Yeah Sullivan Sucks, but Dubas needs to be talked about too...

[Jag68Sid87]

Karlsson is an unpredictable player. He is among the most creative players in the entire NHL, and possibly in the history of the game. It does not come as a major shocker that his style of game clashes with a coach that constantly preaches predictability and north-south hockey. If Dubas is to be blamed for anything regarding the Karlsson trade, it's that he did not factor in the head coach when making that decision. Either because he could not, or because he loves this HC. You guys keep saying it, but I still have a hard time believing that the coach and GM are squarely on the same page, and that Sullivan is clearly Dubas's guy. I will continue to believe Dubas has no input on who coaches this team.

If you have a different head coach, you should be able to get at least 75-80 points out of Karlsson. But every point Karlsson gets under this head coach is basically a surprising result. And he has never been a strong defender, ever. So the rest of your D corps better make up for it. Clearly, that too is part of the problem.

Owen Pickering should help in that vein. Harrison Brunicke next season may also help in that vein. But Grz is a disaster (oh but he skates so well, yay!); Shea should never play another NHL game again, he is no more than an AHL defenseman and everybody but Sullivan and Quinn know this; St. Ivany is a decent depth defenseman, ideally your No. 7; Letang has regressed badly and desperately needs a stable partner; Graves has somehow found himself in the dog house despite improving his game significantly from last season's debacle. And Pettersson is likely to be traded, further complicating matters.

Erik Karlsson is far more of a Mike Sullivan problem (yet another) than an Erik Karlsson problem.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Dubas or Dumbass as he is fondly referred to by many remains as uniquely unqualified to be a Manager of any sports team. I've never seen anyone in his position be gifted a GM position and to go on almost instantaneously make a franchise worse. I will never understand why Shanahan hired him, nor will know why Fenway hired him after his firing. All I can surmise is the guy is probably a good interview that can blow smoke up a chimney better than a Maytag salesman. The guy will be back at Sault St Marie running a OHL team, this is where he belongs. I have to admire him the former stick boy has made his millions already bamboozling some of the NHL community.

 

[PaulD]

You're clearly not watching the games and have no idea why they are losing. So why are you talking?

What does Dubas have to do with Crosby, Letang, Karlsson, Pettersson, Bunting, Jarry all playing well below their averages, all at the same time? That's a coaching issue.
Most of his off-season work involved restructuring the bottom-six. They're scoring quite well and a few of them have helped the PK. Plus guys like Glass and Hayes are here because they came with picks attached, not for performance this season. They are cap dumps.
All of his trades have made sense or are outright wins.

I'll blame Dubas for hiring Quinn. Not sure he has the authority to fire Sullivan. Maybe. We'll see. Ownership adore him.
Didn't like the Grzelcyk signing either. Otherwise I got no issues with his choices this off-season.

Bith can be ....and are true. Sullivan should be gone , and Dubas was a terrible choice as is doing a terrible job as GM.

 

[HandshakeLine]

Still laughing at the idea that Dubas getting rid of one or two bad soon to expire deals while bringing in EK’s huge deal + Jarry is some sort of symptom of a new strain of genius.

 

[McGroarty2]

Karlsson is an unpredictable player. He is among the most creative players in the entire NHL, and possibly in the history of the game. It does not come as a major shocker that his style of game clashes with a coach that constantly preaches predictability and north-south hockey. If Dubas is to be blamed for anything regarding the Karlsson trade, it's that he did not factor in the head coach when making that decision. Either because he could not, or because he loves this HC. You guys keep saying it, but I still have a hard time believing that the coach and GM are squarely on the same page, and that Sullivan is clearly Dubas's guy. I will continue to believe Dubas has no input on who coaches this team.

If you have a different head coach, you should be able to get at least 75-80 points out of Karlsson. But every point Karlsson gets under this head coach is basically a surprising result. And he has never been a strong defender, ever. So the rest of your D corps better make up for it. Clearly, that too is part of the problem.

Owen Pickering should help in that vein. Harrison Brunicke next season may also help in that vein. But Grz is a disaster (oh but he skates so well, yay!); Shea should never play another NHL game again, he is no more than an AHL defenseman and everybody but Sullivan and Quinn know this; St. Ivany is a decent depth defenseman, ideally your No. 7; Letang has regressed badly and desperately needs a stable partner; Graves has somehow found himself in the dog house despite improving his game significantly from last season's debacle. And Pettersson is likely to be traded, further complicating matters.

Erik Karlsson is far more of a Mike Sullivan problem (yet another) than an Erik Karlsson problem.

Assuming Pettersson is traded, going into next season, who would be a decent target for LD free agency if you were running the following...

UFA Karlsson
Pickering Letang
Graves Brunicke
xSt. Ivany