Proposal: John Davidson

[Inquiring Minds]

Please explain why, if the quote is "We will gladly pay," the FO would need to be struck in such a fashion.

Guess I was just projecting the attitude of some on the board who were objecting to what they perceived as hardball tactics of the FO towards Joey; assuming that they would want to be vindictive when the time comes.

If indeed they will "gladly pay" so much the better. But I anticipate that they will be tough negotiators at that time as well.
As the phrase goes "It is a business"

 

[nativecbj]

So, 25th in the NHL after TWO seasons under CBJ President John Davidson; as a fan, is that what you expected?

Yeah, um not really sure what you're trying to get at with this. You act like 2 years is enough time to take a laughing stock NHL team and turn them into a Stanley Cup champion. In case you missed it we did make the playoffs last year and give Pitt a run in the first round. And in case you've missed this entire season, the Blue Jackets might have the most injury plagued team in NHL history this year. So yeah as a fan, I'm not disappointed at all with PJD in his TWO seasons. Emphasis on the TWO for you buddy. Seriously this thread is a joke.

 

[KeithBWhittington]

From the standpoint of credibility, it's worth it in itself still. JD has friends everywhere so that helps soften a lot of stances on the CBJ, less harsh words thrown around to describe them. The reputation will take a hit if this team does nothing next season, assuming they are healthier than this season.

What this organization lacked was a guy that has tremendous respect everywhere.

I'll never question the decision to bring him in from that standpoint.

 

[Mayor Bee]

Yeah, um not really sure what you're trying to get at with this. You act like 2 years is enough time to take a laughing stock NHL team and turn them into a Stanley Cup champion. In case you missed it we did make the playoffs last year and give Pitt a run in the first round. And in case you've missed this entire season, the Blue Jackets might have the most injury plagued team in NHL history this year. So yeah as a fan, I'm not disappointed at all with PJD in his TWO seasons. Emphasis on the TWO for you buddy. Seriously this thread is a joke.

Hold on a sec. The 2012-13 team was something like 93% built by Howson, with a small amount of carryover from MacLean (basically Boll, Dorsett, and Mason) and a bit from Kekalainen (Gaborik and Comeau). That team only missed the playoffs on a tiebreaker.

The 2013-14 team was (for Howson)
- Out of 1,476 man-games by skaters, players he acquired skated 1,257 of them (85.2%).
- Of the 231 goals scored (13th in the NHL), his guys accounted for 209 of them (90.5%).
- His goalies accounted for 2,207 of 2,310 saves (95.5%).
- In the playoffs, all 18 of 18 goals scored against Pittsburgh were by players he acquired (100%), 31 of 32 assists (96.9%), and 49/50 overall points (98%).

Here's how the current team looks:
- Out of 1,200 man-games by skaters, players acquired by MacLean account for 4.8% (Boll's 58 games), by Kekalainen 37.4% (449 games), and Howson 57.8% (693 games)
- Out of 153 goals scored, MacLean players account for 0.6% (1), Kekalainen 23.5% (36), Howson 75.8% (116)
- Out of 428 total points by skaters, MacLean players account for 1.2% (5), Kekalainen 23.1% (99), Howson 75.7% (324)

Herein lies the problem. This was a "laughingstock" that missed out on the playoffs only due to a tiebreaker two seasons ago, and one that made the playoffs last year with basically the same roster that was constructed by the previous regime. Yet this team has gotten both further away from that and also further away from the playoffs at the same time. The 2012-13 team allowed the 10th-fewest goals in the NHL. Last year's team was 13th in goals scored and 12th in goals against. This year's team is 24th in goals scored and 26th in goals against. In addition, the team identity that was forged in the last two years of being a brutally physical and relentless team seems to have been completely forgotten.

THAT is the problem. This was not a rebuilding team. This was a team that had a lot of the pieces in place already and simply needed time to continue to come together. The subtraction of Umberger and the addition of Hartnell (June 20 2014) was adding one more piece to the puzzle and getting one step closer to becoming a contender. Since then it's gone completely backwards. And with the latest move, we've seen a team that had come so far and a franchise that looked to have permanently shed that "laughingstock" label sink right back into it.

 

[EspenK]

Again let's not forget about the injuries this season. With a normal amount this team would have most likely been a playoff contender again. To not consider that is disingenuous and by extension suggesting that this team is where its at today because of the management of JD/JK is also, i don't know, a crock?

I'm not saying they haven't made some questionable moves but at least they made some that at the time most people thought were very good moves. Adding Gaborik and not having it workout is about the same as trading Voracek who has turned into a star for a guy who didn't want to be here that ultimately was turned into a D man who is a minus 16 or thereabouts. Also one could say that trading away a guy who sits 2nd in the league in goals for people who are frequently injured and a prospect who didn't pan out were equally not so bright. Give it a rest. Please.

 

[Mayor Bee]

Again let's not forget about the injuries this season. With a normal amount this team would have most likely been a playoff contender.
To not consider that is disingenuous and by extension suggesting that this team is where its at today because of the management of JD/JK is also, i don't know, a crock?

Of course injuries are a major part of it. So has been losing important pieces and not replacing them. Gaborik produced when he was healthy. Comeau and especially MacKenzie were vital parts of what was one of the best bottom sixes in the league; they left for nothing and were replaced by AHL-caliber guys. Skille walked away, and the team reclaimed him off of waivers or else he wouldn't be around either. Connauton was a waiver claim and, while astute, what would the back end look like without that stroke of fortune (not that he's produced, but the fact that he was on waivers at all)?

Who is putting it together or taking it apart is, quite frankly, not really relevant to me. My basic point is that this team has gone in reverse. Injuries are a major part, so is the actual moving pieces. Period.

 

[Socks]

I'll be interested if they JD and Jarmo address the medical staff situation. Clearly there's an issue that simply can't get swept under the rug.

 

[alphafox]

Hold on a sec. The 2012-13 team was something like 93% built by Howson, with a small amount of carryover from MacLean (basically Boll, Dorsett, and Mason) and a bit from Kekalainen (Gaborik and Comeau). That team only missed the playoffs on a tiebreaker.

The 2013-14 team was (for Howson)
- Out of 1,476 man-games by skaters, players he acquired skated 1,257 of them (85.2%).
- Of the 231 goals scored (13th in the NHL), his guys accounted for 209 of them (90.5%).
- His goalies accounted for 2,207 of 2,310 saves (95.5%).
- In the playoffs, all 18 of 18 goals scored against Pittsburgh were by players he acquired (100%), 31 of 32 assists (96.9%), and 49/50 overall points (98%).

Here's how the current team looks:
- Out of 1,200 man-games by skaters, players acquired by MacLean account for 4.8% (Boll's 58 games), by Kekalainen 37.4% (449 games), and Howson 57.8% (693 games)
- Out of 153 goals scored, MacLean players account for 0.6% (1), Kekalainen 23.5% (36), Howson 75.8% (116)
- Out of 428 total points by skaters, MacLean players account for 1.2% (5), Kekalainen 23.1% (99), Howson 75.7% (324)

Herein lies the problem. This was a "laughingstock" that missed out on the playoffs only due to a tiebreaker two seasons ago, and one that made the playoffs last year with basically the same roster that was constructed by the previous regime. Yet this team has gotten both further away from that and also further away from the playoffs at the same time. The 2012-13 team allowed the 10th-fewest goals in the NHL. Last year's team was 13th in goals scored and 12th in goals against. This year's team is 24th in goals scored and 26th in goals against. In addition, the team identity that was forged in the last two years of being a brutally physical and relentless team seems to have been completely forgotten.

THAT is the problem. This was not a rebuilding team. This was a team that had a lot of the pieces in place already and simply needed time to continue to come together. The subtraction of Umberger and the addition of Hartnell (June 20 2014) was adding one more piece to the puzzle and getting one step closer to becoming a contender. Since then it's gone completely backwards. And with the latest move, we've seen a team that had come so far and a franchise that looked to have permanently shed that "laughingstock" label sink right back into it.

I'm not sure what your point is other than an attempt to point put that the roster we are playing with was mostly constructed by Howson. This season and the Clarkson trade are anomalies. The Clarkson deal is only a mistake in that (shocker) we got hit by bad luck regarding Horton and insuring his contract, thereby putting the team in a difficult position regarding the most important part of the hockey business, real world dollars.

As to the disappointment of this season the injuries of this team have been ludicrous and has completely disrupted any identity or cohesion this team could have. When your 2a/2b centers, 2 of your top 4 defensemen, and your vezina winning goalie have missed MONTHS of the season you're going to drop significantly off your average pace in both defense and offensive productions.

Finally, who cares what other fans and uneducated analysts think. Every owner has spent the last few days figuring out how Jarmo did this and wishing they had a GM this creative. Lost in all of the normal trade talks, roster decisions and cap hits is the fact that this is a business and real world money is paid to these players. This is a smart move for the Jackets, true we might not have gotten the best deal possible but it is still a good deal where we are getting a player for our money.

Finally, there are those of us that believe this is a rebuilding team that has been masked by an overachieving roster for the last few years. The roster has major flaws that need to be fixed via the draft and trade. Craig Patrick and Scott Howson did a good job drafting and trading post 2011, but there remains alot of work to do.

 

[distinctkickgmotion]

If I had a million dollars, I'd buy John Davidson's remains