Meh, I don't think it is quite so black and white. We don't know MOST of what goes on ...including with players and how they fit....or what trades can actually be made or not. I don't think the Sprong/Mojo was a plus for this team, but you moved a player that wasn't working for you and got what you could for him...a guy you had success with before....for a SHORT TERM, which is all Sprong was. The fact that Sprong (or anyone) did not fit is not necessarily the coaches or team mgmt fault. They don't always work out in your favor, and the Caps are so hemmed in by the Cap that they have very little room to work with. Yes that is mostly their own doing, but what are you going to do...let Ovi walk and not sign him? Move Carlson and Backy and Kuzy and "pick up" some guys. Every team in the league is trying to do that. Try finding one good center much less two.
I think BMAC has actually done good things for this team several times with very little resources to work with. I liked that they signed a true veteran coach. Yes it is his responsibility to get the most of the players, but Lavi can't go out there and do the skating and scoring....so there is plenty of blame to go around, but as much whining as we here on these boards after a few losses (and I don't mean this specific topic or thread), can you imagine if they actually blew this team up and started over? Sent Ovi to Vegas or WTF ever would want him? Traded Carlson and let Nicky walk of with UFA deal elsewhere. Then you start you team over and win 30 games a year.
The coach can only do so much. He can only work with what he is given or can get. You have some aging superstars on this team. What can the coach do when they underperform? Sit them...okay, to what end? That doesn't really work with veteran players IMO.
I hear a lot of grief about how badly we draft and don't develop our own players, etc, etc, but you look at the history of this team and we've had some pretty successful drafts. I'd say that Ovi guy is working out. Backtstrom too. John Carlson...grudgingly admit he has been good for this team. Yes all of these guys are now old. But you aren't always able to draft, develop and then keep every player. And they aren't all Ovi's.
Ovi is probably one of the best draft success stories for the success of a team in the last 20 years. He literally made hockey in this city. I'm not surprised they are riding him for as long as they can, and good for them for making it work.
We've been burned a few times by bad trades. They don't always work. I'm glad when I see them at least try, but sometimes there just aren't any trades that make sense, so ....you don't. I'm curious to see how the Vranna/Mantha trade works out in the long run. For me, I'll take Big Tony over Vranna, for his size and impact. Vranna a speed demon and exciting, but he never played any D. Big Tony seems to be a bit more stable. Odd that both had serious injuries after the trade.
Sorry...this should have gone in the boredom thread, cuase that's what's authoring it.
