddles I need actual hockey ops. But from the moment he bought the club he’s clearly set the course (no rebuilding moves) and fires anyone who disagrees.

There was a report that came out around the time Benning was shitcanned that said Aquilini will push for certain players, with Toffoli being one of the examples of someone he really wanted to acquire.

 

[Hit the post]

There was a report that came out around the time Benning was shitcanned that said Aquilini will push for certain players, with Toffoli being one of the examples of someone he really wanted to acquire.

Fredo likes managing:

 

[Dr Black]

There was a report that came out around the time Benning was shitcanned that said Aquilini will push for certain players, with Toffoli being one of the examples of someone he really wanted to acquire.

I have the feeling that OEL and JT Miller are 2 other players that Aquilini has pushed for. Just a hunch.

 

[gringo]

I have the feeling that OEL and JT Miller are 2 other players that Aquilini has pushed for. Just a hunch.

No, I’m pretty sure Benning had a 2.5 year OEL obsession. He also had a thing for Granlund, Sbisa, Sutter, Gudbranson etc.

Francesco deserves blame for never having the balls to do the right thing and having a stupid hockey philosophy but those dumb moves are all Benning.


As an aside it’s really funny the different treatment Smyl and Delorme get around here.

 

[Bubbles]

No, I’m pretty sure Benning had a 2.5 year OEL obsession. He also had a thing for Granlund, Sbisa, Sutter, Gudbranson etc.

Francesco deserves blame for never having the balls to do the right thing and having a stupid hockey philosophy but those dumb moves are all Benning.


As an aside it’s really funny the different treatment Smyl and Delorme get around here.

Can you clarify?

 

[gringo]

Can you clarify?

I mean both are guys that haven’t had a “real” role related to the on ice product in any sense since 2009 yet one is given endless praise and the other the butt end of jokes.

 

[Hit the post]

I mean both are guys that haven’t had a “real” role related to the on ice product in any sense since 2009 yet one is given endless praise and the other the butt end of jokes.

Other than a rather disasterious run as head coach of their AHL affiliate (which was a LONG time ago), Smyl seems to be employed in areas on the team that suits his talents. Delorme, on the other hand..............

 

[rypper]

As an aside it’s really funny the different treatment Smyl and Delorme get around here.

One of them works for a department that is results based, and his area of focus has been particularly bad. Smyl's role has changed often and he doesn't get a lot of spotlight. It's not that funny.

 

[mathonwy]

I have the feeling that OEL and JT Miller are 2 other players that Aquilini has pushed for. Just a hunch.

And this is the crux of our team's problem.

We got a moron making hockey ops decisions.

 

[Hit the post]

One of them works for a department that is results based, and his area of focus has been particularly bad. Smyl's role has changed often and he doesn't get a lot of spotlight. It's not that funny.

Mostly PR stuff to my knowledge with Smyl. That suits him (imho). He was the Trevor Linden before there was a Trevor Linden of the team. Now if only Ron Delorme had that similiar function.

 

[Bubbles]

Other than a rather disasterious run as head coach of their AHL affiliate (which was a LONG time ago), Smyl seems to be employed in areas on the team that suits his talents. Delorme, on the other hand..............

Was also US college scout for a short time I think, which amounted to not much. Smyl is now a shield for Blueberry Boy, used only to deflect criticism.

Any mention of Delorme is like flashing the Batsignal to me, @Hit the post @Breakers and a bunch of people here. LOL

 

[I Hart Conor Garland]

And this is the crux of our team's problem.

We got a moron making hockey ops decisions.

Let’s not shy away from it. The true hockey ops hierarchy is:

1- King Francesco
2- President of Hockey Ops
3- General Manager