Chiarelli (finally) fired
- Thread starter L K
- Start date
Kin
New member
AvroArrow said:
I suppose the inference there is that it's a decision that the organization was behind, not just Chiarelli.
Maybe this is a minor point but that's sort of the thing about GMs getting fired. They don't get fired because they make a bunch of bad decisions that everyone agrees are terrible even at the time(Hall for Larsson, say) but rather they get fired because those moves end up not shaking out for whatever reason.
Like, if the Oilers had 4 more wins instead of losses this year which could easily be a product of just blind luck and bounces, Edmonton looks in a good spot for the playoffs and Chiarelli isn't fired.
bustaheims
Active member
L K said:
Probably the smartest move they've made since drafting McDavid.
bustaheims
Active member
AvroArrow said:
With most teams, I'd agree - but, in Edmonton, I can believe this is a bit of a kneejerk decision. Not one that was made because they lost last night, but I don't think it's a coincidence the move happened so soon after Bob McKenzie was on the radio in Edmonton saying that basically everything Chiarelli did in Edmonton was a failure.
bustaheims said:
Yeah I feel like those moves he made with the defence at the end of December (especially since one directly effects next season's cap space) signalled that the team was at least going to give him until the end of this season before deciding on his future. So that makes me think something changed recently.
And of course there's also the fact that was given the ok to sign some mediocre goalie to a 3-year contract extension just a day or two before.
Kin
New member
AvroArrow said:
Yeah, but that's in a way my point. Whenever these guys get fired it's not because their incompetence has been revealed, just about anyone who gets and loses a GM job will be rehired into a NHL job that dozens of other people would kill for no matter how badly they do, but rather it's meat to throw on the fire to appease the public. Nobody in Edmonton's upper management probably now thinks that Chiarelli is a "bad hockey man" or has an inability to assess hockey talent, just that his moves didn't work out for whatever reason and they want to make a change for largely cosmetic purposes.
It's like a craps table switching shooters. Nobody actually believes the new guy is somehow better at throwing dice.
The timing of the goalie extension is odd in relation to the firing. I hope Keith Gretzky was on board with the extension.CarltonTheBear said:
I think about the Larsson deal for Hall and I'm terrified that the Leafs make a similar move. Just because we have depth up front doesn't mean we should flop them if the value isn't there. Dubas is smarter than that but the rumor mill runs rampant with suggestions of trading forwards for D.
Chiarelli was bad. Awful even. But he was only part of the problem there. The team really needs to clear house. That's why I expected this move to happen in the offseason as opposed to now. But this makes me think they're just gonna bring someone in to assimilate with the leftovers like Lowe and MacTavish. Like it's incredible that both of those guys still have active roles with the organization.
Even the guy who they've pegged to temporarily take over Chiarelli's duties is Chiarelli's own right hand man going back even to his Boston days: Keith Gretzky (yes, he's a Gretzky. How convenient).
Even the guy who they've pegged to temporarily take over Chiarelli's duties is Chiarelli's own right hand man going back even to his Boston days: Keith Gretzky (yes, he's a Gretzky. How convenient).
I was on Edmonton's website looking at their front office staff and Chiarelli's bio is still there and it reminded me that he was named a finalist for the GM of the year award in 16/17. The hockey world can be so dumb sometimes/most of the time.
Kin
New member
CarltonTheBear said:
Chiarelli wasn't good but I feel like a lot of what people are mistaking for him not being good is really just a by-product of something that we're seeing a lot of. Namely, if you can build a middling team just by virtue of having a certain sort of talent on the team(McDavid, say) then how do you take the next step? The draft is a crap shoot, UFA is a bad place to spend money and trades barely happen. Chiarelli's approach wasn't a good one, I don't think(in the Lucic and Larsson moves he embraced bad markets) but I think we can look at our own situation here and say that the next step beyond the drafting of franchise talent isn't an easy one by any means.
Nik the Trik said:
I really enjoyed how the Jack Adams was pretty much a kiss of death for a few years there.
herman said:
It's either that or the award is cursed. Who could really know.
herman said:
Not so fast...
https://twitter.com/JSportsnet/status/1088069455773683713
Maybe Hunter will finally have a positive effect on the Leafs after all!