I thought people didn't just want to be a draft and develop team. Chevy took a gamble on a mid 20's player that would have been looked at to plug a hole on this roster. Had it worked he would have fit in age wise and really increased our depth. Hindsight tells us it was a bad move, but it was an attempt to address a roster hole. It seems like Chevy can't win with some of you, he's either dithering and doing nothing to address holes on the roster or because he isnt going all in on draft and develop he has no plan.
I do hate to be so hard on him because I was solidly on his side until less than a year ago. But given the numerous gaffs that have been made with Pavs, and the numerous UFAs that have been shipped down the road for absolutely nothing, he really needs to earn my trust now.
He can do that by getting rid of Pavs once and for all. I see no other meaningful solution unless he does much better this year (his 4th or 5th chance!) and can serve as a expensive backup until the next wave of goalies are ready.
He can do that if he makes a decision on whether to really go in on the draft and develop (as in get something, anything for expiring UFAs), hang onto and accumulate 1st and 2nd draft choices at the very least.
Its becoming obvious he didn't do enough homework in making the Seto decision -- so much baggage to give up a second for him. Many will say it was unfortunate that it didn't work out & that he couldn't even recoup any sort of draft pick for him as a UFA, but I think you have to hang a lot of the blame where it belongs there.
The disconnect right now for where we are going is really annoying. I mean a disconnect between going for draft picks & trying to just good enough to make the playoffs. Take last year, we lose Schief when we are making a final push to get into the playoffs. That should have been the last straw and we should have been hard sellers at that point. Why hang onto Jokinen, Thorbs, Redmond, or really any of your UFAs at that point. The message should be we're giving our AHLers who have earned the right for a decent tryout a real chance to prove they belong going forward. That not only finds out what they are made of (so you can make decisions on some as to whether they will be good or maybe could be traded). It tells everyone that they need to step up and play harder because we're down a couple bodies (the UFAs that should have been shipped), nows the time to show you belong on this team next year.
As for picking up significant UFA in the offseason, I'm not in that mindset. Happy to get Perrault - great pickup at that price. Galliardi may be good enough to do what is needed on 3rd-4th line -- I'm not convinced on him at all. But for those wanting the high priced UFAs - not unless they are young, really want to come, and will fit in long-term.
Its been said by many, but the proof of what we have for a GM will be how he handles not only Pavs in the next year, but key decisions need to be made on Frolic & Buff before or during the trade deadline, and Ladd isn't far behind. If he takes the easy road like he did with Pavs and Thorbs and just signs these guys for too much, well that obviously doesn't cut it either.