Fans: Owner is the problem hiring win now coaches.
Also fans: Barry Trotz is right there!
Edit: P.S. Gallant was our top choice!!!
Yeah, I’m still stuck on GGs comment earlier about not being here to develop. Your comment was frankly marginally annoying as it is revisionist history. My far bigger gripe is with the org. the problem is we were all sold a rebuild. We suffered through years of terrible hockey and trading away fan favorites and our captain all in the name of doing it right. Now we’re gonna sacrifice it all because the owner needs to make the playoffs this season? Or every season?
If Gallant wasn’t brought here to develop in addition to win, then we have all been had. Not just me, you too and everyone else reading this.
As a helpful reminder, Gallant was sold as a coach who could win but who also developed Barkov and Huberdeau. And getting the most out of players. Or certainly more than DQ. That WAS the sell.
But I suppose our young promising careers aren’t the ones actually in the balance here with that comment. We’re just the people who support the owner by continually following the team. I know this is super harsh, and I’m sure to some it’s unhinged. But for real, I’m pissed off. Not at you. At the team I’ve followed for 40 years.
if Gallant didn’t sign up for the job knowing he had multiple 19 and 20 year olds whose development the organization’s future hinged on then what did he sign up for? And what did Drury and Dolan tell him? Because we all got that letter. And we all heard Drury say in his intro press conference the rebuild was still on track. So either Gallant has gone off script or we are all being played. What is it?
Because you don’t bring in a coach who is only here to win games if you’re committed to your rebuild and your #1 and #2 picks who were only in years 2 and 3 when Gallant was brought in.
Something is off here. Dru and crew need to address it or GG does and fast.
And as opposed to many of us sensing it with lineups and things like the benching of Kakko in game 6, GG just came right out and said it.
He. said. it.
That comment should be viewed as a real low point. Maybe even a turning point. It put all of our young players on notice that they better figure out how to become offensive stars on 12 min of TOI a night and no special teams and getting bounced around and scratched.
If I’m Laffy or his agent I’m taking note and I’m maybe starting contingency plans if I feel like my career is not being prioritized enough by the team. That’s millions of dollars at stake. I bet he can’t wait to be lowballed on a bridge deal after that impatient comment.
Likewise those same convos are happening with agents for Kravtsov and Jones and Robertson and lord knows who else. If you’re a fan of this team and you’re ok with that comment or dismiss it, I don’t know what to say. Because you’re saying you’re ok with suffering through a rebuild only to let it suffocate before it properly matures. And for the record, it has most certainly NOT matured yet. And for what? betting on a highly questionable vet core? And an overpay on a splashy deadline rental?
That is NOT a team one should be okay investing their time, hard earned money and heart into following. That is tantamount to a con job. It’s Lucy pulling away the football yet again.
But back to your point, what were you saying about Barry Trotz?
