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Roster/Rumors/Speculation/Trade Talk - 2023-24: Hotel California

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doublechili said:
If Lou is being extended, it does provide some comfort that the old truism of building out from the back still seems to be correct. TOR built their team from forwards to the back, and that obviously didn't work. I don't want to carp on the Devs, but so many people seem to think they're the next big thing, and I'm not sure they're not doing the same thing. Granted, they have Hughes and Nemec who could be great and would salvage things (so long as they can get the goalie), but right now their back end isn't looking great.
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From my seat, it seems both ways have not worked. Toronto’s offence hasn’t provided the goals needed to win the cup. The Isles defense and goaltending has stopped enough goals to win the cup. The answer is a balance of both. Hopefully this offseason brings some drastic changes
 
PK Cronin said:
I don't think the way he views how to build a team as an issue. I'd like someone who views things in a similar manner, net out, defense first hockey. This team just needs more speed in order to do it more effectively.
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Maybe not the blueprint for how to build a team, but Lou's failure to recognize the changes in style of the teams in the conference we play in and keep up with them, while simultaneously re-signing some players that restricted Lou from making talent upgrades.

2021 was when the tweaks to the Islanders needed to start. We've heard about players he was interested in and couldn't to get. Therefore Lou's been unable to fulfill the goals of his position. The same thing in the summer of 2022. In private sector jobs that would get you a poor evaluation and put you out of your position.
 
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MJF said:
Maybe not the blueprint for how to build a team, but Lou's failure to recognize the changes in style of the teams in the conference we play in and keep up with them, while simultaneously re-signing some players that restricted Lou from making talent upgrades.

2021 was when the tweaks to the Islanders needed to start. We've heard about players he was interested in and couldn't to get. Therefore Lou's been unable to fulfill the goals of his position. The same thing in the summer of 2022. In private sector jobs that would get you a poor evaluation and put you out of your position.
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Is he not in the private sector? :huh::sarcasm:

The difference between most jobs and being an NHL GM is that GMs have small windows to get certain things done. Timing is everything and things aren't always linear. A misstep here or there can create a ripple effect that might take time to undo. That's where we are right now I think.

Mistakes GMs make are magnified. I'm not going to grab a pitchfork because someone made a mistake, especially if they show they know they made a mistake. I think he started to show that with the acquisition of Horvat and Engvall. What will his next moves be? That's why I think Lamoriello's age is a problem, I don't think he has the time to course correct effectively.
 
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PK Cronin said:
Is he not in the private sector? :huh::sarcasm:
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I worked for the MTA. “Private sector” is still my default comparison.:naughty:
PK Cronin said:
The difference between most jobs and being an NHL GM is that GMs have small windows to get certain things done. Timing is everything and things aren't always linear. A misstep here or there can create a ripple effect that might take time to undo. That's where we are right now I think.
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I agree.
PK Cronin said:
Mistakes GMs make are magnified. I'm not going to grab a pitchfork because someone made a mistake, especially if they show they know they made a mistake. I think he started to show that with the acquisition of Horvat and Engvall.
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This is not wrong, however these are counters to Lou’s initial moves that got us here to begin with. The idea is Lou has made mistakes and then compounded them. This is what can’t continue.
PK Cronin said:
That's why I think Lamoriello's age is a problem, I don't think he has the time to course correct effectively.
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Then another GM will come here and play the cards Lou left him. It’s not as if only Lou has the formula for success and it’s locked up in the safe in his office.

My problem with the age argument against Lou is that too many people here are linking age to his mental acuity. I am sure this is not Lou’s problem. I think he is as sharp as a man half his age. He runs a team and is said to be the biggest control freak out there. His hands are in everything. No detail slips past him. Players here are given the most distraction-free environment they’ll ever experience and I’ve never heard a player have a bad thing to say about playing for a Lamoriello team. I do, however disagree with many of the penny ante things he’s responsible for on the fan side, things I described to you yesterday. But mainly I think he’s been too slow to react to the changes in the style of play in today’s NHL and that troubles me most about giving him more time as GM.

Lou is now failing to meet goals and objectives. This private sector employee deserves a poor evaluation and should be removed from his current titles.
 
MJF said:
I worked for the MTA. “Private sector” is still my default comparison.:naughty:

I agree.

This is not wrong, however these are counters to Lou’s initial moves that got us here to begin with. The idea is Lou has made mistakes and then compounded them. This is what can’t continue.
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Agreed.

MJF said:
Then another GM will come here and play the cards Lou left him. It’s not as if only Lou has the formula for success and it’s locked up in the safe in his office.

My problem with the age argument against Lou is that too many people here are linking age to his mental acuity. I am sure this is not Lou’s problem. I think he is as sharp as a man half his age. He runs a team and is said to be the biggest control freak out there. His hands are in everything. No detail slips past him. Players here are given the most distraction-free environment they’ll ever experience and I’ve never heard a player have a bad thing to say about playing for a Lamoriello team. I do, however disagree with many of the penny ante things he’s responsible for on the fan side, things I described to you yesterday. But mainly I think he’s been too slow to react to the changes in the style of play in today’s NHL and that troubles me most about giving him more time as GM.

Lou is now failing to meet goals and objectives. This private sector employee deserves a poor evaluation and should be removed from his current titles.
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I'd like to make it abundantly clear that I do not have an issue with his mental acuity. My issue is because he is a control freak that has his hands in absolutely everything. There are very few people who can do that and do it well, he's one of them. If he were to suddenly be gone at a crucial window in time it could be very bad. I'm not talking about Succession shit, I'm talking about the fact that there would just be a natural disorganization/chaos that would happen when it comes to decision making in various departments during the interim. There wouldn't be the cohesiveness in the game plan that he currently brings (for better or worse) and the synergy would be off.

The other thing is what I mentioned earlier, just that he won't be around to have to deal with the consequences of whatever he's doing. I'd feel much more comfortable if there was a clear cut plan for his inevitable departure. Maybe there is and we just don't know it yet.

As for whether or not I think he deserves to be fired, I think he's getting there. This is going to be a huge off-season. Anymore missteps where we're left wondering what the heck was he thinking and he should be gone.
 
PK Cronin said:
If he were to suddenly be gone at a crucial window in time it could be very bad. I'm not talking about Succession shit, I'm talking about the fact that there would just be a natural disorganization/chaos that would happen when it comes to decision making in various departments during the interim. There wouldn't be the cohesiveness in the game plan that he currently brings (for better or worse) and the synergy would be off.
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A 55 year old GM could have a sudden heart attack and drop dead on the job. The same chaos you fear would still happen. I'm 99% sure Lou gets his physical at the same time the players do--in September at Northwell Manhasset. I know for certain the players get it then because my cardiologist is on staff in the cardiology department at that hospital and he saw them at the stress test lab last September, and Lou was at the hospital that day as well.
PK Cronin said:
The other thing is what I mentioned earlier, just that he won't be around to have to deal with the consequences of whatever he's doing. I'd feel much more comfortable if there was a clear cut plan for his inevitable departure. Maybe there is and we just don't know it yet.
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I'm sure the owners have that plan in place. On the face of it they gave Lou carte blanche to run hockey ops, but I'm sure they aren't totally in the dark about what they left him alone to do, at least privately anyways.

As far as succession, I don't think it's nearly the problem you're saying it will be. It can go in 1 of 2 directions. Either the owners want someone to continue on Lou's path and they'll go with Chris Lamoriello. He's an organization guy and I believe is aware of what his father has set up for the future. Or the owners want to go in another direction and hire a GM from outside the organization, in which case there would be sweeping changes to the team, coaches, scouting, minor league ops.
 
leeroggy said:
If we win the Cup next year, there's going to be a lot of mea culpas coming . . . LOL
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When the odds come out in July I will save my $100 and not bet on the Isles to win the cup next year. No chance. Saying this with 100% confidence.
 
My issue with the Maple Leafs is that they are a classic case of the NHL as a reactionary league. Their build was modeled after the Penguins two cup winning team.

Tavares was supposed to complete the Crosby-Malkin center twosome with Matthews.

But what we have seen is that Pittsburgh setup isn’t really attainable. Both Penguins in their prime are better overall players AND signed at a lower cap percentage. This allowed Pittsburgh to have better depth including defensively.
 
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CupHolders said:
My issue with the Maple Leafs is that they are a classic case of the NHL as a reactionary league. Their build was modeled after the Penguins two cup winning team.

Tavares was supposed to complete the Crosby-Malkin center twosome with Matthews.

But what we have seen is that Pittsburgh setup isn’t really attainable. Both Penguins in their prime are better overall players AND signed at a lower cap percentage. This allowed Pittsburgh to have better depth including defensively.
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It helps that they could put any cheap contract schmo on the wing with Crosby and he'd be a point per game player.
 
CupHolders said:
My issue with the Maple Leafs is that they are a classic case of the NHL as a reactionary league. Their build was modeled after the Penguins two cup winning team.

Tavares was supposed to complete the Crosby-Malkin center twosome with Matthews.

But what we have seen is that Pittsburgh setup isn’t really attainable. Both Penguins in their prime are better overall players AND signed at a lower cap percentage. This allowed Pittsburgh to have better depth including defensively.
Click to expand...

I think Colorado was the closest thing to what we saw the Penguins do.
 
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