Confirmed with Link: Francis out as GM - Don Waddell named GM 5/8/18

[VAcaniac]

I'd be fine with it. Out with the old and in with the new. My point was just that those that fear Dundon doesn't have hockey resources around him, shouldn't be too concerned. The smart, and uber successful (which I categorize Dundon as) bussinessmen surround themselves with people that know their ****, and can help them achieve their goals. I think Francis will be part of his panel of knowledge, but maybe not. Either way I feel more confident than not that he has a handle on what he's doing.

Where have we seen this theory go horribly wrong.....

 

[Breakdowns]

If you buy out Darling you're paying him almost $1.4 million through 2023-24 to not play for this team. That's a hell of a long time. Rask, as Luke suggests, would be $1.3 million through 2025-26. Neither of these are good ideas. The longer you can eke out the player on your roster, the less the impact of the buyout (assuming the player doesn't turn it around).

I would take that 1,4 million through 23-24, salary cap is rising, so it's not that bad. There is no team who would take him even with 50% retained, so I don't see any other option.

 

[LostInaLostWorld]

JR did when he moved aside but he quickly sold it to go to the Pens.

Know about JR but if my aging mind isn't too far gone it seems I recall that RF was part of some group that bought a small position a while back.

 

[Zezima]

I guess Tom really wanted to call up Zykov

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

My point was just that those that fear Dundon doesn't have hockey resources around him, shouldn't be too concerned. The smart, and uber successful (which I categorize Dundon as) bussinessmen surround themselves with people that know their ****, and can help them achieve their goals.

I'm not concerned about that. The scouting staff, Waddell, Vellucci, etc.. are all still in place and it's not hard to get a few other guys. My only concern, and it's just that, a concern, is that IF (it remains to be seen) he takes a more hands on role in personnel decisions, will it be successful? We've seen guys like Mark Cuban be successful, and guys like Snyder be a disaster.

That's not an indictment of his firing of RF as he could do that and just hire a different GM.

 

[Svechhammer]

I like the predictions that this is going to lead to the downfall of the franchise.

We are 13 months from having the longest ever playoff drought in NHL history. Ever. Where we are now is what others mean when they talk about a franchise going down the crapper and to be careful what you wish for. Literally, it doesn't get much worse than where we are right now. In a league where >50% of the teams make the playoffs we haven't been in 9 years.

Ron Francis was not a good GM. He did not turn around the franchise and he did not put us back on stable footing. We collected marginal at best players and rolled the dice on no less than 3 bad goalies. Oh, and we traded away our franchise player and got bupkis in return.

I'm not shedding a tear over tonight. Glad we are moving on. Hopefully the new GM has some accountability to make things happen to make us competitive again.

 

[TheBigKahuna]

Keeping Francis, while already having Waddell, is puzzling. What’s left for him to oversee? My guess is that Francis will resign before next season starts.

Not if the Pens offer him a job.....

 

[The Faulker 27]

Where have we seen this theory go horribly wrong.....

So we're comparing our owner to Dumpster fire Donald now? It's definitely time for me to go to bed.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Know about JR but if my aging mind isn't too far gone it seems I recall that RF was part of some group that bought a small position a while back.

Yeah, my point being, that his ownership stake in the Canes (if he has any), doesn't really mean he'll stay around. He could still maintain his ownership and leave the team, or, like JR, he could sell his stake if he goes to another team.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

NVM...

 

[Stickpucker]

A different question. There was some thought (from some on this board) that Francis would stick with Darling so as to not have to admit to his mistake. Do you think this means there's a bigger likelihood that Darling is now gone next year?

One can only hope.

 

[geehaad]

You ever go to a party and someone has your ear and they keep telling you the same thing, emphatically, repeatedly?

Boy, I’m sure glad that doesn’t happen here.

 

[DaveG]

He’s 100% gone. In all honesty I’d be surprised if there aren’t 10-12 new players on opening night next year.

I might not go 10-12, but at least 7-8.

Out: Stempniak, Nordy, PDG, Krueger (well he's already gone to Charlotte but ya know)
Likely out: Darling, Ryan
Maybe out: Dahlbeck, Rask, Ward, Skinner/Faulk (less likely but still possible if the right deal comes along for one of those two)

Likely in: Necas, Wallmark (he's already on but still "new" in my books)

The exciting thing will be seeing what the other 4-7 additions will be. Even if it's Needaspellcheck replacing Darling that's an upgrade to me. Likewise with McLovin replacing Nordy/PDG. But there's a ton of room there both in the salary structure and on the roster to go out and do something like JVR and Stastny up front comfortably. Or to go all in on Tavares.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

I have a feeling Jordan Staal won't be a Cane next year.

 

[What the Faulk]

I thought Rask was under 1m if bought out this off season, then goes up more next season

I just did it by hand and that's what I came up with, but the calculator agrees with you and I can't figure out why. Scratch that, I did figure out why. It's only 1/3 of the salary if the player is under 26, and Rask turns 26 on March 1 of next year.

Yeah, I get that it will be painful, but I haven't seen anything from Darling that says he can be a starting goalie. He's big, but doesn't play very big. He gets out of position and doesn't have the ability to quickly move back. His puck handling is so-so. He can't cover the puck to save his life and his rebound control is not great. He never looks comfortable in net. Maybe it's in his head and maybe he's salvageable, but I haven't seen anything this year that would suggest that.

I agree with all of this, but he was successful in Chicago. I can't imagine it was all because of the team in front of him as he had a better save percentage than Crawford in 2 out of 3 years. What's gone wrong here?

I would take that 1,4 million through 23-24, salary cap is rising, so it's not that bad. There is no team who would take him even with 50% retained, so I don't see any other option.

The salary cap is probably not going to go up forever. But if you give him one more season to turn it around, that buyout becomes a little friendlier. Or maybe you find a taker at 50% retained. Or maybe he turns it around.

 

[Breakdowns]

You ever go to a party and someone has your ear and they keep telling you the same thing, emphatically, repeatedly?

Boy, I’m sure glad that doesn’t happen here.

 

[Stickpucker]

Is there a limit to the number of contracts you can bury in the minors?

 

[Stickpucker]

but rly...I'm excited.

 

[Breakdowns]

The salary cap is probably not going to go up forever. But if you give him one more season to turn it around, that buyout becomes a little friendlier. Or maybe you find a taker at 50% retained. Or maybe he turns it around.

I would only consider keeping him as a backup. Nothing else. And not a backup to Cam Ward.

 

[DaveG]

Is there a limit to the number of contracts you can bury in the minors?

nope as long as you can fit it under the cap. Up to (I think) 1 Million per year doesn't count against the cap but everything after that does.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

I agree with all of this, but he was successful in Chicago. I can't imagine it was all because of the team in front of him as he had a better save percentage than Crawford in 2 out of 3 years. What's gone wrong here.

Yeah, I didn't watch him in Chicago so can't say. He's just NEVER looked comfortable in net to me, even when he's won. Seems to scramble a lot for a big guy.

Maybe his confidence is shot. Maybe the big money got to him. Maybe he was never that good to begin with. I don't know. If he's salvageable, I'm sure they'll try.

 

[Unsustainable]

I just did it by hand and that's what I came up with, but the calculator agrees with you and I can't figure out why. Scratch that, I did figure out why. It's only 1/3 of the salary if the player is under 26, and Rask turns 26 on March 1 of next year.
.

Yeah, I knew it was really low if we did that this year.

 

[What the Faulk]

I would only consider keeping him as a backup. Nothing else. And not a backup to Cam Ward.

Oh absolutely. He needs to prove he belongs in the NHL. I mean, I wouldn't totally hate a buyout since goalie is a weird one to try to fit, I just think $1.4M is a tough pill to swallow for 6 more seasons.

 

[Navin R Slavin]

Accountability starts at the top.

Francis said this year was the playoff year. He was wrong. It cost him his job. Simple as that.

I have no idea what will happen now, but we're a year away from the worst decade of hockey in NHL history. The only direction we can possibly go is up.

Thanks for the effort, Ron. Your number is in the rafters no matter what.

 

[Mr. Met]

Hire Brind'amour to keep the old boys club running