Washington Fires GMGM and Oates

[evolver115]

Capitals Announce Changes to Front Office and Coaching Staff - Washington Capitals - News

Smart move?

I say yes. Still tons of talent on that roster, and McPhee just wasn't getting the job done.

 

[Cobiemonster]

About time they canned both

 

[evolver115]

Barry Trotz's next stop?

 

[elocomotive]

 

[evolver115]

Have you heard any names that are being considered, Eloco?

 

[elocomotive]

Smart move?

I don't know whether getting rid of Oates was a smart idea or not, though usually when you have a new GM they want to bring in the guy they want to hire.

Getting rid of McPhee wasn't a smart move or a bad move, it was the only move.

He has never built a team that has made any kind of Stanley Cup run in recent years. We have gone through many different eras and approaches without success with him. Sure, in '98 we made a run to the Stanley Cup finals. But it was fucking lucky, we had no chance once we made the Finals, and it was a team largely constructed by someone else. He hasn't been close despite having great players. I give the guy great marks in drafting players - he's gotten some gems and rarely missed. He's built solid squads. But we haven't been close to a Cup in a long time. He's had many years to get it done. So this wasn't a smart move or a bad move, it was the only move.

I very happily just changed George McPhee's Wikipedia page to include George McPhee "is the former general manager of the Washington Captials."

Time for a new start.

 

[mattola]

no Trevor.... just NO

 

[thedddd]

Not surprised. Whoever comes in they have plenty of 3rd line talent that other teams would want so they can easily turn this team around and fill in the missing pieces quickly.

 

[elocomotive]

Have you heard any names that are being considered, Eloco?

No. Honestly I've been more disillusioned as a Caps' fan this last half season than I can ever remember. Being busy at work in February and March didn't help. I've watched, read, and followed less than in a long time. I only went to two games this year and I live and work very close to the arena.

I'm tired of being a Caps' fan. I'm not saying I don't want to continue to be one. I always will be one. But it's a miserable, fucked up existence where you are beholden to being the record holder for the worst record ever and the team to collapse from 3-1 series leads the most in NHL history (and we're like 1/3 the age of some franchises, so that is insane). It's a joke.

I'm glad McPhee is gone because he deserved to be fired because he wasn't performing. You can't take a team not getting over that hump and think adding one mediocre 2nd or 3rd line forward is going to make the difference year-after-year. You have to be willing to shake things up and recognize the shortcomings. He wasn't willing or able to do that. So, like David Poile, he can now move on to another franchise and help them be a perennial playoff team that never does dick.

 

[thedddd]

^ don't you think he tried to put too many 3rd line forwards and tried to force them in top 6 roles?

There will be times that AO and Backstrom need help offensively. I think they got something with Kuznetstov.

 

[BF4L]

Oates was doomed. Not his fault IMO.

 

[elocomotive]

^ don't you think he tried to put too many 3rd line forwards and tried to force them in top 6 roles?

Yes. I would agree with that. And I'd also say that the players brought in didn't seem to always mesh with the players they had and/or were confused about their role, which says the coach was confused about their role, too.

There will be times that AO and Backstrom need help offensively. I think they got something with Kuznetstov.

Yeah, Geno is gonna be great.

 

[elocomotive]

I will say this. It strikes me as odd that they'd fire both the GM and the coach at the same time unless they already have someone in mind... and that GM already has a coaching choice in mind.

Shame for Oates - everyone seems to say great things about him and his hockey mind, but the results haven't been there. He's a good guy and I hope he gets an opportunity somewhere else.

 

[elocomotive]

Leonsis holding a press meeting at 4pm today.

Rumor has it Mike Milbury (been wondering why he hasn't been on TV) will be announced as the new GM and that he "can't wait" to work with Alex Ovechkin.

 

[elocomotive]

^ Only one of those is true.

 

[elocomotive]

By the way, when can the Mods put up this new banner for the Caps' board.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

I was sad to see Oates leave the Devils staff and I was hoping he would succeed as a head coach. Could be better suited as an assistant, I imagine he'll find a job pretty quickly.

 

[Comeds]

FM GM GM....

Oates should have gone too IMO, not that a lot was his fault. It was time for a good house cleaning. Like one with a bucket of water and an actual mop. Not just a quick clean with a Swiffer©. If they would have gotten rid of just one of them it would have been like using a Swiffer© and lighting a bunch of candles.

 

[elocomotive]

FM GM GM....

Oates should have gone too IMO, not that a lot was his fault. It was time for a good house cleaning. Like one with a bucket of water and an actual mop. Not just a quick clean with a Swiffer©. If they would have gotten rid of just one of them it would have been like using a Swiffer© and lighting a bunch of candles.

Oh wow - does Comeds have a sponsor now?

Well that's good news. And I know when I get good news, I like to relax with a delicious Miller Lite - the original Lite beer.

 

[dash]