But I'm not sure that's really the problem. I think you are starting with a thesis that I don't think is true.
What do you think the problem is (we're talking about acquiring and keeping talent, correct?) because it seems to me theyve whiffed on some big names by taking guys that maybe didn't have the mental make up to be here - whether that means with the organization as constructed ie the other players on the team or not fitting the mentality the management is trying to build as a whole...I don't know.
The only one in recent times with this team as constructed (yes I recognize Chiarelli isn't here but it's still the same general team to me as there are players and management staff still in place from the Chiarelli years) that really stands out to me as a huge mistake was the Seguin trade. He by all accounts wanted to be here, really wasn't as big of an off ice problem as he was made out to be, and he didn't take nights off like some would like to claim - to put the cherry on top they got a bad return.
Kessel, also from the Chia years, went on to put up nice numbers but not help his team until he was eventually traded yet again but this time to a team that already had elite pieces in place and kessel was put into a role that fit him as he wasn't the guy.
Hamilton had question marks for his d game and as we all come to find out, didn't want to be here. He went on to suck it up in Calgary and who knows how he'll do long term.
Smith, also didn't want to be here and absolutely took nights off. He went on to seemingly do better in florida (though as someone pointed out in here, actually has a career high in boston)
So through the chia and sweeney years we've lost : kessel, seguin, Smith, Hamilton...who else am I missing that's prominent? Talent but possible character issues that have come into question as an excuse as to why they are no longer here.
You can convince me that sweeney is a rookie GM that has made mistakes, you can convince me that neely really isn't as smart as some would like to believe due to Bruins fandom, you can convince me that claude is very stubborn at times and makes decisions we all can see need to be made - but you can't convince me he's still not a world class coach and you can't convince me that sweeney was making difficult decisions that the real gravity of can only be felt in full by him and not by us...we who do not have all the info nor is our livelihood tied to the consequences of the decisions.
Can't remember if it was this thread or not by Mike made really great points on why he's frustrated with the state of the Bruins and the people that are on here telling him his opinions are wrong about stuff that's already happened.
The problem is we're looking at it from the lense of being a fan. Sure, we can sit here and say the Bruins weren't cup contenders and the Bruins should have traded Eriksson for assets. But in my view, that would be suicidal for a GM that's: a) already on the hot seat fair or un fair b) pressured to rebuild on the fly and still make the playoffs by ownership c) is seeing his team sitting in first place while mulling over what to do with eriksson d) probably felt like he still could sign him anyways and e) we all have to rememeber that it's easy for us to see a team's make up and predict the future, but a GM can't effectively declare to the world he doesn't believe in his team by trading his best winger. (Chia effectively did that with Boychuk when the Bruins weren't even in first place in March yet, he destroyed the lockeroom and we were all left with eggs on our faces)
Some of us here have the benefit of having a lot of foresight and hockey knowledge, but the majority of fans and there for $$$$$, really don't. They would have looked at trading Eriksson the same way as the hamilton trade was looked at: not pragmatic and not looking forward long term. Fair or unfair, that's how it is. And I'll be you anything the Jacobs crew was pushing tooth and nail for one round of the playoffs and wasn't as concerned with this team's overall success.
Im curious to see your thoughts on the real problem and what possible solutions there are, because as it stands, it seems to me that picking the right players to play here as a second, but highly important, factor just behind skill/need will be crucial going forward.
At the end of the day, when the last remnants of this current Bruins club is over, if all they ever do is win one more up hell just go to the finals one more time - and Seguin/hamilton/smith and anyone else im forgetting go their whole careers without winning a cup - you do have to wonder how important a players mental make up is.
Now, Id rather have seguin with his warts then what we gave him up for. Hell Id rather have Dougie and his warts than both Quaider and Miller at 2.5 and STILL a so so at best defense - but it seems to me you really can't afford to have too many guys that aren't on board with the overall team philosophy. Whatever the hell that may be...
