I still can't for the life of me get all the hate for JB. Since he took over we have the best prospect pool in the league according to various experts
He traded Burr for a slam dunk top player. Jake is looking like exactly what we all had hoped for. He signed Louie who hasn't lived up to his deal. Not JB fault. He had 17 offers higher then Vans. And the way the contract is set up is genius. Sure make fun of a guy because he is socially awkward. All that does is speak to the pathetic character of the people who make fun of him. I hope karma bites you in the ass
Yes JB has created a good prospect pool but that is literally he only good thing he’s done. He’s made one really good trade in getting Dahlen. Some average wins in Baertschi and Granlund. A net of nothing in his Goldobin trade. And then lost trades in getting: Vey, Sutter, Sbisa, Gudbrandson, Clendenning, Dowd. He’s shown an enamoration with throwing in draft picks for no reason like the Pouliot trade. And further has no ability to acquire draft picks for rentals by not selling Hamhuis or Vrbata and getting just an AHL player in Motte. Then his valuations on players contracts is atrocious: Ericsson, Gudbrandson, Sbisa, Dorsett.
If you’re also trying to sell that Virtanen has lived up to his draft status you are losing it. That high of a draft pick should have had a lot larger of an impact in the NHL by now. I still like Jake and hope he can have a breakout year but just look at Ehlers and Nylander and how they’ve done as your baseline of what a top end pick could have done.
Oh i get the reasoning if Hughes plays this upcoming season, but rushing D is risky (speaking from experience with Rielly/Schenn)...so if Hughes doesn't play next season, that burns another year off Tanev's value. Again, i have no idea what the plan is for Hughes development.
I think we have to keep Tanev now as well. Since we drafted Woo, my interest in Rasnanen has dropped a little. Additionally he can be paired with Hughes or Juolevi this year and really shelter and mentor. If Hughes doesn’t come this year, Tanev is paired with Juolevi and then the following year with Hughes and sold as a rental at the TDL afterwards.