Post by HRT (Anthony) on Dec 13, 2015 9:26:21 GMT -8
Can new GM right the ship in Hartford?
December 13th 2015
It's been a week since new GM Anthony Constable took over control of the Hartford Whalers, and he wasted no time in moving players around to make the team reflect his philosophy. I had an opportunity to see down with the new sheriff in town and asked him to shed a little light on what we can expect from the franchise going forward.
You're taking over a team that opened the season 1-7-0, and currently trailing again this week. Are you planning to start a full rebuild here?
Well, I think the fans have been very patient over the years in Hartford, and especially watching this team open the season with only 1 win so far. For me to come in and say "That's it folks, better luck next year. Please keep giving us your money though." that isn't going to fly. So, if you're asking me if I plan to let this team finish the season with only 1 win, the answer is no. We're going to be a competitive team, and we're going to give these fans something to cheer about. At this point the playoffs are still well within our grasp.
You came in and almost immediately moved out a young guy in Zucker for some players who have a lot more experience. I think people expected this team to try to get younger, why move someone like Zucker?
You know, I think I felt a little pressure in the beginning to make something happen, and really show everyone I was going to be active to make this team better. I think our team is better for it, if you look at the package we got for him. Zucker is a great guy, but long-term maybe he wasn't in our plans. Not every move is going to be a blockbuster, and I think if you look over those GMs who make the blockbuster deals, their teams aren't necessarily at the top. I'm not here to blow this thing up, I'm here to move some pieces around, and try to make up for the poor drafts this organization had in the summer.
You mention blockbusters, do you hear these rumours that float around about Jamie Benn wanting out, and that Jamie Benn is going to be traded?
Look, if I'm going to read every rumour and blog post I will drive myself crazy. I've heard this though, Jamie Benn wants out of Hartford. Absolutely false. Jamie is a leader on this team, and frankly Jamie loves it here, loves his teammates, and he loves this city. Does Jamie want to win championships? Of course he does. He's only 26, but when you're young and entering your prime you want to feel like you're surrounded by a supporting cast that can win. When I arrived in Hartford the first thing I did was take Jamie out for dinner, asked him what his concerns were, and told him my plan. Was everything I said part of his desires? No, of course not, I'm the GM not Jamie. But we had a great talk about what was going to happen here, and when he could expect that supporting cast.
About the supporting cast, you look down the roster and have quite a few guys who are starting to reach the end of their careers. Do you think this team's window is closing?
Maybe this team, this one right now, but if you look at the moves I've made so far I think you can tell that I'm building a new window. Let's be real though, these aren't 40 year old guys we're talking about, and these aren't just regular players getting older. The Sedins, or Thornton, or even Fleury for that matter are all-stars, and they don't just fall off the face of the earth. They still have plenty to give, and they will be contributing members of this league for years still. So, I've had a few phone calls about these guys, but so far everyone wants me to ditch these players because of their age. Well I can tell you these other teams won't be buying championships with 4th round picks, and there is no reason for me to let these players go for such a discounted rate. I think when the deadline gets here and one of those teams at the top is adding an all-star like these guys, then the dominoes start to fall and the bidding can begin.
So we can expect the Sedins will be moved sometime this season? Thornton too?
Not necessarily. If I moved the Sedins and/or Thornton for draft picks or prospects, who is going to help this team win next year? Is Tomas Jurco ready to step up? I don't know if he is yet. Is Bo Horvat ready to be a leader? That's not up to me. My job is to make sure this team remains competitive this season, and into next. I see some GMs have sold out their team, and seem happy to wait 2 or 3 years for a return on these trades they're making, and more power to them, but that is not the kind of GM I am, and that is not the kind of team Hartford will be. I've made moves to make this team younger, but at the end of the day someone still needs to score goals, and if you're offering me a player who won't even contribute in this league until after Daniel or Henrik retire then I'm probably going to hang up.
This team has a lot of players ready to graduate from prospect status by the end of the year, what plans do you have for that?
I took a long look at this roster, and at the minor league. We do have a lot of players crossing that 100 game mark this season, and I think there was a major oversight by the previous GM to that fact. My plan is to better align our team with the maximum prospect limits, and prepare for the waiver draft. Am I panicking? No, absolutely not. I'm not backed into a corner or anything, but I think that the time to start making corrections to this roster is now, and you're already seeing that in some of these moves that have been made, and some moves that we're working on.
What moves are you working on right now?
I'm not going to name names, I think that would be incredibly disrespectful to the other GMs that I've been working with, and to the players potentially involved in those deals. I can tell you that we are looking to get younger, and we are looking to find some more impact prospects. Unfortunately, in this league everyone appears to be trying to get younger, and only a few GMs have really approached me with the mindset of winning now. I think the season is still young, and as it wears on I think a few more teams will be willing to take some risk to win now. Once these other teams realize that guys generally don't retire after PPG seasons, they might be a little more willing to pony up.
And finally, is it frustrating to see the team performing so well this week but still losing going into the final day of the week?
Of course it is frustrating, because the boys deserve a better fate, but the week isn't over and I really like our matchup against the Bruins tonight. We'll see who winds up on top, but this has been an eventful week for me, and I've had a lot of fun watching the boys out there working their butts off. If we don't get the win that's not the end of the world, and it certainly doesn't change our long-term outlook and strategy. It would be nice to come in and see the boys win under my management, but at the end of the day I just make the moves and those guys are the ones out there working for it so they deserve all the credit for a hardworking week.
Thank you for your time, hopefully we can do this again soon.
Definitely. Thank you.
December 13th 2015
It's been a week since new GM Anthony Constable took over control of the Hartford Whalers, and he wasted no time in moving players around to make the team reflect his philosophy. I had an opportunity to see down with the new sheriff in town and asked him to shed a little light on what we can expect from the franchise going forward.
You're taking over a team that opened the season 1-7-0, and currently trailing again this week. Are you planning to start a full rebuild here?
Well, I think the fans have been very patient over the years in Hartford, and especially watching this team open the season with only 1 win so far. For me to come in and say "That's it folks, better luck next year. Please keep giving us your money though." that isn't going to fly. So, if you're asking me if I plan to let this team finish the season with only 1 win, the answer is no. We're going to be a competitive team, and we're going to give these fans something to cheer about. At this point the playoffs are still well within our grasp.
You came in and almost immediately moved out a young guy in Zucker for some players who have a lot more experience. I think people expected this team to try to get younger, why move someone like Zucker?
You know, I think I felt a little pressure in the beginning to make something happen, and really show everyone I was going to be active to make this team better. I think our team is better for it, if you look at the package we got for him. Zucker is a great guy, but long-term maybe he wasn't in our plans. Not every move is going to be a blockbuster, and I think if you look over those GMs who make the blockbuster deals, their teams aren't necessarily at the top. I'm not here to blow this thing up, I'm here to move some pieces around, and try to make up for the poor drafts this organization had in the summer.
You mention blockbusters, do you hear these rumours that float around about Jamie Benn wanting out, and that Jamie Benn is going to be traded?
Look, if I'm going to read every rumour and blog post I will drive myself crazy. I've heard this though, Jamie Benn wants out of Hartford. Absolutely false. Jamie is a leader on this team, and frankly Jamie loves it here, loves his teammates, and he loves this city. Does Jamie want to win championships? Of course he does. He's only 26, but when you're young and entering your prime you want to feel like you're surrounded by a supporting cast that can win. When I arrived in Hartford the first thing I did was take Jamie out for dinner, asked him what his concerns were, and told him my plan. Was everything I said part of his desires? No, of course not, I'm the GM not Jamie. But we had a great talk about what was going to happen here, and when he could expect that supporting cast.
About the supporting cast, you look down the roster and have quite a few guys who are starting to reach the end of their careers. Do you think this team's window is closing?
Maybe this team, this one right now, but if you look at the moves I've made so far I think you can tell that I'm building a new window. Let's be real though, these aren't 40 year old guys we're talking about, and these aren't just regular players getting older. The Sedins, or Thornton, or even Fleury for that matter are all-stars, and they don't just fall off the face of the earth. They still have plenty to give, and they will be contributing members of this league for years still. So, I've had a few phone calls about these guys, but so far everyone wants me to ditch these players because of their age. Well I can tell you these other teams won't be buying championships with 4th round picks, and there is no reason for me to let these players go for such a discounted rate. I think when the deadline gets here and one of those teams at the top is adding an all-star like these guys, then the dominoes start to fall and the bidding can begin.
So we can expect the Sedins will be moved sometime this season? Thornton too?
Not necessarily. If I moved the Sedins and/or Thornton for draft picks or prospects, who is going to help this team win next year? Is Tomas Jurco ready to step up? I don't know if he is yet. Is Bo Horvat ready to be a leader? That's not up to me. My job is to make sure this team remains competitive this season, and into next. I see some GMs have sold out their team, and seem happy to wait 2 or 3 years for a return on these trades they're making, and more power to them, but that is not the kind of GM I am, and that is not the kind of team Hartford will be. I've made moves to make this team younger, but at the end of the day someone still needs to score goals, and if you're offering me a player who won't even contribute in this league until after Daniel or Henrik retire then I'm probably going to hang up.
This team has a lot of players ready to graduate from prospect status by the end of the year, what plans do you have for that?
I took a long look at this roster, and at the minor league. We do have a lot of players crossing that 100 game mark this season, and I think there was a major oversight by the previous GM to that fact. My plan is to better align our team with the maximum prospect limits, and prepare for the waiver draft. Am I panicking? No, absolutely not. I'm not backed into a corner or anything, but I think that the time to start making corrections to this roster is now, and you're already seeing that in some of these moves that have been made, and some moves that we're working on.
What moves are you working on right now?
I'm not going to name names, I think that would be incredibly disrespectful to the other GMs that I've been working with, and to the players potentially involved in those deals. I can tell you that we are looking to get younger, and we are looking to find some more impact prospects. Unfortunately, in this league everyone appears to be trying to get younger, and only a few GMs have really approached me with the mindset of winning now. I think the season is still young, and as it wears on I think a few more teams will be willing to take some risk to win now. Once these other teams realize that guys generally don't retire after PPG seasons, they might be a little more willing to pony up.
And finally, is it frustrating to see the team performing so well this week but still losing going into the final day of the week?
Of course it is frustrating, because the boys deserve a better fate, but the week isn't over and I really like our matchup against the Bruins tonight. We'll see who winds up on top, but this has been an eventful week for me, and I've had a lot of fun watching the boys out there working their butts off. If we don't get the win that's not the end of the world, and it certainly doesn't change our long-term outlook and strategy. It would be nice to come in and see the boys win under my management, but at the end of the day I just make the moves and those guys are the ones out there working for it so they deserve all the credit for a hardworking week.
Thank you for your time, hopefully we can do this again soon.
Definitely. Thank you.