The Tampa Bay Lightning did....
- keaner17

You're going to compare one of the best, smartest, players of the last 25 years to a career backup who's greatest attribute was his aggressiveness.

Also, Tampa had some big pieces to work with. We had nothing.

So based on Smith's cup of coffee and less than stellar draft, acquisition of Witt, Sillinger and Andy Hilbert.....uh huh.
- keaner17

No...based simply on the other guys being Mike Milbury and Garth Snow. I'd wager 29 out of 30 teams would take Smith if the choice was out of those three.

and with the highest payroll in NHL history he ran the Rangers into the ground.
- keaner17

I like to think that was more pressure from Dolan to always have the big name. With the Isles, Smith could have done things his way as Wang would not be looking to spend like Dolan.

and with the highest payroll in NHL history he ran the Rangers into the ground.
- keaner17

They were in the ECF like 3 years after that.

Keaner, this is taking away from me watching this game.

Lets admit one thing: it's all (frank)ing Charles Wang. None of this, I'm talking about at least, is about Garth Snow. It's all (frank)ing Wang!!

Not true. Yzerman didn't step from the ice to the GM spot. He held some management positions with Detroit and with Team Canada before going to Tampa Bay.
- UIF

He had no GM experience.

Bobby Clarke.

Bill Belichek then went on to coach Cleveland and SUCKED. I'm not comparing the two, merely saying that even the best of coaches had to learn on the job.

I don't expect Cappy to be a good coach, and certainly don't think he'll be a good one for us. I do think, since he isn't going anywhere, that Snow can improve as a GM.
- keaner17

He's showed zero improvement in fact you could say he's gotten worse. What makes you think he may get better? There is nothing that points in that direction?

People can poop on Neil Smith as much as they want or throw the he doesn't have another GMing job out there, but the fact is, he's been our best GM this century.
- potvin05

No...based simply on the other guys being Mike Milbury and Garth Snow. I'd wager 29 out of 30 teams would take Smith if the choice was out of those three.
- UIF

I wouldn't take any of them frankly but I specifically think Smith sucks. Based on what Snow's had to work with over the years, I wouldn't call either a slam dunk, however the grass is always greener.

He had no GM experience.

Bobby Clarke.
- keaner17

Yzerman put together Team Canada's 2007 Worlds and 2010 Olympic teams...

I'm not saying it's a world of experience, but those were pretty darn big jobs, and he got to hang around the decision makers in Detroit for a while to see how things are done. He wasn't handed the keys to the kingdom while dealing with his own cap hit...

No...based simply on the other guys being Mike Milbury and Garth Snow. I'd wager 29 out of 30 teams would take Smith if the choice was out of those three.
- UIF

And...bottom line...these are the 3 guys Wang has hired. Hooray!

I'm out, lets go USA

The Tampa Bay Lightning did....
- keaner17

Real bad comparison. He was named VP of the Red Wings before and had experience in the office prior to his hire. Also comparing a former captain and three time Stanley Cup winner to Garf Snow is hysterical.
The Lightning didn't do what Wang did. We should be so lucky. Stupid conversation to have. Garth Snow is a joke even playing devils advocate when talking about his hiring is a joke just like he is and always will be.

You're going to compare one of the best, smartest, players of the last 25 years to a career backup who's greatest attribute was his aggressiveness.

Also, Tampa had some big pieces to work with. We had nothing.
- potvin05

Forget about the fact the guy was Vice President of hockey operations for the wings and knew the buisness side of the game. WTF qualifications did Snow have/does have?

They were in the ECF like 3 years after that.
- potvin05

The Rangers failed to make the playoffs for his final 3 years and seven consecutive years. They weren't in much better shape than Milbury's Isles.

No...based simply on the other guys being Mike Milbury and Garth Snow. I'd wager 29 out of 30 teams would take Smith if the choice was out of those three.
- UIF

Yep

Real bad comparison. He was named VP of the Red Wings before and had experience in the office prior to his hire. Also comparing a former captain and three time Stanley Cup winner to Garf Snow is hysterical.
The Lightning didn't do what Wang did. We should be so lucky.
- Cptmjl

By this rehtoric only Stanley Cup winning players should be GM. Forget that Bowman loser...Gordie Howe would have been a much better coach!

Lavi...huh..dude couldn't even play in the NHL. Give me Butch Goring!

Yzerman put together Team Canada's 2007 Worlds and 2010 Olympic teams...

I'm not saying it's a world of experience, but those were pretty darn big jobs, and he got to hang around the decision makers in Detroit for a while to see how things are done. He wasn't handed the keys to the kingdom while dealing with his own cap hit...
- UIF

He played fantasy hockey for the Olympics. Not exactly GM work. No trades to be made. No contracts to sign. No drafts to research. There's no comparison there.

By this rehtoric only Stanley Cup winning players should be GM. Forget that Bowman loser...Gordie Howe would have been a much better coach!

Lavi...huh..dude couldn't even play in the NHL. Give me Butch Goring!
- keaner17

Not saying that but I'd rather have one that won one let alone three then some barely back up goaltender. Are you really debating this? Garf Snow or Steve Yzerman?

Okay...I'm out...if nothing else we got a few pages completed here! ...

Not saying that but I'd rather have one that won one let alone three then some barely back up goaltender. Really? Are you really debating this?
- Cptmjl

Would I debate THAT? yeah. Do I think Garth is good...NO.
Cappy? HELL NO. Wang...NO.

Do I think being a starter in the NHL has to be on a resume to be a GM? NO.
That's the only thing I debated on your comment.

He played fantasy hockey for the Olympics. Not exactly GM work. No trades to be made. No contracts to sign. No drafts to research. There's no comparison there.
- keaner17

Just like there's no comparison btn Garf Snow's qualifications and Stevie Y's at the time of there hire. Dumb debate

Would I debate THAT? yeah. Do I think Garth is good...NO.
Cappy? HELL NO. Wang...NO.

Do I think being a starter in the NHL has to be on a resume to be a GM? NO.
That's the only thing I debated on your comment.
- keaner17

The ONE thing. OK, that's debatable that one point. The other two not so much. I'd still take someone who won over a perpetual loser any day of the week. Would you not? You'd be more inclined to hire Snow?

Real bad comparison. He was named VP of the Red Wings before and had experience in the office prior to his hire. Also comparing a former captain and three time Stanley Cup winner to Garf Snow is hysterical.
The Lightning didn't do what Wang did. We should be so lucky. Stupid conversation to have. Garth Snow is a joke even playing devils advocate when talking about his hiring is a joke just like he is and always will be.
- Cptmjl

no correlation between hockey talent and putting together a team.

He played fantasy hockey for the Olympics. Not exactly GM work. No trades to be made. No contracts to sign. No drafts to research. There's no comparison there.
- keaner17

There's no comparison how? Having the eyes of an entire hockey-crazed country laser focusing on your every move and succeeding versus...walking into a front office for the first time while still in your goalie equipment? I'll disagree there. You're also still ignoring his positions with Detroit that let him soak in how to successfully do a front office job. Actually, I will agree with you...there's no comparison between Yzerman's preparedness and Snow's for the GM position.

no correlation between hockey talent and putting together a team.
- LetsGoIsles

Oh yeah? I seem to see one in our case? Garth Snow is proving it. Besides the fact Snow's name shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence as Steve Yzerman. Facking joke. Snow is a clown. Embarrassment is a better word.