Ultimately, the owners are to blame. They hire the GM and they determine the general expectations. If they don’t establish the right kind of culture of success, the right goals, the winning attitudes, then they fail. And we have failed.
It’s especially a shame and a waste because no team has an infinite window. Wasting one year is like throwing away a third or a quarter of your capital to a dead end investment.
A team that keeps missing playoffs like we do has serious problems. They are not fixed with a piece here or there. I know the signs are clear, DT and Boog will have one more chance next season. But if the owners care even a bit about becoming a good franchise, the preparation for next season must be thorough, diligent, extensive, with the highest expectations for all players. Ekblad must learn to skate. Matheson must stop having panic attacks. Several forwards must get faster. Borg must get stronger. Tallon must get a goalie. Tallon must not trade Hoff. Tippett must show up to camp in the best shape of his life. Boog must learn how to prepare the team for every game. Jackass should leave but if he doesn’t, that old dog has got to learn new defensive tricks.
And the owners really really need to start giving a **** about the customers they use to get their winnings.