I am not making crap up, I am pointing out how the last 8 years around here could be perceived by an outsider. Every time someone questions management or ownership of this team you get your back up and get all defensive. One could almost think you are part of this management/ownership team.
I stated earlier in the thread that IMO BB does not become coach unless Melnyk over pays in terms of dollars and term or he gets no other offers. I find it hard to believe he won't have other offers.
I just call people out when they make outlandish claims. You honestly think outsiders see Paddock saying he's not sure about whether they can fine or suspend Emery for being late because he missed a flight (actually it was a accident on the highway) will be perceived as management not giving him autonomy? That's absurd.
You think that outsiders will think that MacLean didn't have autonomy because, well you really didn't give a reason other than he lost the room when he tried to tighten up defensively. Again, there's no evidence, just random speculation twisted to paint a sinister picture of management.
You think that throwing Cameron under the bus when it's clear he was a goner will be perceived as not giving him autonomy? Well, it was poor judgement by Melnyk for sure, and not professional but to perceive it as an indication of a lack of autonomy is a giant leap.
You've decided on a narrative, and are manipulating events to suit it. I mean, maybe Boudreau doesn't want to deal with Melnyk, but there's no evidence that Melnyk is telling his coaches how to run the ship.
In fact, we have evidence of Murray trading a player (Prince) because his coach wasn't big on him. Murray called up players when we had guys ridding the pine (McCormick, Puempel, Druizynski ect), that's not telling the guy how to use his assets, that's giving him choices. Cameron freaking played a Dman as a forward rather than play Prince, you'd think that if Murray was pulling the strings, maybe he'd have suggested playing forwards as forwards and D as D.
From the outside looking in, Ottawa was a team with some pretty poor coaching over the last 8 years, that's how I see it. I imagine that's how most rational people see it as well.
When Melnyk says stupid stuff, go ahead and call him out for it. When Murray made poor decisions, ditto. When Cameron decides to play Boro as a forward, he'll get called out on it too. The problem is some people try to find negative spin on everything even the innocuous