FirstRowUpperDeck
Registered User
Have told the story a few times here about sitting next to then GM Bob Gainey on a plane to MN (he to attend the Goldsworthy funeral, me on business) in April 1996. He was very open in conversation about the then non playoff team, and optimistic because in his words, it really only took 4-5 players changed out to make the difference.
Of course, Nil had already brought in Seguin, Hemsky, Spezza, Klingberg and Demers over the last few years, so he had started a large transformation, just as Gainey did in 1997, before hitting playoffs in 1997-8. It was enough for an 8th and 10th place finish.
It struck me last night that this year’s 4 to 5 change outs made the difference from 10th to first:
Sharp for Garbutt (or with injury, maybe Nuke in his lost season)
Oduya for Daley
Niemi for any number of back ups
Faksa for any number of rotating 4th line forwards (Garbutt, maybe Pevs, but that is a bit unfair)
Johns for Nemeth/Oleksiak/Benn
Individually, none seems like that remarkable an upgrade, but each replaced a struggling player with one who was truly better. And, it was just the five players types of players needed most.
And, he may very well continue to improve the team this off season. Not a perfect comparison to the 1999 Stars, but still, a similar, methodical build up of good players replacing average ones. It took Gainey three years, and one shortened (due to injury) playoff run) Here we are in year 3, a bit behind that schedule, maybe, but on a similar path.
Looking back, I wonder how the Stars turnover compares to some other non playoff teams, like EDM, who struggle year after year......
Of course, Nil had already brought in Seguin, Hemsky, Spezza, Klingberg and Demers over the last few years, so he had started a large transformation, just as Gainey did in 1997, before hitting playoffs in 1997-8. It was enough for an 8th and 10th place finish.
It struck me last night that this year’s 4 to 5 change outs made the difference from 10th to first:
Sharp for Garbutt (or with injury, maybe Nuke in his lost season)
Oduya for Daley
Niemi for any number of back ups
Faksa for any number of rotating 4th line forwards (Garbutt, maybe Pevs, but that is a bit unfair)
Johns for Nemeth/Oleksiak/Benn
Individually, none seems like that remarkable an upgrade, but each replaced a struggling player with one who was truly better. And, it was just the five players types of players needed most.
And, he may very well continue to improve the team this off season. Not a perfect comparison to the 1999 Stars, but still, a similar, methodical build up of good players replacing average ones. It took Gainey three years, and one shortened (due to injury) playoff run) Here we are in year 3, a bit behind that schedule, maybe, but on a similar path.
Looking back, I wonder how the Stars turnover compares to some other non playoff teams, like EDM, who struggle year after year......