interstorm wrote:The way I look at it, GMJR is the type of guy who stands at the plate and tries to hit home runs. We can look at his recent record and say it hasn't been good and he's made decisions (all fair statements) but his methodology hasn't changed. We won thise back to back cups by taking on a questionable player in Kessel. He plucked Shultz and Trevor Daley off the scrap heap and they turned into important parts of championship teams. We can look at some of the things he's done and scratch our heads but he's been fairly consistent in digging for reclaimation projects in a boom or bust mode (this might even be required for winning teams to make such moves). Some have hit, some haven't. I get the bad moves - and signing JJ to that long contract for sure was the worst of them - but for the most part, I don't think we get the shrewd transactions that got us the cups without taking the misses as well. They all come together. That's who he is and what he brings to the team.
The question then shifts to whether he has lost his touch, if he is striking out more often than hitting the homers. Ultimately he - and the coaches - will be judged by their playoff performances...and recent history is not good. But given players are humans, have good days and bad days, injuries occur as well as a million other variables - I don't think knee jerk reactions are healthy for an organization at that level. I think it is completely fair to let GMJR operate as normal right now...he has earned it and proven he can make the bold moves...but as every year goes by and the cups get a little further in the distance, it is also fair to evaluate his ability to knock it out of the park still. I think the next season will be telling and the Matheson trade, another in the long line of bold moves, could be one of the make or break factors.
(That and you have to think that sooner or later he's going to step aside anyway, right?)
Here’s what I think has changed. Other than Kessel, which was a huge move in my opinion, JR got role players and depth. He seemed to value WBS more and was more innovative in replacing draft picks with UDFA. With Sullivan this team had more competition for spots and filled them with WBS players instead of wasting bottom line/pairing spots on big contracts. Sure injuries helped, but they still allowed the competition. The farm system has always been suspect, this team seems to be immediate NHL help or projects and little in between.
Now what we’re seeing is wasted signings of Johnson, Tanev, etc. Spots that didn’t really need filled. How often has JR traded a player within 1 year of getting him?
Look at Conor Sheary. JR signed him and his NHL career has been better than about half the 1st round player of his draft class. We can say what we want about Sheary, but this team took an UDFA and developed him to the point that’s on par with highly drafted players. That’s quite a value for an asset. I know this is not a regular occurrence, but we haven’t seen anyone have anywhere near the success. It seems like JR will get a guy like Riikola then sign several players to push him down the depth chart. Marino came out of nowhere and pushed other players out but that hasn’t really been the norm lately.
I think JR has followed the path of Craig Patrick and Ray Shero. Develop players and get success then go after the shiny new toy as a shortcut rather than develop someone.
. Hey, man, sometimes things aren’t meant forever. But you come into a girl’s life, you make magic, and that magic remains forever. Are there some messes that will need to be fixed? Sure. Salary caps are a messy game. But those championship banners do hang from the rafters, do they not? Nobody’s perfect, maybe Don Shula. Just don’t give up hope just yet. Anything’s possible with Sid and Geno. Hey, anything is possible in THIS city, the city where Washington emasculated the French, and said “DUQUESNE?? Nay, we shall call it Pittsburgh.”