McDrai
Registered User
- Mar 29, 2009
- 24,185
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I agree with #1...worst trade he made, loathed is then and it looks worse now...I’m in the pro-Chiarelli group but here’s my criticisms.
1. Reinhart deal was awful, I understood it at the time (even though I had no idea why we needed to add a 2nd) but time is proving it to be a truly terrible deal.
2. Not somehow trying to make the Eberle for Hamonic swap. I realize it’s hard to criticize trades that weren’t made since we don’t know all the moving parts but the simple fact that the Islanders wanted Eberle and wanted to move Hamonic makes me think there’s a deal there somewhere.
3. That Russell extension. Don’t mind the player but if he’s getting NMC’s included, the salary hit needed to be less. Seemed like a panic move based on Sekera’s injury.
The rest of his moves (IMO) are either wins or not a big enough deal to complain about.
I agree with #1...worst trade he made, loathed is then and it looks worse now...
NYI got a significantly better return for Hamonic with the draft picks...no chance they take Ebs for Hamonic
the Russell extension was 2 years too long
He’s going the Pittsburgh model and is hoping players step up to make up for the big signings. The problem is no one is right now and it is really shedding light on the potential serious long term problem with the team.
Kessel>>> Hall in every possible wayFirst, I want to thank McDrai for making this thread, it is really appreciated.
I don't agree with this post. Chia has gone more with a Boston or LA type model of physical play and bringing in physical players. But he doesn't have the elite defenceman that either of those clubs has.
I actually think Chia moved us AWAY from the successful Pittsburgh model. Pittsburgh core is built on Crosby, Malkin, Kessel and with lines structured around that. Those are their elite players and spacing them out in the lineup results in balanced scoring and that each can drive a line. Pittsburgh does not have an elite D, they have D by committee and they also play team D through puck possession. Their goal is to have the puck as much as possible, its how they win.
We formerly had 3 such offensive drivers in McD, Drai, Hall, now, no thanks to Chia, we have two. That boat has sailed and it isn't coming back. Its underestimated how much of an impact it is when you lose one player that can drive a line like Hall. Ultimately it meant production regression in players like Eberle and Nuge as well who both had their halcyon years with Hall. Lucic hasn't really replaced that and Lucic is not a driver of offense. Lucic actually has most of his goals here on PP with McDavid. He's struggled to produce at evens.
It depends who you include in Chia's body of work. I don't give him credit for McD, obviously, that was just good fortune. I don't give him credit for Talbot who was an org gift from Sather, I don't give him credit For Draisaitl who was a 2014 pick. I certainly don't give him credit for acquiring Lucic which is already a bad and underwhelming contract.More good than bad overall. I'm really not sure how anyone can argue that point.
As everyone knows he does pay his key/core players too much. However I think it is very important to note he is typically very astute at picking the right core players to overpay.
EDIT: Not sure I can follow the logic of those saying he didn't make enough moves this summer.
We had a great year last year and he made as few changes as possible to keep that together... We have no cap space next year so his only possible moves this year are 1 year rentals...
Sekera being injured is the biggest concern for the club has roster wise and 5.5 million dollar guys are impossible to replace just for an injury. Our RW is weak but that also where our prospect pool is strongest...
Kessel>>> Hall in every possible way
Kessel scored a lot on a poor Toronto teamand yet when Hall was an Oiler this whole board, and maybe including you would be saying different. Hall has been in the topten in scoring multiple times. He's no slouch.
Hey I remember this board regularly mocking everything about Kessel and slamming his play before he got to the Pens and got the cups. There's some revisionism going on.
First, I want to thank McDrai for making this thread, it is really appreciated.
I don't agree with this post. Chia has gone more with a Boston or LA type model of physical play and bringing in physical players. But he doesn't have the elite defenceman that either of those clubs has.
I actually think Chia moved us AWAY from the successful Pittsburgh model. Pittsburgh core is built on Crosby, Malkin, Kessel and with lines structured around that. Those are their elite players and spacing them out in the lineup results in balanced scoring and that each can drive a line. Pittsburgh does not have an elite D, they have D by committee and they also play team D through puck possession. Their goal is to have the puck as much as possible, its how they win.
We formerly had 3 such offensive drivers in McD, Drai, Hall, now, no thanks to Chia, we have two. That boat has sailed and it isn't coming back. Its underestimated how much of an impact it is when you lose one player that can drive a line like Hall. Ultimately it meant production regression in players like Eberle and Nuge as well who both had their halcyon years with Hall. Lucic hasn't really replaced that and Lucic is not a driver of offense. Lucic actually has most of his goals here on PP with McDavid. He's struggled to produce at evens.
Theres ample debate on Letang because he's not really a shutdown D, he's not the typical size of one. He's offensive oriented. Really if we're calling him elite than Gogetmeabeer in Philly is one. Plus that Pens won the cup entirely without him. They advanced throughout the playoffs without Letang and so you can't say he's a requirement to their SC.Letang is an elite D, Drai is not the caliber of player Malkin is, and Kessel is a better player and driver than Hall. So no we really never had the Pitts Model but neither has any other team in the league. The only thing that is close is McDavid and Crosby.
The team has played like crap by committee, from top to bottom they have all been disappointing outside of maybe Talbot in the last 3 games. I think their "chances to win the cup" before the start of the season inflated their ego. They thought they were better than they were and it has showed. Time to get some heads out of some asses and get back to what made them so good last year. Everyone needs to step it up, McDavid included. Last year we would see like 5 break aways per game from him, this year it has been like 1 or 2.
Kessel scored a lot on a poor Toronto team
Hall never reached 30 goals...its not close
to be fair, this is a constructive criticism thread cause Chia has some bad moves as wellAnother crow eating thread for the off season.
Keep em coming
It depends who you include in Chia's body of work. I don't give him credit for McD, obviously, that was just good fortune. I don't give him credit for Talbot who was an org gift from Sather, I don't give him credit For Draisaitl who was a 2014 pick. I certainly don't give him credit for acquiring Lucic which is already a bad and underwhelming contract.
Nor do I like the Hall for Larsson trade with no disrespect meant to Larsson.
So we're left with Chia's value additions. Of these Maroon and Kassian would be the best. Maroon, for me, was an easy decision and I knew he would excel here. It was a fortunate bit of serendipity in that Anaheim somehow didn't realize what they had. Good for Chia though to pick up on it, it was his best move.
Theres been misses. Nillson in net, Reinhart, relying on Talbot too much and never getting a backup.
I don't like the Pulju pick.
I think overall the ones that worked as additions are Maroon, Kassian, Letestu. Other than that theres just been a lot of lateral fill (if that) and continues to be. This offseason was very bad on a departure acquisition basis.