Said it last night in PGT but it belongs here.
And this is with the caveat that I have no doubt this team will go on a nice run at some point
But I can't help but think about how stupid Gorton is.
We wanted to rebuild right?
We dumped almost every single vet so ALMOST no one was around to show the kids the ropes, right? The vets we DO keep tend to be guys who play a much more skill focused game without much in terms of physicality (Before some mouth breather comes in with a dumbass counter argument about fighting, physicality is not fighting and throwing stupid hits. From 2011-2014 we were skilled but we damn sure played physical, hard on the puck hockey. Went to the nets, created havoc down low, etc.)
After p***y AV literally coached physicality out of the team already we signed a coach who literally was a complete mystery box bc he had never been a head coach in the NHL so HE couldn't show them the NHL ropes either. (And clearly he doesn't seem too concerned with getting guys to the dirty areas and playing hard either). A young, high energy team and they always come out flat, lifeless and unprepared. For YEARS.
Then we signed Kreider to an enormous, baffling extension when he's known for being good but massively underachieving bc he never put together the game in his head completely. That's pretty much our main veteran to show the kids the ropes. f***ing brilliant.
We sign a mercenary who quit on his team bc he had a good year scoring wise. He's a NYR specialty- a defenseman who's not that good at defense. That's one of our other key vets lol. Do our NHL scouts work for IOU's? Wtf did they see in this guy that would make him the best fit for a young team on the rise? His age and stat sheet? You don't want to put any consideration into how he'd do with a completely different team made of young guys who play a completely different game? You don't want to look at the example he sets or how hard he goes shift in and shift out? Bc what we've got ain't what we needed and we gave up a mountain of value. (Before some mouth breather comes in and says "But only a 1st and STIIIIIIONK!" And 8 M. For almost a decade. )
We traded a 2nd to be rid of Staal.
But with that money we DIDNT re-sign fast who was a heart and soul guy who busts his ass and gets the most out of his talent....to re-sign Strome...another wishy washy headcase with an incomplete game.
Oh and Jack Johnson...
This team is on Gorton. I said it before and Ill say it again, he has done an absolute shit job and isn't catching nearly enough flak for it bc he lucked into the lotto balls and a bunch of guys looked good overseas.
Well guess what? The guys overseas haven't done jack or shit for the NYR yet and so far the ones that DO come over seem to struggle for quite some time.
You want a key thesis statement for this mini novel?
This team was put together MUCH more poorly than it should have been now and for the future.
That remains the same regardless of if the NYR un-f*** themselves sometime soon.
I have no doubt Hank wanted to retire here and the only reason he didn't was bc he couldn't stand the heartless, selfish, idgaf hockey we've played for years under two different coaches whose MO seems to be coasting on 1st line talent and sending idiotic, mixed messages to guys on "their list". The fact he wanted out is as strong an indictment of our leadership from FO to the ice as anything else
