Rob defends Terry

[Thorny]

“Not a bad Ownership tenure..”

[Taro T]

1 minute ago, Thorny said:

There’s also no way he imagined this level of it 

True.  He envisioned Ottawa Senators expansion team levels of horrible play, thus his hiring Rolston to help get them there.  But he kept some good pieces to be building around after the 2 God awful seasons he expected to have, guys such as Miller.

He would've kept most all those draft picks he'd accumulated and they would've been bad for a couple of years after the tank, but they would've been good soon thereafter.

The problem with HIS version of tanking is the team was absolutely unwatchable under Rolston when he got to install HIS system right from training camp.

[Thorny]

3 minutes ago, Taro T said:

True.  He envisioned Ottawa Senators expansion team levels of horrible play, thus his hiring Rolston to help get them there.  But he kept some good pieces to be building around after the 2 God awful seasons he expected to have, guys such as Miller.

He would've kept most all those draft picks he'd accumulated and they would've been bad for a couple of years after the tank, but they would've been good soon thereafter.

The problem with HIS version of tanking is the team was absolutely unwatchable under Rolston when he got to install HIS system right from training camp.

I honestly never remember them being unwatchable then like I do now. I watched all 82 back then essentially. Style of play doesn’t get to me like a lack of hope does 

[PromoTheRobot]

1 hour ago, bunomatic said:

The people don’t or won’t embarrass Terry further, this is on him.

I did say embarrass him .. further.

[Taro T]

1 minute ago, Thorny said:

I honestly never remember them being unwatchable then like I do now. I watched all 82 back then essentially. Style of play doesn’t get to me like a lack of hope does 

It was beyond awful.  If they didn't dump Rolston there would've been a mass revolt.  They were 4-15-1 and they weren't as good as the record indicated.  It was flat out unwatchable.  They couldn't get the puck out of their own end.

Nolan got them to at least play hockey.  And even though they did they still finished about 20 points out of 2nd last place in the league.

[Thorny]

3 minutes ago, Taro T said:

It was beyond awful.  If they didn't dump Rolston there would've been a mass revolt.  They were 4-15-1 and they weren't as good as the record indicated.  It was flat out unwatchable.  They couldn't get the puck out of their own end.

Nolan got them to at least play hockey.  And even though they did they still finished about 20 points out of 2nd last place in the league.

“but noooooooooooot out!”

infinitely watchable.

[JohnC]

2 hours ago, Thorny said:

Good post and link, cheers

When someone like Hamilton says this, who’s generally so reluctant in my recollection from taking an outright stance against something the team is doing (probably at the fear of being lumped in a “reactionary” with the fans), it generally means something 

Adams’ time as GM could finally be at an end 

the bit about not getting distracted by solitary wins over Edmonton, Vancouver is so key. If Adams isn’t getting extended, how could you possibly let him navigate the deadline, etc. They are just wasting crucial time by keeping him in the position. 

This 

As you noted, Paul Hamilton is not noted for harsh or controversial commentary. I like him but in general his style is reasonable and bland. However, on the topic of the competency of KA, even the blind can see. It was absurd for the aloof owner to hire KA to be his GM, and it is even more absurd to keep him on the job for so long.

[PASabreFan]

25 minutes ago, Taro T said:

True.  He envisioned Ottawa Senators expansion team levels of horrible play, thus his hiring Rolston to help get them there.  But he kept some good pieces to be building around after the 2 God awful seasons he expected to have, guys such as Miller.

He would've kept most all those draft picks he'd accumulated and they would've been bad for a couple of years after the tank, but they would've been good soon thereafter.

The problem with HIS version of tanking is the team was absolutely unwatchable under Rolston when he got to install HIS system right from training camp.

In the spring Darcy said ownership would determine the extent of the rebuild. He also cited Minny as the right way to rebuild. There's no way he was fired for doing too good (bad) a job at tearing things down.

To be clear I think Darcy saw the lay of the land and got a golden parachute for his service.

[PASabreFan]

Remember all the Pitt people Terry had hanging around. The plan clearly was to be awful, so awful they would land the next Crosby.

[Taro T]

1 minute ago, PASabreFan said:

Remember all the Pitt people Terry had hanging around. The plan clearly was to be awful, so awful they would land the next Crosby.

You remember all the Pitt people telling Pegula to tank, but beleive they somehow weren't behind getting Regier punted when he was too good at it.

Murray walked the fine line of being JUST bad enough that next year to finish dead last, and keep the team watchable.  He did exactly what they wanted that next year.

And, btw, IF Regier was doing exactly what ownership & advisors wanted, why fire Rolston too when giving Regier his "golden parachute?"

[PASabreFan]

Sawyer, Black, Benson from the git go. Not sure when honorary Pitt guy Battista! arrived, but he accompanied LaLa to Ottawatawatawa to interview GMTM.

Darcy never had a prayer.

[Thorny]

You people are forgetting that tanking was a faux pas back then, all those years ago. Regier being fired was as much about media propaganda as anything else 

Keeping up appearances 

[Taro T]

20 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

In the spring Darcy said ownership would determine the extent of the rebuild. He also cited Minny as the right way to rebuild. There's no way he was fired for doing too good (bad) a job at tearing things down.

To be clear I think Darcy saw the lay of the land and got a golden parachute for his service.

 

13 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

Remember all the Pitt people Terry had hanging around. The plan clearly was to be awful, so awful they would land the next Crosby.

 

2 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

Sawyer, Black, Benson from the git go. Not sure when honorary Pitt guy Battista! arrived, but he accompanied LaLa to Ottawatawatawa to interview GMTM.

Darcy never had a prayer.

Care to explain the seeming incongruity between Regier was NOT canned for being too good at executing the plan to clearly be awful AND Darcy never having a prayer?

Recall, that when Pegula 1st bought the team money was no object and if they couldn't land Nash they'd at least land Leino.  The Pitts Peeps weren't always onboard the train to Tankville.  That was their 1st pivot.  And apparently Regier was very good at driving that train.

[PASabreFan]

22 minutes ago, Taro T said:

 

 

Care to explain the seeming incongruity between Regier was NOT canned for being too good at executing the plan to clearly be awful AND Darcy never having a prayer?

Recall, that when Pegula 1st bought the team money was no object and if they couldn't land Nash they'd at least land Leino.  The Pitts Peeps weren't always onboard the train to Tankville.  That was their 1st pivot.  And apparently Regier was very good at driving that train.

OK, he didn't have a prayer from the start. TP was POHO from the git go. That will be my last git go of the day.

[Pimlach]

3 hours ago, Thorny said:

I saw this online but didn’t Bowman take over GM duties in st Louis? 

Could be.  @Taro T is disagreeing with me so maybe Bowman was GM there?  He was not a GM in Montreal.  

[Pimlach]

3 hours ago, Taro T said:

Bowman was the GM in St. Louis.

And Regier didn't say there'd be suffering on his way out.  He said it as he began the tank.  BIG difference.

You are correct, Bowman was GM in St Louis, but not in Montreal, his gig right before Buffalo.  

 

Regier did mention "suffering"  before he left, but there is not a difference,  it is irrelevant to my point.  He said it because he meant it, and he later tried to retract it from suffering to "patience".     The patience is long gone and the suffering continues.  

[...]

Perhaps Regier was revealing how he saw the Pegula ownership playing out long-term when he used the word "suffering".