Very good read, Matt. I agree with your perspective and I think for the most part I agree with the philosophy long-term of the Winnipeg Jets and Kevin Cheveldayoff.
I think where I differ is the amount of patience I would display with the more easily fixed aspects of this team. I do not think sacrificing another year without playoffs is worth trying to discover if Noel can figure it out, or for that matter to see if Pavelec can magically somehow change his historic ability level and become a league average to above average goalie.
Another season of losing will do nothing for our young core to make them better players. It will do nothing to advance our chances of winning a Stanley Cup, besides perhaps getting a better draft pick that might some day have a positive roster impact.
The changes that Chevy can make, today, to improve our chances THIS YEAR are kind of simple and will not affect the teams long term plan.
Specifically: New coach, trade Byfuglien for a proven centre, and play Montoya while finding a more permanent goaltending solution.
I couldn't have said it better Jet. There are moves that can be made that will not sacrifice the long term outlook of this team at all, if anything help it out. "Sticking to the plan" doesn't mean sitting on our hands.
That being said I fully expect Chevy to do something within the next couple weeks if this continues. Not a panic move, but a calculated move. There's nothing wrong with that.
Agree and agree.
I also don't view this as early season fear mongering, more so an opinion formed by myself after observing since the team arrived. I've long been very patient and very optimistic. Those familiar with me will know I was once completely on board with giving Claude Noel the time and resources needed to guide this team to better days. However, I'm not seeing it, I don't see the fit here and for a coach to have yet to form an identity with this team nor gain any sort of consistency. That is very worrisome to me. But, as I've also said, prove me wrong here and improve on the ice and I'll be very happy.
I am 100% all for a long-term approach. I want to get to a point where we are a contending and playoff competitive team year in, year out. I feel we are close, but I believe some tinkering may need done to get there, and in order to do that we cannot just sit tight, "like a rock" and not make any player or personnel moves even if we continue with poor results.
With that being said, I feel the organization right now is at a point where all things considered, from
top to bottom, is in a solid position to make roster moves if they're of fit and if they become necessary, also moves like perhaps trading a high draft pick if the deal improves us today and over the long-term. Will we possibly trade a Dustin Byfuglien in order to help change the tide here? I don't know, but I hope we would do those things (in general) if things continue going poorly. Or personnel moves if things don't go well, will we fire Noel?
I suppose my article here was more so than less directed at Lawless' article this morning, which I heavily disagree with. Why it seems like such a horrifying, against the grain concept or idea for this organization to possibly make a key trade or fire a coach, I am really unsure. At some point I believe it has to be done, likely sooner than later, in my own opinion.
Judging by Lawless' opinion, even if things continue going poorly we should just "sit tight", tuck our head between our arms and continue taking jabs. Why? I fail to see where that gets us at this point given our core is locked up to 5-7 year deals paying 190+ million, our prospects and young players are making way, the system is getting stocked, etc. I see us very close to being in a position of strength and in an optimal position to take a step forward here.
