Felonious Python
Minor League Degenerate
- Aug 20, 2004
- 31,529
- 9,391
Back when the then 'expansion to Utah' was nearing its fever pitch, I did my own little expansion draft. I looked through the Vegas and Seattle drafts, and got a sense of what my priorities should be, both as the Utah GM, and who I'd need to protect as everyone else.Except trading McD was the correct move for that point in time for a couple of reasons. Let's be real, JBB was.never moving either of Cirelli or Cernak, as one is the team's 2C for the long run, and the other is the best RD they had/have for now. Both were slightly overpaid, but not by as much as Serg. Both also have just as much potential to reach ceilings that make the contracts look even better. Not to mention, these players and their agents realized the cap would be increasing again during this contract, and so neither was going to accept some laughable min raise on a long-term deal.
Trading McD was also the correct choice, as at the time he was 33 and looking like a dman that may have been beginning to decline. Serg was 25 and looking as though he may be emerging as the true heir apparent to Hedman. The contract was 1.5-2 million overpaid, and he has not taken that next step since. JBB was also not going to spend 23 million on the left side of the defense, forcing him to sacrifice elsewhere. Trading back for McD wasn't even the plan, as Nashville contacted him about trading back for McD. It's great that McD has had two solid seasons with Nashvile (when not dealing with injury), and hopefully, he can have another 2 solid seasons with Tampa; but at the time, moving him was correct given lineup considerations and level of play.
Teams that are focused on trying to win don't trade a player like Stamkos at a trade deadline. JBB clearly wasn't going to send a message that he was giving up on the season by doing so, and again, Stamkos, who had in the past said he wouldn't waive his NMC, was extremely unlikely to do so. It's no big deal that they paid a 3rd round pick for Guentzel's.rights. JBB wasn't going to take any chances this time, and a future 3rd has a minimal chance of ever being anything (especially not for this core).
There's no one better that would be readily available imo. None of the GM's of other successful franchises are getting fired anytime soon it would stand to reason, and I don’t see Tampa looking to hire some 1st time GM or cast off from another team. Regardless of whether they make the SCF or win a Cup in the next two seasons doesn't change that, unless Tampa completely falls off a cliff and becomes a lottery team. JBB is a good GM because he's willing to take big swings and go for Cups while the window is open. He's got two, which is already an incredible achievement, and most of his moves have allowed the team to keep the window open. He's primarily played a tough game of balancing moves for now and the future well enough. I'm 100% fine with moving all the futures he has, as that's what teams in their windows should do imo to maximize their chances. If not for some injuries and being very run down, this strategy likely wojld have resulted in a cap era dynasty.
Vinik seems quite confident in the job he is doing, and the team's results with him as GM speak for themselves. For all the praise Yzerman gets on this board and others (most well earned), they won nothing under his leadership. Regardless of where he left the team, it is what JBB did as GM that helped push the team over the top. He's identified and corrected a couple of his weaker trades/signings, set the team up to hopefully contend this season and beyond, and added a couple of additional draft picks/prospects for the next couple of years (perhaps to be used at the tdl this year, who knows). The one skeptical signing remains Sheary, but if he can stay healthy and rebound to something like the player he was the 2 or 3 years before joining Tampa, that signing/contract may also look solid.
If Houston or Atlanta dropped in, and we had to protect three of Hedman, McD, Cernak, Moser, Perbix, Raddysh, and Lilleberg, who would we protect?
The answer I kept coming to was to protect your best, youngest players.
If you're going to lose players, it makes sense to offer up your older ones (if they aren't still too good).