Ron Francis’ future.

[Kevinsane]

Do the Kraken need to make the playoffs for Francis to last beyond this season?
Stephenson and Montour have been good and great signings respectively, but the Kraken lack an elite scorer, and while there’s talent in the pipeline, they are far from ready.
This team feels like the Wild pre-Kaprizov. Just there. Not terrible, but nothing to get excited about either.
If Francis starts to feel heat he’ll do what most GM’s do to save their jobs, and mortgage the future for a shiny stopgap.
I’m trying to envision a positive step forward under his leadership, but is it time to think beyond our current front office?

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[gstommylee]

Do the Kraken need to make the playoffs for Francis to last beyond this season?
Stephenson and Montour have been good and great signings respectively, but the Kraken lack an elite scorer, and while there’s talent in the pipeline, they are far from ready.
This team feels like the Wild pre-Kaprizov. Just there. Not terrible, but nothing to get excited about either.
If Francis starts to feel heat he’ll do what most GM’s do to save their jobs, and mortgage the future for a shiny stopgap.
I’m trying to envision a positive step forward under his leadership, but is it time to think beyond our current front office?

Elite scorers don't grow on trees and don't come cheap. Unless fans are willing to toss away top prospects and hope the other are willing to take a contract, we are going to have to continue to develop our prospects.

 

[Kevinsane]

Elite scorers don't grow on trees and don't come cheap. Unless fans are willing to toss away top prospects and hope the other are willing to take a contract, we are going to have to continue to develop our prospects.

Oh, agreed. I’m concerned that if Francis feels heat to make the playoffs, or senses he may lose his job, we see Catton or Firkus go elsewhere for a 32 year old who put up 60 points.
If the team makes a change I hope it’s swift and unexpected, otherwise human nature suggests a fire sale.

 

[gstommylee]

Oh, agreed. I’m concerned that if Francis feels heat to make the playoffs, or senses he may lose his job, we see Catton or Firkus go elsewhere for a 32 year old who put up 60 points.
If the team makes a change I hope it’s swift and unexpected, otherwise human nature suggests a fire sale.

why would we get rid of catton, who has potential to be a top line winger as he develops.

top elite goal scorers also don't come cheap in cap hit. Take marner and what he could ask for. We would have to move quite a bit of contracts just to afford that cap hit + reducing our depth to cheaper contracts/prospects.

Marner would also require us to give up top assets just to have a chance to re-sign him to avoid dealing with FA prices.

 

[Kevinsane]

why would we get rid of catton, who has potential to be a top line winger...

Well, that’s just it. WE wouldn’t, but a GM sensing his job is in trouble might. It happens. The Predators got Filip Forsberg for Martin Erat. The Sharks got Joe Thornton for a bunch of not much. In both cases GMs mortgaged the future under pressure to make the postseason.
All I’m saying is that I don’t want a scenario whereby Francis makes a move like that to stay in the General Manager’s chair.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

It would be so out of character for him to make a trade like that. Even if he was that desperate, I think it would be a prospect other than Catton (and maybe Sale).

 

[gstommylee]

Well, that’s just it. WE wouldn’t, but a GM sensing his job is in trouble might. It happens. The Predators got Filip Forsberg for Martin Erat. The Sharks got Joe Thornton for a bunch of not much. In both cases GMs mortgaged the future under pressure to make the postseason.
All I’m saying is that I don’t want a scenario whereby Francis makes a move like that to stay in the General Manager’s chair.

problem is if we give up too many top prospects on top of moving contracts the team is gonna be worse at depth just for the sake of upgrading 1 roster spot. If we want to win the cup we need elite talent AND depth. If we make ourselves worse in terms of prospects its going to be hard to manage the cap to have both that elite scoring talent and depth needed to make it far in the playoffs and win the cup.

 

[gstommylee]

Also there is no guarantee that any elite scorer would want to sign here with out being costly in terms of AAV so there's a risk we give up prospects and what not for said player only to see him walk. We are far from having that one player away from actually competing for the cup to be making that kind of risk. Meaning a sign and trade would be necessary. Marner has a NMC so who knows if he will waive for us.