Then do it better. Do it in a fashion less likely to bite you in the ass in the future for no particular good reason. Do it more in a way that when you are giving up prime assets it's not just for some very short-term rental like Shattenkirk where you only have him for one run and even that is a bit of a questionable fit. Do it in every sense of maximizing what's available rather than just focusing on certain parts of what makes a team immediately competitive. Do it without skimping on the intangibles and the more subtle development needed beyond amassing a good team on paper. One recent example of a more subtle missed opportunity would be the neglect toward Hershey's forward ranks last off-season in not giving them enough skilled options. It not only reduced the number of recall options for the parent club but it would have made Hershey more competitive, given them more balance in light of how young they are on the blueline and likely would have helped all of the D prospects be further along than they are now (at least from a confidence standpoint). I don't think Hershey has had that weak a team in well over a decade and it didn't really need to be that way. Based on some of MacLellan's comments to Vogel, it seems like an afterthought and that's not how it should be. Again, for me it comes down to balance. Overaggressiveness to the point of glossing over essential components of overall quality management isn't very impressive.
Some things are outside of MacLellan's control. The coaching staff is likely chief among them currently. We'll see whether that continues but at the very least I'd assume he'll be financially restricted. He's maybe not then fully allowed to enact his vision to a tee but I still don't think that vision extends very far into the future and seems to gloss over a lot of what truly makes an organization elite. All of that leaves them on weaker ground in the future than they otherwise would be if they maintained the same sense of aggressiveness in a more disciplined fashion toward other areas that end up making an organization strong/deep. As-is I think they still lack substance as an organization and MacLellan plays a key role in that being the case. Like I said, he's a fine personnel guy but that's about it IMO and he's not so tremendous at that to the point where the rest can be ignored.
You dont need to be sorry that you're a stats geek. We get it. And you aren't the top of that group, I wouldnt say (not that there is anything wrong....with that )
I dont like using the Shattenkirk trade as a "negative". Had the Pens acquired him (as had been rumoured at the time), and they won the Cup with him on the roster (as they probably would have), then everyone on here would have bitched and moaned about how we "Let Shatty go to the freaking Pens!!!!". We all know it. He did what he had to do, to put the team in the best possible situation to win it.... they just didnt.
Was there a better TDL acquisition that should have been acquired, over Shattenkirk (at the time...lets not use 20/20 here please)
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