There is so much one sided anger here, it's pretty much useless to debate you. You went to be angry, so you are. Have at it. But frankly:
-All 2nd round losses are not created equal. How often did the Caps lose to the SC winner in George's 17 yr tenure? Competitively? I see Pitts in 2009. (Did Tampa win one of the years that we lost to them?). The 98 team was Poile's, but you can count it. So at best 3 times in 17 years. GMBM's teams lost to SC finalist in their hardest series, this year. So one in 2. Huh. Many people were saying -- before the Pens series -- that the winner had a great chance to win it all. That was the quality of the opponents... And look what happened.
-George had rookie coaches, for 17 years. Brian hired Trotz. About as opposite a rookie as can be.
-George thought defensemen meant adding guys like Kundratek and Corvo. Brian added a guy to our top pair (either Niskanen or Orpik, take your pick depending on the year).
-George make "hockey trades" once every 3-4 years. Brian did it in 15mo with Oshie for Brouwer. Huh.
-you blather on about George's draft picks being core of the team (Mahoney's BPA), and that continue to happen under Brian, yet somehow it's bad for Brian and good for George?
-again, you are whining for the sakes of it, as I've stared before. Brian has had TWO freaking years. That's all he's had to turn a floundering rudderless franchise that missed the playoffs into a juggernaut. This season is HUGE for the team, as they are in year 3 of his regime. Each year has been progress. George had 17 freaking years. To try and compare the 2 regimes is outlandish, for a variety of reasons. To actually say they are the same is moronic, and it's all based on the Pens series loss.
Any businessman would see the progress. It's obvious. If I owned a franchise that had shown this much "betterment" in 2 years, I'd be thrilled. I'm sure Ted is.
You are alone here. There is a reason for that. You are wrong.....period.
For one, I'm not alone here. There's a lot of people who agree that making 3rd and 4th line moves/tweaking the roster barely isn't enough.
Two, Trotz wasn't hired by GMBM. Trotz was hired by Dick/Ted same time or before GMBM. I don't think Brian had much/any say in Trotz.
Third - the core is the same going into year three. Yes, it's a good core - but a core that has had TONS of playoff failures. I never said break it up - I've been saying they need to add to it, which they haven't done at all.
If you look at roster from two seasons ago - GMBM's first year - you could argue this years roster is actually weaker. Chimera, Ward, and Fehr were one of/if not top line in NHL. This past year they had Richards do nothing on it in the playoffs and right now have Eller who can't create for others, Wilson who may not do anything offensively, and a guy they're in their second year of arbitration with.
Caps are in same position this year as last year and many years before that.... It's up to the top guys to carry the load or Caps have no change. Why they haven't added a big time top guy while other WINNING organizations do is mind blowing.
People can like GMBM all they like. He's got a great roster top to bottom that will do great in October, November, and Decemeber. When it comes to April and May though it's the same damn guys teams have to worry about and contain in a 7 game series that beats us - exactly the same game plan as when McPhee was here. Over a 7 game series against a good team the opponent knows our bottom 6 will do nothing consistently to worry about and unless out top lines play in god mode, Caps won't win 4 of 7 against a good team. History has proven that. Last 100 playoff games Caps have avg'd 2 goals per game and have never been in the top half of playoff scoring for teams.
Holtby with the way he has played (under .500 with record gaa and save percentage) should have had more support by now. Yet the new GM has done nothing to give Caps a difference maker that really makes you think "Yepp, this guy will help us score 3 goals per game now instead of 2!). It's embarrassing and a complete fail by the front office.
If Caps get Kessel like Pitt did - they probably win. Pitt made the move for a big time difference maker and it was (imagine this) a difference maker.
Caps have made zero difference makers at all this offseason that shows there will be any difference making results. They made no difference making moves in-season last year. Ovi has performed fine in playoffs and Holtby has been all time great. Not working with that to have success & make. Big move to get over he hump is a huge fail by Caps front office.
GMBM was under GMGM for a decade too. Can't just let him off the hook like he hasn't been a part of the failure of a front office Caps have had for way too long.
Roster two years ago had green and Gleason on 3rd line. That line led NHL basically in goals against per 60. It was great. This year 3rd line sucked and Orlov, Schmidt, and Weber cost the Caps games. The bottom 6 with Winnik and Richards added did nothing too except give the Caps no scoring depth.
Caps rely on the top guys. Always have - and seem to always will under this front office. So if they're going to rely on the top guys - then get more top guys that are top guy caliber players. Rotating schmidts, Webers, chimera's, eller's, Lattas, and connollys and expecting caps to all of a sudden go from 1 playoff series win to 4 is what's "moronic"
