You mean just like this management has a pro scouting department and information on who's available and what the asking price is?
Maybe you know better than them.
It's not just the intel you have access to, it's what you do with it.
Washington is in cap hell, they didn't let Alzner go because he sucks but because they don't have the cap space to keep the guy.
Panic move? Come on, he signed Jerabek months ago and the Beaulieu trade was just a matter of time.
If he was afraid of losing Emelin he would've made a deal with GMGM to keep the guy.
If Bergevin was in panic mode Markov would've been already signed at 6Mx2 and Radulov would've got a blank cheque.
I don't feel any panic whatsoever...
They had Alzner on their radar the whole way IMO and this was not a knee jerk signing.
So to you, it's normal to go into an off season with your full LHD corps gutted out? Interesting. You should try free style rock climbing. See the Other Sports thread for tips.
Good point about Washington's cap situation. Then, look at the market. How many teams were willing to grant 5 years to Alzner? How many were willing to outbid the Habs?
Can we stop it with Jerabek already? He's a project, he may or may not make the team. He's a wild card, he's never played in the NHL. Let's wait and see, he's no sure thing.
The Beaulieu trade was a matter of time, but it became a matter of bad timing. I don't care for Emelin, however, that 3rd expansion protection slot had to belong to a LHD. Or prior to the expansion draft, a better strategy would have been to make a deal with GMGM to not select any LHDs or a particular player who would be less detrimental. I know, 20-20.
There wasn't the same sense of urgency with Radulov as Bergevin had hedged his bets by trading for Drouin. Why else did Bergevin come off as a brash oaf playing hardball with Radulov?
Same with Markov, Bergevin had signed other LHDs by that time, so he now feels confident that he doesn't have to pay for that second year Markov wants.
Alzner was signed on account of shortcomings that Bergevin manufactured for himself. It's like someone putting his house on fire and then trying to put it off with a garden hose and showing the neighbors that he's some kind of hero. You're the neighbor who interrupts Bergevin's hosing by asking for an autograph.