Poll: How do you feel about the Bryan Murray signing?
Vote and let us know what you think.
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I hate it.
It was an easy move to make by an intellecutally lazy owner ruled by emotion and sentiment and loyalty rather than forethought and intellectual behaviour.
For far too long the Senators have been trying to build the picture-perfect ending and franchise, from hiring local boys the Murrays to having the aging lions Alfredsson, Phillips and co. hanging around past their primes.
The team spoke of accountability with verve not more than two years ago yet none has been shown by management, that will now be hiring its fourth coach in five years. There is no offensive depth up front, the defense is porous and Anderson is just a question mark until he plays a full season. This is a step back that was unnecessary and overwrought.
I love this decision. To those that disagree I ask: If Stanley Cup contenders are built over many years, why do we insist on evaluating GMs on a single year? The fact of the matter is we are only just now seeing the fruits of Bryan Murray’s draft choices/young signings with the likes of Karlsson, Lehner, Butler, Rundblad, and Cowen sure to have a major impact on the team in the next few years. The guy knows how to draft.
I completely agree that he made some poor decisions in re-signing certain veterans to bloated contracts and making a few questionable trades. But he has rectified these mistakes and seems committed to a task that plays to his strengths: building a team from the ground up.
dcvan:
GM Bryan Murray 2007
2008 final performance: Sweep by Penguins
GM 2008
2009 final performance: Out of playoffss
GM 2009
2010 final performance: lost in 6
GM 2010
2011 final performance: Out of playoffs, 25h overall.
Countless stupid trades of skill guys for grinders and pluggers; countless coaches; countless bad free agent signings.
It’s been five years.
I’m gonna be 100% honest dcvan.
I don’t give a flying **** about prospects until they put out at the NHL level. Until then they are nothing more than dreams and fantasies of a potential future. If Rundblad doesn’t perform I’ll boo him as I’ve booed everyone from Spezza to Phillips.
When these kids go deep in the playoffs I’ll give a crap.
So you “don’t give a flying **** about prospects until they put out at the NHL level” (which, presumably, means you don’t care whether Murray drafts well or not) but you are more than willing to pick up a brand new GM, who is then expected to spend our draft picks rebuilding the team. That doesn’t really make sense… Or were you expecting the likes of Laich or Richards to turn the team around? The fact is, we are rebuilding for the next three years, this isn’t an overnight turnaround. We need someone who will be getting us the most value for our draft picks, is familiar with the Senators system, and who will know how to compliment those future pieces. I’m not turning to Pierre McGuire for that thanks.