When Blake wins a cup, we'll forgive his missteps and have more trust in his judgment. Like Lombardi earned.
Lombardi just got to far away from what made him successful. I remember a professor once telling us we should think about what our future self might think of a decision we are making (I think to prevent really poor ones). Lombardi it was the opposite, if he had talked to the DL of 2007 he wouldn't have made some of these moves. This was a guy who traded his best player a few weeks after taking over and here he was 8 years later afraid to move on from the corpse of Mike Richards.
Trading high picks for rentals was also something DL wouldn't have done earlier in his career, no matter the situation.
Blake doesn't have the resume to be compared to anyone who actually won shit as a GM in this league. All GM's make mistakes, and lord knows Lombardi made a ton after 2014, but history is written by the victors (and since Lombardi did the impossible and won in L.A. his mistakes get washed over/excused a bit). Blake on the other hand has yet to win a damn playoff series, and IMO doesn't get near as much scrutiny as he deserves. It's always McLellan this, McLellan that (who I also feel will never win shit in L.A.), but this is Blake's roster. Blakes dumbass developmental decisions, Blake trading away prime assets when the Kings aren't a contender, Blake pulling out of the rebuild way too soon, etc. Blake sucks
I too am amazed at how the blame is skewed towards Todd. I am not saying Todd hasn't been bad, and he was woefully outcoached in the post-season. But the Kings glaring issues are way more based on poor management decisions than poor coaching ones.
Todd didn't pass on Stutzle
Todd didn't butcher the goaltening and LHD situation
Todd didn't override the scouts to draft Turcotte over Zegras
Todd didn't put all these guys in the AHL
Todd didn't assign Clarke back to the OHL
Todd didn’t give Cal P $5m a year.
Todd poorly used Kaliyev
Todd overplayed veteran players
Todd made very little in-game adjustments
Todd gave Durzi to long a leash in the playoffs
Todd made poor in-game decisions (Edler def zone vs. McDavid at home)
It's pretty apparent the first list had a way larger impact on the teams shortcomings this season than the second one. Yet some people want to give the guy who made those decisions (which include hiring the guy responsible for the second list) the chance to make a fourth coaching hire. It amazes me.