[A] Bergevin named GM of Canadiens

[Samurai]

give it time...



http://www.sbnation....general-manager



quote: As if the success on the ice isn't enough, due credit should be given to guys like Stan Bowman and John McDonough for their ability to help their people advance their careers. Surely, Cheveldayoff and Bergevin deserve kudos for the hard work they've put in, but the Blackhawks have helped them along the way.

Author's mini-bio...



Bruce Ciskie is Sports Director for Red Rock Radio in Duluth, Minnesota. Bruce joined Red Rock after working as the NHL Editor for FanHouse.com, a site run by AOL.

 

[CLWolf81]

I like that these Hail Tallon's from everyone after they leave the organization is basically a FU to McD and Bowman. Rocky needs to get rid of McD before he completely ruins the organization, please.

We haven't gone to the 2nd Round in 2 years. I'd say that qualifies as getting "ruined", especially after winning the Cup. At least it doesn't feel like 2006 all over again.

 

[MassHavoc]

Problem is that the hockey guys are leaving because it's about bottom line now, and Spin always wins. We see what's happening but the majority of the hockey fans in the town who jumped the wagon and don't even know who these guys are could care less. The only thing they see is that this is the second guy to leave the organization with a promotion so they must be doing something right because that's what they are told, no writer in this town has the balls to say otherwise. The more time goes on the more that I feel Bowman is only there because he can put up with being the puppet, all the hockey guys are leaving because they guy who said wouldn't meddle in hockey affairs is meddling in hockey affairs. Bowman may be the son of a hockey legend and been around the game, but at the end of the day he seems like he's just a token money manager. Imagine that the team that has become all about profit put a marketing guy at the top and an accountant in charge of the team, and a juggler behind the bench.

 

[IceHogsFan]

We haven't gone to the 2nd Round in 2 years. I'd say that qualifies as getting "ruined", especially after winning the Cup. At least it doesn't feel like 2006 all over again.

From a different perspective.......



The high point of Rocky, McD and Bowman's success was the first year they "took over". Taking over somebody's reigns and running with it only to see it diminish while you actually have control proves nothing to me. In fact, in the greater scheme of things, it proves the competence is less then what was replaced.

 

[IceHogsFan]

Problem is that the hockey guys are leaving because it's about bottom line now, and Spin always wins. We see what's happening but the majority of the hockey fans in the town who jumped the wagon and don't even know who these guys are could care less. The only thing they see is that this is the second guy to leave the organization with a promotion so they must be doing something right because that's what they are told, no writer in this town has the balls to say otherwise. The more time goes on the more that I feel Bowman is only there because he can put up with being the puppet, all the hockey guys are leaving because they guy who said wouldn't meddle in hockey affairs is meddling in hockey affairs. Bowman may be the son of a hockey legend and been around the game, but at the end of the day he seems like he's just a token money manager. Imagine that the team that has become all about profit put a marketing guy at the top and an accountant in charge of the team, and a juggler behind the bench.

A nice summary of where we where to what we are becoming........

 

[klemmer]

Problem is that the hockey guys are leaving because it's about bottom line now, and Spin always wins. We see what's happening but the majority of the hockey fans in the town who jumped the wagon and don't even know who these guys are could care less. The only thing they see is that this is the second guy to leave the organization with a promotion so they must be doing something right because that's what they are told, no writer in this town has the balls to say otherwise. The more time goes on the more that I feel Bowman is only there because he can put up with being the puppet, all the hockey guys are leaving because they guy who said wouldn't meddle in hockey affairs is meddling in hockey affairs. Bowman may be the son of a hockey legend and been around the game, but at the end of the day he seems like he's just a token money manager. Imagine that the team that has become all about profit put a marketing guy at the top and an accountant in charge of the team, and a juggler behind the bench.

Bingo.

 

[klemmer]

From a different perspective.......



The high point of Rocky, McD and Bowman's success was the first year they "took over". Taking over somebody's reigns and running with it only to see it diminish while you actually have control proves nothing to me. In fact, in the greater scheme of things, it proves the competence is less then what was replaced.

exactly/

 

[MassHavoc]

I will say that I think it's impossible not to decline after a Stanley cup because the only way not to is to win it again, but the degree of the fall and the continued fall is what has me worried. I'm too lazy to look it up so may others know going back a few years, but do other teams who have won the cup usually do so poorly the following two years? And don't try to convince me that they aren't doing poorly because they made the playoffs, half the teams in the league make the playoffs.

 

[klemmer]

From the past few years:





07-08 DET 2nd West L round 1

08-09 PGH 4th East, L round 2

09-10 CHI 8th West, L round 1

10-11 BOS 2nd East, L round 1

 

[MassHavoc]

And there you have it from the cup hangover. Wonder what year two is like.

 

[R K]

And there you have it from the cup hangover. Wonder what year two is like.

Penguins out in the 1st

Hawks were out in the 1st

Wings were out in the 2nd





Just off hand.

 

[Rex]

Not saying he won't be a bad coach, and at least he is a Quebec icon who has done well with the Remparts. However, I don't know if that is a smart move due to lack of NHL coaching experience. Then again, what am I saying? They haven't been smart since 1993, and rookie coaches, especially former players seems to be the cool thing to do nowadays. All the cool kids are doing it, so why can't they?



That said.... Price for a 1st round draft pick and Crawford, anyone?

Patrick Roy won a Mem Cup as a coach.

 

[Shantz My Pants]

I think this upcoming season is the make or break season for StanBo for me. I know many of you will say "Why hasn't it been sooner", but I'm giving the guy a legit chance. Drafting and development wise, we haven't even seen many of his picks come up through the system yet. Olsen was his first draft year and so far he has 3 of 8 getting a shot in the NHL (Kruger full time, Olsen towards the end of the season, Pirri spot duty but looking strong). His next years draft he has a lot of younger guys who are still developing, mainly in college. Last years draft was great with McNeill, Danault, Clendening and Saad all receiving high grades as well as Shaw becoming a everyday NHLer too.



Trading he's brough in Frolik who I still believe at 23 hasn't even touched his prime yet for Skille. Stahlberg and prospects for Versteeg and Sweatt who wasn't going to sign with the Hawks isn't bad. Leddy for Barker will eventually be a steal (Johnsson was in there supposedly).



Sure there have been some bad moves (Olesz, Montador, O'Donnell, Kitchen) but again, knowing what this team's needs are (Defense, 2nd line center, physical players, help in goal possibly) this will be a good indication if he is pro-active in fixing them, or willing to wait it out and hope his guys develop enough to jump in.

 

[winos5]

Wonder how long it will take the "journalists" to throw caution to the wind and start writing some negative pieces about the current state of the Blackhawks. Will it take missing the playoffs? Hope not, because I feel management and the coaching staff are well deserving of some criticism.

 

[MassHavoc]

Penguins out in the 1st

Hawks were out in the 1st

Wings were out in the 2nd





Just off hand.

So it's seems pretty common for teams to tank after winning the cup.

 

[R K]

I don't know if making the playoffs is tanking. I suppose the 8 years of not making them is tanking. Or missing them all together. Anything but winning at least one round is tanking? Expectations? No team in the post lock out has won more than one have they? The NHL is extremely competative.

 

[MassHavoc]

16 teams make the playoffs... it's not exactly elite company.

 

[Ton]

Where is all that info coming from?



Wings won the Cup then lost in the Finals the next year to the Pens, both teams the next year lost in the 2nd round. Last year the Wings went to Rd 2 and Pens out in the 1st round. This year, both out in the 1st round.



Hurricanes have had the hardest fall in recent history, winning the Cup in 05-06 and missing the playoffs two straight years after -- only making the playoffs once since their Cup win.



Ducks won the Cup in 06-07, ousted in the 1st round the following year, 2nd round after that, then missed the playoffs.



If the Hawks are out in the 1st round yet again next year or miss the playoffs, I'd say they will be the biggest disapointment outside of the Hurricanes since winning the Cup post-lockout era.

 

[R K]

Elite company? You don't see the parity? Any of those 16 could win the Cup with a little luck. Again I don't know where the "tanking is". Missing the playoffs would be "tanking" but even then the year AFTER the Hawks won the Cup they lost what 11 players from that team? 50% turn over year over year?

 

[R K]

Where is all that info coming from?



Wings won the Cup then lost in the Finals the next year to the Pens, both teams the next year lost in the 2nd round. Last year the Wings went to Rd 2 and Pens out in the 1st round. This year, both out in the 1st round.



Hurricanes have had the hardest fall in recent history, winning the Cup in 05-06 and missing the playoffs two straight years after -- only making the playoffs once since their Cup win.



Ducks won the Cup in 06-07, ousted in the 1st round the following year, 2nd round after that, then missed the playoffs.



If the Hawks are out in the 1st round yet again next year or miss the playoffs, I'd say they will be the biggest disapointment outside of the Hurricanes since winning the Cup post-lockout era.

I went from the Pens, was off and they were out in the 2nd.



None of these teams have had the roster turn over the Hawks had though.