The point is the team wasted assets to acquire the same type of player and still finished at the bottom of the league. That's poor asset management and why Benning is an idiot.
- LeftCoaster

The team was old and slow and Bonino was slow. Sutter is basically the same type but faster and better defensively

He has had too many knee jerk moves and it has cost us over the long term. Had he held fast instead of trying to patch the small holes in hull with his “diamonds in the rough” we would be closer now than we are.
- thundachunk

I believe so. In 2016 he traded away his 2nd, extra 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th round picks to improve the team immediately....or so he thought.

Even after year five you can only really judge the first two or three draft classes, so the 2014 2015 2016 drafts. After this season.

As I just mentioned above, if Benning had concentrated on the draft in 2016 instead of picking up Sutter and Gudbranson, those kids should/would be starting to show their faces now.

Instead we have a third line center and a third pairing defenseman to show for his efforts.
- LeftCoaster

Rasmus Asplund, Jonathon Ang,Filip Gustavsson.

Asplund just signed after a half a ppg season in the SHL.

Ang was a ppg in junior.

Gustavsson was loaned back to Sweden from the Sens.

The team was old and slow and Bonino was slow. Sutter is basically the same type but faster and better defensively
- VANTEL

Just admit the team is still poop with Sutter or Bonino and they could've used that 2nd round pick to help rebuild, which again is why I'm angry with Benning.

Gaudette is going to displace Sutter by the end of this year so hopefully they can get a prospect and a second round pick for him.

Then I'll feel better, even though that move, and moves like it, set the team back a few years in their rebuild.

I’m gonna keep the bald spot. i find it really enhances my mullet. The ladies love it.
- thundachunk

LOL.

My hair is grey and I keep it really short so if I lose it no one will notice. If I did lose it I would probably shave it all off. Problem is, a shaved head only works if you are fit. Bald and fat are a lethal combination.

I wish people would stop referencing this strategy as a possible outcome for any of our non-core players.

JB's not going to make this club better through trades. That's not his strength.
- bloatedmosquito

one more draft one more draft one more draft

Just admit the team is still poop with Sutter or Bonino and they could've used that 2nd round pick to help rebuild, which again is why I'm angry with Benning.

Gaudette is going to displace Sutter by the end of this year so hopefully they can get a prospect and a second round pick for him.

Then I'll feel better, even though that move, and moves like it, set the team back a few years in their rebuild.
- LeftCoaster

I will admit that the team was crap before he got here and it is taking 5-6 years to see results and fans are getting impatient as things are finally turning around

Rasmus Asplund, Jonathon Ang,Filip Gustavsson.

Asplund just signed after a half a ppg season in the SHL.

Ang was a ppg in junior.

Gustavsson was loaned back to Sweden from the Sens.
- manvanfan

Some other notable kids from the second round of 2016 are Carter Hart, Taylor Raddysh, Alex DeBrincat, Dillon Dube, etc. and a bunch of dmen who will be better than Gudbranson lol

Do you think Benning would have been able to get by Linden first?


Benning came in here with no connection to the twins or Edler . He had 7? NTC / NMC and a sh1t roster after that . Good luck
- VANTEL

I agree 95 percent with you.

I will admit that the team was crap before he got here and it is taking 5-6 years to see results and fans are getting impatient as things are finally turning around
- VANTEL

No one is being impatient by saying Benning is bad at his job, they're just stating the obvious.

Just admit the team is still poop with Sutter or Bonino and they could've used that 2nd round pick to help rebuild, which again is why I'm angry with Benning.

Gaudette is going to displace Sutter by the end of this year so hopefully they can get a prospect and a second round pick for him.

Then I'll feel better, even though that move, and moves like it, set the team back a few years in their rebuild.
- LeftCoaster

Your theory only works the way you believe it would have happened. You do know this right?

As for the prospects I stated that teams drafted for the picks that Van had. None of them show NHL ready promise for this season. Bonino contract was up years ago. Who is playing center right now for Van if Bonino isn't re-signed by Van. Who's playing defence in place of Gudbranson? Maybe they sign someone else for more money and longer term. Now team is stuck in cap trouble because they over paid. Force Gaudette and Pettersson to play center before they are ready because this didn't happen or this did happen. Results are the same, results are different. We don't know that. Maybe Van could have got different lottery luck.

Some other notable kids from the second round of 2016 are Carter Hart, Taylor Raddysh, Alex DeBrincat, Dillon Dube, etc. and a bunch of dmen who will be better than Gudbranson lol
- LeftCoaster

Who says JB would have drafted any of them?

one more draft one more draft one more draft
- thundachunk

IMO, the last meaningful trade this franchise made was Schneider for Horvat... and that wasn't made by JB.

Shoe store
- LeftCoaster

Fireplace .....

I will admit that the team was crap before he got here and it is taking 5-6 years to see results and fans are getting impatient as things are finally turning around
- VANTEL

Anybody who thought by gathering a billion draft picks, the team would be turned around by now is clearly a fair-weather fan.

Brown has put up less points with better linemates and better PP time.

I thought you were all about deployments?

Tanev should be able to fetch late 1st plus decent prospect.
- belcherbd

not till he can show he can be healthy for a season.

I’m gonna keep the bald spot. i find it really enhances my mullet. The ladies love it.
- thundachunk

Skullets rock!

Fireplace .....
- Pres.cup

Put some ash dust and a few wood chips to cover the bald spot

Anybody who thought by gathering a billion draft picks, the team would be turned around by now is clearly a fair-weather fan.
- manvanfan

With a billion draft picks come a billion trade possibilities. Still seems GMs overvalue picks, a smart GM can take advantage of that.

No one is being impatient by saying Benning is bad at his job, they're just stating the obvious.
- LeftCoaster

You say you're not being impatient but

Skullets rock!


- Pres.cup

Bet you he can shred like a mother(frank)er.

With a billion draft picks come a billion trade possibilities. Still seems GMs overvalue picks, a smart GM can take advantage of that.
- bloatedmosquito

Drafting has become bigger then ever. It's 1st and 2nd round that teams covet. JB could of had multiple extra picks in the draft. He didn't pull the trigger because they wanted players and figured they need those spots to take them. Quality over Quantity.

I'm not a Benning fan, never have been. I do think the team is getting close to turning it around though. It would be nice to win a lottery jackpot or 2 to get us close to contending in a few years.
- golfingsince

Agreed but I see the improvement as somewhat accidental. Like Lefty says, they tried to stay competitive and be a playoff bubble team but fell flat on their face each time and got a high draft pick as a consolation prize. The trades and the Eriksson signing make me shake my head. They say one thing and do another. At least now we know the message will be consistent coming straight from Aquilini.

You say you're not being impatient but
- VANTEL

When did we get on the same page about everything?

You and I are having the exact same thoughts about what Lefty is saying.

Bet you he can shred like a mother(frank)er.
- bloatedmosquito

Like i said I am sexy as hell.