If Chia didn't want him here, he would have fired him. He clearly sees some value in what MacT can offer. Now, I 1/2 expect to see some more changes this summer to some of the supporting management now that Chiarelli has spent a year working with these guys and sees what each one has to bring to the table. Wouldn't be overly surprised if one or both of MacT/Howson are quietly moved on from at some point during the summer.
I think there is other things at play. Does Chiarelli come into a new town, not know pulse of the city and fear firing a old boys club member would shake things up to much? I mean we know itd be bets, but would he? The owner enabled a old boys club for 5 years, does he fear breaking that up is a -1 in his book
I mean if you were a new GM and went to Colorado, would you sack Sakic in first year? I think itd be ballsy and smarter move is to just bury them for a year and see what you have. Then fire them if need be
To play devils advocate, MacT came in with similar aggressive nature as Chiarelli (or so he spoke in interviews). He had a solid 2013 draft, signed Pouliot, got Perron for MPS and made Talbot/Nilsson like deals with Fasth and Scrivens. I actually didnt mind him to start as odd as that sounds. He fell apart after. But maybe Chia seems benefit to him.
I mean if you compare Chiarellis moves to MacTs intial ones, they arent that far off. Chiarelli made bets on unproven goalies in Talbot/Nilsson, MacT with Scrivens/Fasth. Talbot actually worked out, but with goalies that could be pure luck.
Chiarelli grabbed Maroon for next to nothing, MacT got Perron (a semi PWF). Perron scored 28 for Oilers.
Chairelli signed Sekera, Mact Fayne. Both were amongst best UFA D available. Chiarelli was fortunate Sekera was better
Chia hit it out of park with Bear/Jones/Paigin. MacT came out well with Slepyshev/Yakimov/Platzer/Chase
Comparison ends after that with MacT completely failing the Petry/Schultz issues, faltering hard at 2014 draft, Nikitin deal, Reider deal and others. But maybe Chiarelli sees some benefit from keeping him if he can propose some moves like some of his early deals