I keep saying he's just another crony, dude.
I know I'm negative as **** but it's **** like this that make me negative.
I hear you. I really do.
I guess the difference for me is after ranting about the GM's and coaches for about 6 years (lol) before Chiarelli was hired I realized that constantly bitching actually took away from what little enjoyment I had watching the team.
When Chiarelli was hired I decided that I was going to put all that aside for a few years. I really tried to put aside how dysfunctional Katz was in terms of his approach to building a management team and be positive.
Here we are now 3 years into this new management group and I still feel the same way about Katz and Bobby N is a close second.
That said I still do see hope for this team. The only deal that really bothers me is the Reinhat deal. The Eberle deal was essentially an expensive (one dimensional) 2nd line winger for a cheaper 3rd line center. Not ideal but I can live with it.
The Hall deal was tough before the season started because Chia clearly didnt get enough. That being said very few posters (if they are honest) will be able to claim that they knew Hall was going to mature like this and go from the immature player he was (as an Oiler) and turn into the consummate Pro he has become this season.
It was a lopsided deal when it happened but the optics are made much worse by Halls unexpected expedited growth in maturity.
I think that growth wouldnt have happened here and that a trade was necessary for Hall to 'wake the F up'. Sucks that it happened but thats the way it goes.
As tough as it is (and its really f'ing tough) I can put aside the Hall deal.
I had a problem with the Eberle deal when it happened but I have softened on it at this point primarily because of Stromes versatility and low cap hit.
So for me the Hall deal was bad...the Eberle deal was acceptable (at this point) but the Reinhart deal is indefensible IMO.
So I am nervous about Chiarelli to be sure but he has one more season from me to learn from his mistakes and to overcome them. I say that primarily because of 2 things....I think Chia has been excellent in the secondary deals and I do believe people can learn from their mistakes. Mostly though I would rather enjoy this team despite all of its warts than constantly aim at the low hanging fruit month after month.
I did that already (for 6 long years) and being right (more often than not) most certainly didnt make me a happier Oiler fan.
So thats where I am at now. I am trying to enjoy this team and overlook the warts until it becomes impossible to do so.