Cornuck wrote:How many people here honestly expected last year's edition to make the playoffs? It would have required a huge set of circumstances to happen - but Canuck luck being what it is, that wasn't going to happen. I think some expected a bottom 5 finish, but most seemed content with a top 10 pick.
I would tend to agree, but I think a pertinent question is who thinks we would be in a better position than we are now if we had made the playoffs? Would anyone debate that having OJ is better than having some prospect at the 15th pick? Would getting bounced in 4 games in the first round benefit us more than the difference in likelihood of success between OJ and the 15th pick (likely Chychrun for the sake of debate)? As with any two picks, the difference could turn out to be a wash, but right now, I am quite happy with having OJ over Chychrun and I think the potential that we have a top pairing guy in OJ is much higher than if we had Chychrun. To me, that difference is worth more than showing for 4 games in the playoffs. But as you say below, it seems the owners are of a different view. And that seems pretty fair given it is their money paying for salaries and expenses rather than mine.
Cornuck wrote:The signs are clear that Benning has been tasked with retooling 'on the fly' and has a mandate to try to make the playoffs. Not an easy job for any GM in any sport.
Agreed. This definitely appears to be the case and I do not envy JB's position. I guess I am just disappointed that, given his admitted deftness at drafting talented youth, we don't get to see him use that strong skill-set on more and higher picks. Hopefully he will show us just how deft he is in getting winners from the picks we did have.
Cornuck wrote:Benning has us pointed in the right direction and other than the constant complaints of "Shitty Contracts" and "No first line prospects" - the team looks ok for a rebuild on the fly. As for "Shitty Contracts" and "No first line prospects" - we're hardly the only team facing those problems.
To be fair, there is a chance that one or more of Bo, Jake and Brock may turn into a first line prospect. I'd just like to have more prospects with that potential (as would everyone), and I tend to think that our current strategy is not the most effective at getting more of said prospects.
All of this said, I hope that Eriksonn turns our to be a killer triplet, Gudbranson proves to be a 2-3 d-man and all of our young players take a giant leap this year and we find success in ownership's directed strategy. We don't really have any other options.....
Invincibility lies in oneself.
Vincibility lies in the enemy.
- Sun Tzu