Just a few thoughts on what you said.
We all know Jokinen is bad now, but how many people thought he would fall off as far as he did? I wouldn't put that as a huge negative.
I don't know what you're talking about with the Thrashers core, the core as we inherited it is Ladd, Wheeler, Little, Byfuglien, Enstrom, Kane, Bogosian, Pavelec (at least on my mind). That's not really a bad core, and I also wouldn't really call it a negative for not just trading them when there's potential.
28 other teams didn't jump on Jussi, and Pittsburgh only traded for him if Carolina retained salary. His cap hit was the problem.
I don't think there was any doubt by somebody informed we would regret drafting Trouba, he should have gone higher in that draft TBH. Morrissey wasn't really off the board, after Domi everybody's lists were everywhere. I'll give you Scheifele, although I like the pick now, but I won't jump down anybody's throat for not liking it.
I agree with most of what you said about Noel except the Burmi part, but that discussion really needs to end so I'll leave it be.
Just my 0.02$
Well said.
I have no problem with Chevy being active on the waiver wire. Yes, far and few between will you land anything too noteworthy, but, quality players do hit the waiver wire and there has been an abundance over the years who wake up or find their footing with a new organization. I am all for going active in this avenue of roster additions. In my opinion, you're a fool of a GM for not doing so. You swing so many times, there is likely going to come a time where you get on base, hit a double, triple, maybe a home run... you get my point. You choose not to swing, you'll never hit the ball.
To this day I still am very happy Chevy was able and willing to land Olli Jokinen, who was, one of if not the top centres available via UFA in the summer of 2012. We needed a big centre who had the tools to put up 50-60 points, and when we signed Olli he was that centre. He was the 2 year stop gap in which was supposed to buy us time for Mark Scheifele. Coming off a solid statistical season in Calgary and collecting the praises of his head coach Sutter for his newly found all-around play, it appeared to be a pretty good roster move. I'm not sure what's not to like. Hindsight is a beautiful thing. But, to each their own. Olli has had his critics over his career and some simply may not be Olli fans, that's ok too.
To dump on Chevy for signing a guy to a 2-year, 4 million per deal then complain when it doesn't work out, yet then turn around and dump on him for not picking up an unproductive Jussi Jokinen who is on contract for a million less than Olli and not earning it, not to mention he was on....
waivers, the very avenue complained about in that Chevy is too active in, is a bit contradicting.
I watched plenty of Jussi Jokinen in my pre-Jets days when I was a Canes fan, and while he can add some offense and faceoff ability, he is strictly a complimentary piece and if he's not playing with linemates in which he clicks with, and if they're not producing, Jussi isn't producing and Jussi is very useless for his salary and player he is. Carolina was long starved for a 2nd line centre prior to adding Jordan Staal, and Jussi can play centre and do well in the faceoff circle, yet he couldn't be 'that guy' for Carolina. There's your sign. Even when Jussi put up 65 points a few seasons ago, he had his haters. Our luck Chevy would have acquired Jussi via waivers, he wouldn't have produced, we would have been stuck with him and paying his salary for the upcoming season, we'd have to watch another "Jokinen" and never hear the end of the pissing on Chevy for it. I do think he will do well in Pittsburgh though, for obvious reasons.
I'll use hindsight and say I am happy to not have Jussi Jokinen and his salary (I am aware Carolina ate some of that) as I would rather bank on Setoguchi and Frolik. I didn't mind Jussi in my Carolina days, but he isn't the player some think he is, and I surely do not think he was the answer on this roster. If we had Jussi on the roster, I'm not sure we could have brought in Setoguchi and/or Frolik. Maybe they pan out here, maybe they don't, but I am content in having them and finding out.
Overall with Chevy as GM, I am impressed and like what he has done to date, even though some may say, "what has he done?". I believe I understand the process in which he speaks of, so I do have the patience to this point. I do expect playoffs this season however, and the extension to Noel leads me to believe Chevy does too. This is Chevy's roster now, all of it, so Noel best be able to coach it or he'll be out the door. There are now expectations to meet and results that matter at this point in the process. That intrigues me, and I am looking very much forward to it. It's taken some time to build up the organization prospect wise, and watch some of the noted core pieces we have to decide whether or not to go long-term with them, and we did. In the meantime Chevy has rebuilt the supporting cast to his own liking and roster additions. So here we are. For me, now the fun really begins. Some won't like that we've had to wait 2 seasons for it, but to me those are the ones who simply don't understand the process and road in which we're headed. Maybe some simply don't agree with the process being taken, that's fair too. But the critics who disagree should take a deep breath and see how this further plays out before being the pitchfork carrying, drum beating pessimists. If the end game doesn't work out, have at it, eat your heart out. But have some damn patience in the meantime. This organization was in pretty poor shape when they landed in Winnipeg in May of 2011, that seems to fall on blank minds more often than not, in my opinion. It has indeed taken time to fix and get back on track.
As far as Claude Noel goes, I question him myself at times. I like some of the things he brings to the table as a head coach, but I do question some things. Find me a fanbase who doesn't question their coach and I'll be surprised. I've heard and read the same from Detroit fans in regards to Babcock, same goes for Chicago and Quenneville, even Boston and Julien. Sure those teams have won Lord Stanley, but the crys towards coaching decisions are still there. The Jets fanbase and Noel are no different. This year is a big one for Noel obviously. Me personally, I think we have a playoff roster, and if our roster parts click and we get the production and contributions needed, we should be a playoff team, maybe a 7-8 seed, but so be it. If Claude can't get this roster on track this season, by all means replace him. He's got a lameduck extension and everyone and their dog knows it. I am very much looking forward to seeing how things play out this season.
