Correct on all counts.
Look, I'm not afraid to bash management for what I deem stupid/short-sighted/backwards moves or thinking, as we all know. So I feel like I can be even keeled about this management group.
And they are doing a really good job. I can't say great, until if/when they win the Cup.....but it's really good, now.
And hell, we all know Rutherford was the Penguins Anti-Christ as little as 6mo ago, and was bringing on the Malkin trade apocalypse this summer. Then he made a few moves, fired a coach, and won everything in sight in about 4 months.
Things can change that fast. The Caps foundation today, is as good as anyone's. Period.
To think that there are moves to be made that would guarantee them anything next spring is foolish. Frankly, it's a lot easier to screw it all up with a move, than it is to ensure success. And they haven't done anything to screw it up. Not yet, at least.
Is that you BMac?
Sorry, not buying your Kool-Aid. YOu can keep preaching how great and elite the Caps front office is - but the fact is they're not. You're not an elite organization if you are the team constantly fails the most when it matter most.
Being conservative and scared to make moves? That has never worked. How can you argue that not making a move instead of a major move does more harm than good? What conservative approach and relying on the top guys/keeping them has ever worked in the past for the Caps? How has all the past Caps failures and similar playoff numbers not taught you anything? Also, I'm not saying Caps need to make a significant move and move one of their top guys - I'm just talking about adding a top guy similar to how Pitt added Kessel (they didn't move any of their big time/core players).... and Caps have even better prospects/more picks than Pitt!
How can you say the Caps foundation is as good as anyones in the NHL? They haven't been out of the second round in.... well since the Cup year last century and NEVER in BMacs 15 years in the Caps organization.
Past Cup winners? Pitt has made tons of significant changes. LA Kings? They made BIG TIME moves for their cup wins and sitll make big time moves. Chicago? Another team that constantly trades their first rd picks and brings in real talent around their top guys. All the recent Cup winners have been WAY MORE ACTIVE in adding top players to their team than the Caps.
Just look at the Caps past half decade of playoff numbers. 100 games - more than a sample size... Barely over 2 goals per game and have finished 14, 15, 15, and 9th in goals per game of the 16 playoff teams. Holtby's career GAA in the playoffs is 1.87...... and he's under .500. These numbers aren't dragged down by 1 or 2 really bad playoffs either. EVERY playoffs Caps suck at scoring goals - and EVERY playoffs Holtby has played elite. The results are always the same - and it's alway the same top end players that are a part of it. How can you year after year never even get to 2.5 goals per game in the playoffs but think bottom 6 moves are what's going to fix that? Bottom 6 guys are bottom 6 guys for a reason...
It blows my mind people are okay and thinking things are just going to be different now because we had a Lars Eller type move. Stop looking at the overall reg season numbers b/c it is exaggerated b/c of the Caps hot start in October - December. IF you watched the last half of the Caps season - you'd see this team wasn't a minor move away from having a real shot. They weren't playing well going into the playoffs and they were even slipping at the deadline - but all they did was add Weber for "insurance". End result - They won one playoff series - the same as 8 other teams.... Same thing as usual.
BMac has been in the Caps front office since 2001. It's been 15 years and people are still acting like he's changed this Caps team into such a great organization and that he's so new. You aren't GMGM's right hand man FOR OVER A DECADE unless you're on the same page/have a lot of the same ideas/etc as GMGM.
All GMGM has done is make the Caps good again - and Caps with the talent they have shouldn't try to just be good - they should be trying to be great like the GREAT franchises do. They have the top talent to do so. They have a top 15 defender, two top 15 offensive players, and arguably the best goalie in the game.
How can you say the Caps should stick to the same approach and not do any major moves? I just don't get that. You say they're close - I say they're at the same spot they've been for a decade. How has history over and over and over not taught you better? This team needs a GAMECHANGER like Gaborik was to LA - like Kessel was to Pitt - etc. Caps should find a way to make that happen. They've had/have the draft picks to make something like that happen. I can be figured out - but never has or doesn't look like it is. BMac seems completely happy with just adding a 3rd line center this offseason. Jesus...
Good news is Caps will probably have the best start of season roster again - and will be up to the cap to start the year too again. so we'll probably win the midseason Stanley Cup baby! .... Oh wait, that doesn't exist and doesn't mean anything.