Follow @james_tanner123 The hiring of Kyle Dubas in Toronto lead to the Leafs becoming one of, if not the most progressive team, in the NHL when it comes to decision making. Whether concentrating on acquiring strong possession players, focusing on analytics, gaming the UFA system for more assets and picks down the road, focusing on skill over size, on puck-moving defensmen, ignoring the existence of enforcers, putting a premium on acquiring assets and playing the odds by trading down in the draft and increasing the total number of picks made, the Leafs have been at the forefront of the "Money Ball" style of running an organization since they fired Dave Nonis.
Now, obviously it takes the man in charge of the team - Brendan Shanahan - to buy into this style. I was hoping when the Coyotes hired John Chayka to be the assistant GM, that the Coyotes would be run in a similar fashion. But based on what's happened so far this summer, it does not appear to be the case.
And one has to wonder if Chayka has any say at all, because the moves they are making do not seem like progressive in any way.
Let's check em out: Antoine Vermette hasn't been a positive possession player since 2010, which is also the last year he had more than 50 points. He happened to score 3 game-winning goals in the Playoffs for the Hawks, and of course people are going to look at that and think he did great, but he really wasn't.
Cup or not, I don't think the Hawks would make that trade in retrospect. It wasn't even a year ago we were wondering if he'd get $6 million per year (well not me, I said at the time that was CRAZY, but it was out there). He signed for $3, and I still think it's too much.
I don't think the Coyotes would have brought him back if he wasn't an extreely popular hometown player, and if there weren't serious off-ice concerns with the team and the town they play in. If they gave Sam Gagner or Tobias Rieder all the minutes they're going to give Vermette, they'd be a better team.
I can't imagine a guy lauded for his statistical approach to the game would have recommended bringing back Vermette. But Maloney is old school. He's nearly 60, he's been an NHL GM since 1992. He clearly believes in the myth of character and leadership. There are no stats to suggest that Vermette is a good "shut-down" third line centre, but hey, that's his reputation so it must be true!
Maloney brought in Grossman. Does Grossman fit the profile of players you ought to be acquiring in 2015, or 1994? Stay at home Dmen just are not effective and the stats prove it. You're going to get better defense out of Keith Yandle than you are Nick Grossman, but I don't believe - based on how they are running their team - that the Coyotes know that.
Michalek is, or at least should be, the model of what a "stay at home" defenseman should be. He can move the puck, he can shoot the puck and while he can be physical, if anything, he's been criticized for not being physical enough. Despite that, he's 10X more effective than any Polak, Schenn or Grossman kind of player that there is. Bringing back ZM is really the only move I like about the Coyotes summer so far.
Steve Downie isn't a bad player, and can actually be pretty effective in certain situations, but he is six seasons removed from the last time he scored 20 goals, and signing a player to "protect" your other players is about the stupidest thing a person with an actual job in the NHL can think is necessary. It's not like there is evidence 100% refuting the need for enforcers or anything.
Signing Downie when the team already had so many bottom of the lineup players does nothing but block rookies and young players from having a role on the team. Instead, they should have given Brenden Shinnimin Chipchura's old fourth line role, and given Chipchura the expanded minutes they'll give to Downie. Once again, I guarantee this would work better.
Finally we have the team signing John Scott. A fitting signing on a day when Donald Trump is also in the Phoenix area. Scott is the Trump of hockey: He's completely unnecessary, always capable of doing something stupid and no informed person would would intentionally associate themselves with him.
This signing is brutal. It is a sign that despite bringing on Chayka, the Coyotes remain a regressive organization. Honestly, I think signing John Scott is a borderline fireable offense.
It certainly shakes what faith I had in management.
The Coyotes should be looking to exploit an edge by becoming the Oakland Athletics of the NHL. They can't spend the money or attract the players and personnel that other teams can, so they should be as progressive as possible. They shouldn't be running their team like its 1994.
John Scott? Are you kidding me?