Invictus12
Registered User
1. i think we dont win the cup without datsyuk, zetterberg and lidstrom, i dont think rafalski was the engine that drove that bus no
2. listen i just think it does need to be said(proven) exactly what steps holland made coming out of the lockout that changed the direction of the team and lead to long term success if thats being argued. To me, dropping bottom depth players or getting older goalies to sign cap friendly deals arent that great. To me, great moves that define a GM as great are fantastic trades where they clearly got the best long term player, smart trades at the draft to move up and snag guys who go on to become superstars, signing key/important UFA's who go on to become long term leaders for your franchise, etc
This where I feel the rationale ond the 'remove Babcock and Holland falls completely apart.
One, we have had Zetterberg, Datsyuk and Lidstrom as our core, we didn't win cups every year with them. So, you need a good supporting cast. That's where Rafalski and others come in. There's 19 players that will be hitting the ice every game and you need a strong combination of that to win the cup. So while these 'lesser move' aren't significant in the vacuum, they do add up.
Once again, it's a 20/20 thing to say 'he hadn't made any great moves'. Lidstrom retired. Even at the old age, there's about five guys at most, that I think can actually replace him. I'm sure I don't have to explain the amount of future and present that we'd have to strip in order to get a defensement like that. We're talking about Weber's Keiths etc... Other teams GMs aren't idiots either and they're not going to give you something just for the sake of it. Furthermore, for example, Ian White was a good signing in my book. Infact, Lidstrom's last year, I felt White played better than him for good chunks of the season. Then next year he completely went south. Who could have predicted that?
You folks are basically asking Holland to know the numbers to mega million jackpot and are ticked off that he's not getting the right on every single attempt.