Whitesnake
If you rebuild, they will come.
- Jan 5, 2003
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I have no idea where I said that if they have the intention of signing Evans, they have to sign him no matter the cost. No idea where I said that. I said...if you want to sign him and the deal makes sense, if you do it is because you think the guy will help you in the future. If you don't and the guy might give you a great return, you have to be open to it.I don't think roster and asset management works the way you think it does. "Planning" to re-sign a player doesn't mean sign them at any cost (except I suppose in the rarest of cases when talking about generational talent).
And I don't think you understand what their approach is, despite how many times they've publicly stated it....
All of the following can be true at the same time
- they want to re-sign Evans
- they want to keep the roster while/competitive to support the push for a playoff spot
- they have set a minimum bar to be met to consider trading Evans
And all 3 are very much consistent with their stated approach.
While I fully get that one might disagree with the approach, not sure why this is hard to grasp?
It's been almost exactly 3 years. We have the best U25 and best non-nhl prospect group this organization has seen in decades and we are in a great place cap-wise to both retain our internal talent and be aggressive over the next 2-4 years in targetting high cap assets.
Is it really that hard to understand that the roster and asset decisions today look different than the ones in year 1 when he inherited BargainBin's mess ?
Last 4 games, lol wut?
Hughes has been saying the same thing since last summer... When a bunch of posters were crying because he didn't improve the roster as much as the Predators, Blackhawks, RedWings, Utah etc.
The approach is about building from the inside out, while being patient and opportunistic with external additions. Playoffs is the goal this year, but not in an "all-in" capacity. That's exactly what we've seen so far (Laine, Carrier, Dobes), and since the group has done it's part to stay within realistic striking distance of a PO spot, he's in no rush to be a "seller" because he knows that there is a cost internally to do so.
It's not an exact science. There will be decisions in hindsight that look bad, and others that look great. Overall, the outcomes both on ice (youngest roster in the league punching above its weight) and in organizational strength, have been nothing short of excellent.
Worst case, we keep all 4 vet UFAs, miss the playoffs on the last day, pick 9* in the first 4 rounds (or trade up), and our young core hits the summer hungry, motivated and feeling confident that the organization is behind them. I can live with that.
The funny part is that in the same response, you give some trade proposals.....so in essence...if he'd do what you said, you'd be fine with it? That then means getting rid of Armia and Savard for no real immediate or a clear downgrade which would clearly put an end to our playoff push. And you also add picks....so....you are open to actually what I've been talking about? But i'm the one who doesn'T understand the plan? Hein?
As far as my comment about the last 4 games.....well your point 2 of your Evans explanation says it all....tell me just before the 4-nations tournament where we where pathetic, tell me that they thought of a push for a playoff spot. NOW we think that. NOW it makes sense. After the 4 nations...but before...NOBODY talked about playoff push...
Now, since it's not all black and white, sure....you can make hockey moves too. You don't have to ship away Armia-Dvorak-Savard and Evans for 2 2nd rounders, 1 3rd and 1 4th. That's not what I want too. You could get Carrier's type of players. You could get Heineman's type of players. You talk about Dumba? Fine with me maybe. But for me it will always be about asset management. I just hate losing players for nothing. Some will say it's not nothing to keep Armia, Dvorak Evans and Savard and make the kids live a playoff push....fine. Yet, for me, it's also possible to make deals, maximize asset management AND still push for the playoffs in the process.