This is such a lame conversation. Even if Fletcher had won a Cup in Minnesota, there's no reason to assume that would happen again. The fact the Wild didn't one, doesn't mean he won't win in the future here or somewhere else. That's not how any of this works.
Not one person has blamed Hextall for the Penguins' elimination.People are blaming Hextall for the Penguins' elimination? I mean, of course some are, but seriously? The only thing Hextall could have done to improve their chances was strap on the pads and replace Jarry himself.
Trading for Raffl was a waste of a 5th for the Caps. Every rental trade made by 15/16 teams is a waste.
Not one person has blamed Hextall for the Penguins' elimination.
You're splitting microscopic hairs over Grant and Thompson. The horror of adding perceived depth at the deadline prior to our run at the #1 seed. The trade market was corrupted this season, with Raffl and others. I don't consider giving Laughton term as making him a "core player." If you like him, you keep him. He isn't 40 years old. And it isn't what "mires you in mediocrity," either. What does that is having a bad (actual) core.
I am not concerned with what he did in Minnesota. As demonstrated, GMs lose until they win. You can likely find these "bleeding value" trades from every single GM in the league.
I would have liked to see a coaching staff change too. That was a mistake on his part. But we still have bigger fish to fry.
It is just a matter of different perceptions. I don't think this team's success boils down to the minutia of Fletcher's moves until the inherited Hextall core actually plays to their value. And if that doesn't happen soon, Fletcher is going to have to pull the plug.
We should be concerned with what he did in Minnesota. It's crazy to just ignore that.
I mean, people said the same thing about AV and his past tenures and in the end he proved he was still exactly what he always was. With Fletcher proving the same, why should we ignore that?
Geez, and I was called naive.
People also said the same thing about Quenneville’s past tenures. And Lombardi’s. Are we going to go in this same circle all day?
If the premise is that Fletch can backass his way into a cup-contending season, sure, shit GM's have won it all before. Maybe Patrick is a different player with a full summer to get up to speed, maybe Sanheim fully breaks out, maybe Hart wins a Vezina, maybe Giroux pots another PPG season, maybe, maybe, maybe. But hell, if that's the path you actively choose, then what's the point? Shouldn't we have higher expectations?
I guess we are.
Fletcher has shown only that he will build a team to mediocrity. He's showing more of the same now. Nothing with this team has changed or is changing, it's insane to expect a sudden different result.
And this is what I was saying with differences in perception. Fletcher’s job isn’t to build a team. He was hired to put the cherry on top. Which is why our real issues aren’t trading a 4th for Derek Grant or Hagg’s minutes.
When you think the cherry on top is Grant or Gus or Core Player Scott Laughton then that's a pretty massive problem
The point is that there is no cherry to put on the top yet. The Hextall core sucks.
...So then it is his job to build a team?
It is miraculous how when Fletcher was hired, the perception was that he was inheriting Hextall's core on the cusp of breaking out. And now that the core clearly is not ready to do so, it is Fletcher's fault for not totally rebuilding our core in 2~ years.
Not to mention he's only had ONE legitimate offseason. ONE. Because of Covid, shortened season, flat-cap, and expansion draft. And also not to mention that if he started breaking up Hextall's young "core" before this season the same people who are criticizing him would have thrown a hissy fit. Hell, suggest he trade some of Hextall's young core this offseason and these same posters are extremely hesitant.He was supposed to build an entire team in 2 years? Would you have been fine with him chalking up the young guys as under-performers in 2019? These things are only becoming evident now.
He was supposed to build an entire team in 2 years? Would you have been fine with him chalking up the young guys as under-performers in 2019? These things are only becoming evident now.
Sorry to ruin your Chuck Fletcher party.
Stating he still hasn't won a playoff round as a GM was simply stating a fact. I didn't blame him for the Penguins exit. That's you projecting.Just last night you were gloating about Hextall having another first round exit. That implies blame.
I'm trying to clarify. You said it's not his job to build the team, but to put the cherry on top, but now it's his job to build the team too.
Not that the distinction matters. He's gonna fail either way. Especially since having to build the team means the Hextall era was such a failure that our scouting and development-related staff should all be purged and none of that is really happening, so the most likely path will be more of the same.
When Fletcher was hired, no, I did not think or expect his job to be to build a team (Meaning assemble the main core of a competitor). I thought he was inheriting a young group/prospect pool ready to be one. And his main role would be to "put the cherry on top" once those pieces were playing in the NHL.
Now, in 2021, that "core" has questionable potential. And since it isn't Fletcher's core, I don't blame him for that.
I agree that if we do have to rebuild, we're screwed. Drafting and development can't be trusted here (If this core does totally fail). Which is why I think people are a bit hesitant to blame the players.