Over the last six KL seasons, the Fylanders have always
finished in the top 5. Since the days of LLP, this team has always been a
threat to win, yet never hoisted the coveted Krusell Cup. Despite being the
cumulative KL points leader heading into this year and having more top 5
finishes than the Shizzarks, Teeyotes, Mackhawks, Winter Claasics, Los Amjawors
Kings, Quebec Rordiques, and WBS Parkers COMBINED, this GM failed its fan base
by never bringing home the big prize.
#5 The Prospect
System: The point threshold of the prospect system would put the Fylanders in a
tough spot. At the time, the team boasted Seth Jones and Morgan Rielly. The
team opted to move Jones for spare parts (as he was 1 point ahead of Rielly at
the time) with the hope that Rielly would be kept under the prospect system. At the
end of the year, Jones fell one point below the threshold, whereas Rielly had
crossed it by 1. The Fylanders bitterly lost both players.
#4 The Trade Myth:
Early on the Fylanders made a couple of lopsided deals that were highly
publicized. Since that time, teams around the league (the Milan Micahleks, the
Powder Rangers, the Flyers, and the Patrik Stefans) have successfully perpetuated the myth
that the Fylanders have continually ripped GMs off. It has gone so far that simple trades have
been challenged by the league. The bullying of teams such as the Rordiques,
have made other GMs tentative. This has hindered the Fylanders ability to get
anything done in a league where trades have been stymied. It is worth noting some of the trades the Fylanders have lost.
*Note: The Fylanders traded JVR for Lehtera with the
Rordiques
*Note: The Fylanders dealt Pacioretty for Iginla with
the Patrik Stefans
*Note: The Fylanders turned down a deal for Dubnyk in the
offeseason for a draft pick
*Several other transactions discussed below.
#3 In Season Mismanagement: While I do not have the historical data from the first four seasons, the number of costly add/drops or trading for small upgrades that have backfired, have been plentiful. Look no further than the add/drop of Ribiero for Hyman this year. These small transactions pail in comparison of the Fylanders inability to close a deal with the Micahleks last year, which would have seen Brad Marchand as a Fylander. The hold up was a 5th round pick. The GM continues to lose sleep over this missed opportunity.
#2 Poor Drafting: The
Fylanders have choked on draft day. Partly due to the Patrik Stefan’s carnal
desires, however that doesn’t excuse the Chris Kunitz pick of 2015. He was a
massive misstep when the Fylanders had Panarin and Pasternak circled on their
draft sheet. While solid drafting late has helped keep this team afloat, major
errors in early rounds and “playing it safe” is why this team remained a
bridesmaid and never a bride.
#1 Brent Burns: Oh
how the Fylanders have ripped off every GM in the league. Rarely discussed is
the worst trade in KL history perhaps (although acknowledged in the previous post). Brent Burns to the Mackhawks for a 4th
round pick. At the time Burns was
a forward, but it was already well reported that he would shift back to D. With a wealth of talent at the time, the Fylanders didn’t think
twice about moving Burns, which now looms as the biggest mistake in franchise
history.
While I am sure every team could go through the what ifs, it
is not unconceivable that the Fylanders roster could have had Backstrom,
Pavelsky, Marchand, Burns, Panarin, Weber, etc.
A lack of a goaltender this year and an unwillingness to move MAF or Vasilevskiy for a long-term downgrade put the team in a position to rebuild. Perhaps good timing, with the record-breaking season that’s occurring up top. With stars like Pavelsky, Backstrom, Monahan, and Weber, as long as time sorts out the goaltending situation, the Fylanders restructure will be a 1-year process. With young players like RNH, Larkin, Vesey, Marchessault Lindholm, Leddy, Bjorgstrand, etc. the team should have options come spring… and this time we’ll get the job done.
