I see plenty of not great under past management.
Even right now, Zbad, they extend him to pretty much what he is looking for, finagle some complicated trade around his clause, or they see him walk. All because they gave him a no movement clause in his last contract year.
Trouba, they traded for him using a 1st and Pionk, when Trouba was basically in the contract situation Buch is right now. Post trade they either signed him to pretty much whatever he wanted or they have to trade his rights for a lesser return than they initially traded for him. And that is leaving the player evaluation out of it.
Could make a much longer list, Shattenkirk, Smith the ultimate value in the trade return for Stepan, Raanta, McD, Miller. Kreider extension. Fast self rent. ADA even trading for him in the first place. There is something about JD/Gorton not thinking out all the outcomes.
To be fair, they had some really good moves too. Original trade for Zbad, Fox, Lindgren, the picks in general including them having picks at all. Last management left them with 3 or 4 straight years of no prospects from the draft. So while it seems as if I am being critical of Gorton, JD, I do think they were handed a tough deal, they made it better, a lot better, yet they also made costly mistakes along the way that would have derailed their plans eventually as well.
To me this change in management is more of a wash, unless Drury goes pretty near perfect this ends up good but not great, yet that was true for JD/Gorton too.
