I remember, I did cap calculations for that Hossa vs. Franzen scenarios and it was very difficult to have that Hossa 5.2M on the roster instead of 3.9M Mule. At least one 5-man unit should have been changed to unproven prospects or carbage UFAs with minimun salaries. That would have been a worse team.
Economy crisis at 2008 and cap standing pat for 2009-10 +our biggest extensions after succes (Zetterberg raise after 2009, Franzen raise after 2009) killed our cap situation and also this Hossa situation. Period. There was no room. Period.
People haven't ever shown any kind of real plan to build a roster with Hossa instead of Franzen. Just trash-talking not based on any facts.
As we see more of our drafting results from past years, our biggest problems have been Jim Nill & Joe McDonell as our scouting directors. Their abysmal North Amrican drafting has been our biggest problem, when we needed new young talent on the roster.
When these two guys have been our scouting directors (Nill from 1995 to 2003, McDonell from 2004 to 2012), almost every good prospect has been European scouted gem by HÃ¥kan Andersson. Best North American draftees during 18 years were Kyle Quincey, Jimmy Howard, Justin Abdelkader, Darren Helm and Jiri Fischer. That's it. Andersson also had influence for that Fischer-pick which was the best one.
During same era, Andersson picked Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Kronwall, Filppula, Hudler, Fleischmann, Kopecky, Ericsson, Franzen, Tatar, Nyquist, Järnkrok, Janmark, Mrazek etc. Unbelieveable record. Just like Ken Holland record when he was our scouting director from 1988 to 1994. We picked up great talent every year. Sheldon Kennedy, Mike Sillinger, Bob Boughner, Lidström. Fedorov, Drake, Konstantinov, Keith Primeau, Kozlov, Jason York, Lapointe, Osgood, Knuble, McCarty, Dan McGillis, Tomas Holmström, Mathieu Dandenault.
That kind of draft record makes team as contenders. 17 hits in 7 years - That shows a great scouting director.
Nill & McDonell got 5 hits in 18 years. ****ing horrible.
When Holland was the scouting Director, our team was gushing full of North American Talent. Then there was DARK TWO DECADES from 1995 to 2013, with Nill & McDonell on change. And it dropped us from position after 2009, when there was not anymore enough cheap and great prospects to bring in.
Under salary cap, you need them year-after-year, if you are competitive team, because salary comparables push the prices up, and you need to let something go. We didn't have these propects and that's why Holland went with plan B bringing in cheap UFA veterans. It was the only, (unliked scenario in here), to keep the team somewhat competitive.
Now Tyrler Wright has done superb job for our NA drafting instantly when he came in as new scouting director. We have now great talent from both North America (Larkin, Mantha etc.) and from Europe (Andersson-draftees).
Future looks bright again, because Kenny found better people on the right positions. Again, he did find the right people and saved our future.