OK ... let's take a step back and examine the Carolina Hurricanes franchise on a macro level as we roll out of a VERY bad year for the franchise and in to a year that at least has the promise of fresh ownership. I'm going to go top down with some thoughts. Feel free to pile on with your own or point out areas you think I'm getting wrong.
Ownership
OK ... this kind of has to be trending up, right? Karmanos ran out of ready cash years ago and has been systematically running the franchise into as bottomless a pit of debt as he could con various and sundry financial institutions into letting him ... including taking annual short term loans against the Canes NHL television rights, which is pretty much the biggest of financial red flags. So, enough of that crap ... enter Tom Dundon presumably riding out of the sunset on a white horse, since he's a Texan. Or whatever. Color me skeptical about his interest and experience in sports because up to this point all he's done in sports is twofold: 1. Speculative investing in a stupid 3 tier jazzed up golf range concept that most real golfers I know hate. 2. building one of those big budget, big profile golf courses designed to draw big time pro tournaments and landing one of the same. I mean, pardon me, but whoopee doo. None of that has anything to do with the long term care and feeding of a professional team sports franchise, so spare me the sales pitch on his sports savvy. One is left to HOPE a few things ... that he will find or develop some passion for the sport of hockey and the Raleigh market, and that he will actually look to compete ... which will mean annual investment out of his own pocket, at least in the short to medium term future.
So, I'm calling this one "OK, but with more than one caveat pending."
Management
You know where I stand on Francis as GM. He's proven exactly nothing to me other than he's more cautious than a little old lady trying to get through airport security with a walker and two titanium hips. But let's start with Waddell instead ... a man who has one skill set as a manager - running sinking ships. You can argue the merits of his scheme to go with no mass ticket discounts for this season, but I actually like it if for no other reason than it fails to flatter with BS. The attendance is how many ever intrepid souls paid cold, hard American currency or the plastic equivalent for a ticket. Good. Other than that, it's much the same crew that worked for Rutherford which is hardly shocking given the way this franchise's offices have always been run. So, you've been here for 2 years? Cool ... wanna job for life? They should get a plaque made and hang it next to the front door.
And Francis? He hasn't had any money, give him a chance, etc. Sorry guys. The train left and Ronnie's courage went with it. He can't even be bothered to fire a coach who clearly lost his way months and months ago. So cautious, so calculating ... TOO cautious and TOO calculating. Thanks for kinda sorta rebuilding the farm system. Of course you're too inert to notice when a kid in that system might be worth a look see with the big club in an effort to ... I don't know .... WIN SOME EXPLETIVE DELETED GAMES. Ronnie seems to think his job is about something other than winning NHL games. It's not.
Bottom line ... the corporate culture on Edwards Mill Rd sucks. It has never felt like it had anything in common with the community around it with the exception of the brief period of time when Jim Cain was involved and at least gave good lip service about giving a crap about fans and "corporate partners." So, I'm calling this one ... "we welcome the purge that surely is coming."
Coaching Staff
I'll make an effort not to be reactionary, but it's not easy. We've all witnessed this staff flail around with less than a great roster with which to work. I get it. I also get that it's been a Groundhog's Day of Suck around here since Peters took over the bench. Same crap, different month. Pattern after pattern repeats in an endless loop like Victorian wallpaper and we just sit here watching. Based in past efforts, I believe that Steve Smith has something to offer as a defensive assistant. I haven't seen Brindy work outside of this system but nothing he's supposed to be in charge of ever changes or gets better, so ... ugh. I can't even remember the new goaltending guy's name, for which, frankly, he should be greatful. Peters should have been fired in October.
Calling this one "kill it in the face with fire" ... except Brindy. Let him down easy.
Replacement ... any recycled track suit you can find who has ever actually coached in the NHL and thus might have the shared of a clue of how to do the job. Do NOT hire some lifetime assistant with a notebook full of dreams and big ideas. We can't afford it again. In 20 years this franchise has hired ONE guy who actually man aged to get hired by another NHL team to be a head coach. He won the Cup.
Players
From the mile high view, it ain't pretty folks. We don't have a legit NHL goalie or even an heir apparent. We've got some decent young D but they're under too much pressure and look to be cracking more and more frequently. We've got Aho and Skinner and a bunch other guys who show up when they feel like it. We've got a few fairly promising prospects. That's it. The pro list is REALLY short. On the upside, you could blow this up and start over at the absolute drop of a hat. There are some decent spare parts to leverage and you don't have more than 3-4 guys that you really need to hang on to for market continuity. This bonfire is prepped to burn. Somebody call Guy Fawkes.
Ownership
OK ... this kind of has to be trending up, right? Karmanos ran out of ready cash years ago and has been systematically running the franchise into as bottomless a pit of debt as he could con various and sundry financial institutions into letting him ... including taking annual short term loans against the Canes NHL television rights, which is pretty much the biggest of financial red flags. So, enough of that crap ... enter Tom Dundon presumably riding out of the sunset on a white horse, since he's a Texan. Or whatever. Color me skeptical about his interest and experience in sports because up to this point all he's done in sports is twofold: 1. Speculative investing in a stupid 3 tier jazzed up golf range concept that most real golfers I know hate. 2. building one of those big budget, big profile golf courses designed to draw big time pro tournaments and landing one of the same. I mean, pardon me, but whoopee doo. None of that has anything to do with the long term care and feeding of a professional team sports franchise, so spare me the sales pitch on his sports savvy. One is left to HOPE a few things ... that he will find or develop some passion for the sport of hockey and the Raleigh market, and that he will actually look to compete ... which will mean annual investment out of his own pocket, at least in the short to medium term future.
So, I'm calling this one "OK, but with more than one caveat pending."
Management
You know where I stand on Francis as GM. He's proven exactly nothing to me other than he's more cautious than a little old lady trying to get through airport security with a walker and two titanium hips. But let's start with Waddell instead ... a man who has one skill set as a manager - running sinking ships. You can argue the merits of his scheme to go with no mass ticket discounts for this season, but I actually like it if for no other reason than it fails to flatter with BS. The attendance is how many ever intrepid souls paid cold, hard American currency or the plastic equivalent for a ticket. Good. Other than that, it's much the same crew that worked for Rutherford which is hardly shocking given the way this franchise's offices have always been run. So, you've been here for 2 years? Cool ... wanna job for life? They should get a plaque made and hang it next to the front door.
And Francis? He hasn't had any money, give him a chance, etc. Sorry guys. The train left and Ronnie's courage went with it. He can't even be bothered to fire a coach who clearly lost his way months and months ago. So cautious, so calculating ... TOO cautious and TOO calculating. Thanks for kinda sorta rebuilding the farm system. Of course you're too inert to notice when a kid in that system might be worth a look see with the big club in an effort to ... I don't know .... WIN SOME EXPLETIVE DELETED GAMES. Ronnie seems to think his job is about something other than winning NHL games. It's not.
Bottom line ... the corporate culture on Edwards Mill Rd sucks. It has never felt like it had anything in common with the community around it with the exception of the brief period of time when Jim Cain was involved and at least gave good lip service about giving a crap about fans and "corporate partners." So, I'm calling this one ... "we welcome the purge that surely is coming."
Coaching Staff
I'll make an effort not to be reactionary, but it's not easy. We've all witnessed this staff flail around with less than a great roster with which to work. I get it. I also get that it's been a Groundhog's Day of Suck around here since Peters took over the bench. Same crap, different month. Pattern after pattern repeats in an endless loop like Victorian wallpaper and we just sit here watching. Based in past efforts, I believe that Steve Smith has something to offer as a defensive assistant. I haven't seen Brindy work outside of this system but nothing he's supposed to be in charge of ever changes or gets better, so ... ugh. I can't even remember the new goaltending guy's name, for which, frankly, he should be greatful. Peters should have been fired in October.
Calling this one "kill it in the face with fire" ... except Brindy. Let him down easy.
Replacement ... any recycled track suit you can find who has ever actually coached in the NHL and thus might have the shared of a clue of how to do the job. Do NOT hire some lifetime assistant with a notebook full of dreams and big ideas. We can't afford it again. In 20 years this franchise has hired ONE guy who actually man aged to get hired by another NHL team to be a head coach. He won the Cup.
Players
From the mile high view, it ain't pretty folks. We don't have a legit NHL goalie or even an heir apparent. We've got some decent young D but they're under too much pressure and look to be cracking more and more frequently. We've got Aho and Skinner and a bunch other guys who show up when they feel like it. We've got a few fairly promising prospects. That's it. The pro list is REALLY short. On the upside, you could blow this up and start over at the absolute drop of a hat. There are some decent spare parts to leverage and you don't have more than 3-4 guys that you really need to hang on to for market continuity. This bonfire is prepped to burn. Somebody call Guy Fawkes.
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