"That was clear already when we hired him. There's no way that we could rescue the team. (Brent) Burns wanting out. (Tomas) Hertl wanting out. (Joe) Pavelski, gone. (Erik Karlsson) was going, so we were left with Logan (Couture, and then Logan was injured, so (Mario) Ferraro is the last one standing."
"It's very systematic. And the biggest difference to the Wilson team, (Grier) and his team are drafting better. They got the (higher picks), but they're drafting better. Before, we wasted an 11th draft (trading the pick to Arizona), and I don't know what. I have to look them up, whether anyone is really playing in the NHL. From those draft picks we wasted, is (Thomas) Bordeleau playing in the NHL? They were labeled as the next big little thing, and I when I saw (Bordeleau), and he was in love with the puck."
"A hockey team is a difficult body. They work together and they don't play for show. Therefore, I'm so happy about (Macklin) Celebrini, how he can do everything, but he does everything possible for the other players, for his partners on the ice. I think you see this"
Owner Hasso Plattner allowed GM Mike Grier to launch a complete rebuild in 2022 after San Jose missed the playoffs three straight seasons and lost major veterans. Plattner points to departures and injuries that stripped the roster of established players and says the current management is drafting more effectively than previous regimes. Plattner criticizes earlier wasted draft assets and questions whether some past picks became NHL regulars. Plattner highlights Macklin Celebrini's versatile, team-oriented play and links on-ice chemistry and attendance to broader franchise and arena decisions, including the SAP Center lease through at least 2051.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]