I dunno, I guess I mistakenly believed the reporting about the team being 50/50 on Lavi and wanting to conduct a thorough exit interview process as being his words. And GMBM has basically always told us exactly what he was planning on doing.
Wonder if this will hurt them. Will a young up and comer like Carbery only want 3 years when another team could probably offer at least 4? Would a veteran coach accept only 3?
Ted's been cheap with coaching before.
I think guys like Cassidy and Hanlon and Reirden and Boudreau were all "this seems like the best fit for what we're doing right now" hires in their minds. I don't know if they were being cheap. Maybe Oates and Hunter, too.
Trotz and Lavi were definitely "get a veteran to coach these veteran players in their primes" hires. But several of those players phased out of their primes during those periods.
Now they need someone who can manage whatever leftover veterans GMBM keeps around for the Reg Dunlop farewell tour, but also has a forward-thinking style that embraces youth and speed and prospect development.
It's a weird unicorn kind of situation. It would be easier to pick one of the two extremes but it would be a half-measure.
They have to trade Kuznetsov and recoup that salary. Their shittiness without Carlson has convinced me he needs to stay and just learn to not suck in the playoffs. Oshie's breakability can now be dealt with since the Lavi window and all other contracts have rolled over...they should consider moving him now that the season is over and it's a softer landing for all.
That leaves Ovie and Backy and Carlson to ride out the next 3yrs under a new coach, for as long as Nick's hip holds up.
I believe that's a fair compromise if they can find a coach that can keep those three happy and motivated while bringing along a newer, faster, edgier team.