So you're upset that the oilers traded for him because he's a bad player, and you're also upset that the King's signed them because he's going to help them rebuild?I hated the trade, terrible from day one by Holland, but was willing to give him a lot more time. Losing him by non qualification seemed to double down on the brutality of trading not one but TWO! second round picks for a overpriced, locker room cancer, one dimensional, Green jacket contending, middle 6 winger with a brutal agent to boot.
However. While I believe trading for him to begin with was stupid and unnecessary Holland at least used the cap savings to sign Kahun. A player that while not worth 2 seconds at least has a decent chance of being a solid middle 6 winger for us. Not as fast or talented but still a RFA after this year and a bit more of a two way guy.
I hate that he went to the Kings. They are rebuilding way too fast although surprisingly with a heavy emphasis on skill before all.
At the time of the trade, I had fully believed that he would do well with the Oilers; I was completely wrong.
Just based on, once again, subjective premonition, I have more faith in Turris and Puljujarvi to produce at the same/better rate and be better defensively.
Loved the trade till I saw him play. Holland had the guy he should have known better
Holland made a mistake on the trade but didn't compound his error by signing AA to an expensive contract.
One of the signs of good leadership is the ability to take your lumps and move on, avoiding panic and not falling into the trap of "saving face" ----with one bad decision piled on another.
I don't think Holland is a water walker but as many have said on these threads he is simply a cooler and more reasoned head than Chia.
Well, Holland ought to have already figured out what this player was about and what his problems were. He had intimate knowledge of them. hell I even did from the many past PUBLIC comments of coaches and his own players. AA was not even liked by players in the Detroit room and by the leadership in that room. You can't have that in hockey. Holland should've been glad to be away from the trouble, instead he recruits the person here, Ironically with one of the other team mates (Green) who also held a poor view on AA as a player.
Its very rare when there are such public comments out there on a player, on a team mate. When there are it means the player is considered toxic.
This was all unnecessary.
There is certainly something to be said for reputation but it isn't always accurate.
Many people said that Taylor Hall was a cancer in the dressing room but others describe him as friendly and outgoing and make note of the fact that he never asked "out" during some of the darkest days of the franchise. Which is it? I don't know because seeing is believing.
Its the same way with Puls. Some say he is childish and lazy while others point out that he was poorly handled by an inept and frustrating coaching/management team. Again, which is the real truth?
My own experience with people says that sometimes reputation is warranted and sometimes it isn't.
My original point was that if Chia had made this trade (and I could certainly see that) he probably would have signed AA to a new contract. He never learned his lesson about bad trades and always seemed to compound his mistakes.
The other irony is we traded a consummate pro, and good guy (Sam Gagner) for this troubled player.