HL
I know we look at things from a different perspective as well as situations among other things and that's not an issue.
When looking back to the beginning of this organization culminating in the first two Mem Cups I liked the track the organisation was on. I disagree it was a win at all costs situation but I do think and agree Windsor was willing to do what it took to win. They still had assets in the bank, they still had prospects to bring in etc. They did it right and were set up to do what others have done since, particularly more recently.
2011 through a wrench into things in my opinion. Losing out on the hosting, I think they were screwed because had they been the hosts that year they were in a position to add what was needed, it may have had a small affect on possibly Fowler returning, Cantin/Shugg don't likely get moved etc. Not getting the hosting gig and messing up the draft surrounding Kerby I would have bet Rychel was prepared to sell. It would have been the right move but as the season played out without major moves, some small ones throughout the season the team over achieved a bit and Rychel had to make a choice, buy or sell and I realize all speculation was his hands were tied in terms of deadline deals. While he had the assets, probably not as much as he would have liked he finally made some additions, not enough, did things half way and let the chips fall where they might. That was his first mistake of many the next 6 years or so. If his hands were tied he should have stood pat, not added and play things out. They had a good shot at getting to the third round as they were so adding didn't make a difference. Even if they only made it to the second round they would have held onto a few more assets and could have retooled moreso then need to go into a rebuild. With fewer assets and Kerby in the line up though he tried to retool. He moved big names, got good returns but then moved out most assets on a number of players who weren't what they were expected to be. Had he held the assets in 2011 and the next two seasons he acquired as he moved bigger names out the result would have been similar, make the playoffs, out in the first round or maybe miss them once but he would have had full cupboards, he would have had a clearer view of his own prospects and been in a better position to deal after the 2012 and 2013 seasons and likely been in a position to keep Kerby and ice a team that could have challenged when he and Ebert were instead dealt.
I know hindsight is 20/20 but while the moves out were good ones, the moves in were questionable.
2011 was what it was but 2012 and 2013 were the years that really hurt and the team never really recovered until 2017 again, at an extremely high price.
Early graduation can affect things but any good team has to deal with it because consistently bad teams aren't developing players ready to graduate early. Some players will excel or standout no matter what but many highly thought of prospects have languished in bad systems. So if Windsor isn't graduating players early, and most of that time frame they weren't I would be more concerned than if they did.
This past season and the possibilities of this upcoming season have this team and the way Rychel is handling things looking closer to the first two years they had the team then the last six or seven, that's a good thing. With the hosting gone there is no need to make panic moves to load up almost an entire top six for the tournament. He has the time to make calculated moves, keep stocking up assets, bring players back in trades instead of going for broke moving newly acquired assets on the next big name. This season, even if they move DiPietro, Boka and Purboo I still expect them to finish in at least 6th. They had a young roster most of the year and even though they were a bit slow in handing over the reigns they did accelerate things after the deadline instead relying too much on the remaining vets/older players. Those kids now need to take over, prove their value and become leaders because this season the team should still finish younger than they start the season but it should be youth with experience with something to prove.
Rychel needs to get a scoring top six forward but that needs to come preferably in a deal that includes an outgoing player, not a stand alone deal where he moves a lot of assets that he just acquires in another deal. The worst thing he could do though is move DiPietro before the season starts and then move most of those or similar assets to get a defected player, he's still leaving himself short on assets in the short and/or mid term. He may need to move a couple of assets in any deal if he doesn't return a 16/17 year old scoring forward (obviously dependent on when he moves him) in a DiPietro deal but it needs to be a mix of picks and an older player so he can minimize depleting future picks.
Yes his drafting is getting better, back to what it was. Having more picks helps and is a definite advantage. Keep going the way they appear to be and I think a lot of the "negative" will calm down. Like others have said, I want to see a team that can become a regular threat to do something every year. Consistently good. It does not mean there won't be down years, there will always be down years related to a variety of factors and issues. Players graduate early, it can affect things but it can also be a positive as high end players deciding if they will report see that their chances of better development could give them a similar opportunity.
Winning championships will attract players but losing records will almost certainly affect decisions as well. A lot of these high end kids aren't used to losing so the idea of going to a team that only gives itself a chance to win every four or five years can't be appealing. Sure kids who have reported may not see the missing playoffs or poor performance as an issue right after winning a Memorial Cup but Windsor hasn't attracted a lot of high end flyers for a number of years, I'm sure their record has some influence on those decisions and I'm sure if they never ever report to a camp they're not likely going to be expressing an opinion about it.
I like Rychel's competitive nature, I don't like his lack of self control. I've said it in the past, he's like a kid in a candy store when he has a few extra draft picks laying around he can't wait to spend them. He needs to take the time to do what he does best. Evaluate the talent you have, move out what makes sense to do so then re evaluate before running out the door to move the new picks. In 2012 and 2013 he spent picks as fast as they came in. Sit on them for a couple of months, see what the remaining roster and possible call ups do. If it makes sense to add, do so, but if doesn't provide an immediate benefit then let the season play out and revisit in the off season.
