1. Sucking so hard you get a top 5 draft pick isn't an example of good drafting. Hitting in the later rounds is and it takes years for them to develop. I desperately do not want another top 5 draft pick. That would be far more bitter than sweet.
2. I still want to see how this season plays out before I join the Roy lynch mob. The distinction between a good and bad coach seems so arbitrary. Coaches that are considered good have had seasons where their team struggled. John Tortorella has won a Stanely Cup. Bill Belichick was fired from the Cleveland Browns. I think it is more complicated than just hiring a 'good coach'.
3. No one would trade for Stuart. I'm not sure how many teams would trade for Iginla if he keeps playing the way he has and assuming we get a taker, when do we trade Iginla? This deadline? Next year's? Before the start of next season?
4. I'm all for getting rid of Holden and Guenin, but how? Meloche and Wood are years out and Siemens is a complete unknown at this point.
5. I would argue he doesn't need the full year in the AHL, that development is different for each player, and that if he keeps playing like he did last Saturday, he won't get the full year.
6. We'd be lucky to get a top 6 forward out of that bunch. Still they are good depth players.
7. If we don't draft top 5 again, and instead get a kid that is a few years out, I don't see a problem with a high-price signing, assuming of course it fits with our cap structure. We don't exactly have any top notch forward prospects, and we have to get another top 6 forward somehow.
Every team wants a good coach, good drafting, and good development. It is just more difficult than going down a check list. I think a lot of things have to go right for the top teams to be where they are.
I agree with almost everything you said, so it's funny that we're arguing.
*DEBATING*
1. Yes it's going to be bittersweet to be drafting in the top 5 again, but we have to be realistic about where this club is. This club is not a trade away from being a contender. This club is going to be in the very basement of our division. I know it's early to say that, but that's the truth and it is what it is.
2. Yes it's hard to tell a good coach from a bad one. I thought Roy was the saviour of the avalanche in his first season. He is a great motivator, extremely passionate, and inspirational. The problem is, he's never coached a good system. His first year was an example of a talented motivator getting the absolute most out of the players he was given. But this year, no one looks motivated, Roy looks worried and unsure of himself. The players look frustrated. He was a great coach, but he's lost the team, and he's making poor decisions - see Guenin, Holden still in, Duchene+Iginla still together, no breakouts, no cycle etc. I like Roy and I wish he could change his coaching style and he'd play a defensive system, but he's stubborn and that's not going to happen so it's time for him to go... (this might drag out because it's awkward to fire one of the all-time greats of your organization) Hiring a GOOD coach is a tough thing to do. It's hit and miss. Sometimes, good coaches just don't gel with a team. Sometimes, they do. Coaches are like players, sometimes they have good years, sometimes they have bad years. All you can do is go through the hiring process and hire someone you believe has the right stuff.
3.You're probably right, no one will trade for Stuart. Maybe, by some magic we can ship him off somewhere for a 6th or 7th round pick (wishful thinking). Iginla is still trade-able. I don't know when is the best time... maybe at this year's deadline. maybe next year's deadline. Whenever you get a good offer. He's a rental at this point of his career for a playoff team looking to make a run.
4. Gormley, Bigras, and even Redmond might be good options. Or a cheap signing.
5. Maybe he'll get called up again, but I wish he wouldn't. I see him like Draisaitl. Let's stop being Edmonton and throwing our prospects into the fire when they're not ready yet. I know the NHL has recently brought up lots of 18 year olds with good success, but I don't think it's the right way to go. Rantanen did lots of good little things while he was up here, but he certainly didn't look comfortable or confident. Let him gain some confidence and learn the North American game with good coaching, good linemates and a good system in San Antonio. Plus he'll get more ice-time. Edmonton and Colorado have a similar habit of throwing 18 year old draft picks to the wolves by putting them in the NHL and expecting them to produce, and even lead poorly coached and poorly managed clubs against Huge, Seasoned, Mature, Veteran, Established talented hockey clubs (THE ENTIRE WESTERN CONFERENCE).
6. You're right they're probably only going to be depth players. Great teams still need good depth players.
7. That's true. There are exceptions to every rule, and we will have to make signings at some point, but as a general principle I hope the management stays away from high-priced signings. They can seriously cripple a team for years to come. Look at Clarkson's deal in Toronto for example. Let's hope Soderberg doesn't turn into that. I don't think he's been as bad as everyone is saying but for 4.75m you want to see some points.
