Tunnel Vision

by Derek Zona on Jun 15, 2009 7:14 PM PDT Comment 24 comments

Consider the following: two hockey franchises enter an off-season with an open checkbook and a need for a scoring winger. Both with owners willing to go above and beyond to win, if in separate ways. Both teams target Marian Hossa. The first owner gives his general manager permission to make an extremely generous offer. The general manager does so and expects Hossa to accept. The second owner gives his general manager the green light on an exorbitant offer. The general manager does so and the second owner expects Hossa to accept. When Hossa doesn't immediately accept, the second owner becomes personally involved in the negotiations, chasing Hossa's agent like a wanton teenager. He, like an average fan, wants a superstar offensive player and is willing to do anything to get one.

Wednesday, July 2 12:35PM Detroit Red Wings sign UFA forward Marian Hossa to a 1-year, $7.4 million contract.

The first owner gives his general manager the green light to fill the roster with the Hossa dollars. The general manager, knowing that he has an extremely young team, spends the Hossa dollars on NHL veterans as grout in the cracks of the roster.

Wednesday, July 2 4:58PM Pittsburgh Penguins sign UFA defenceman Brooks Orpik to a 6-year, $22.5 million contract.

Thursday, July 3 1:57PM Pittsburgh Penguins sign UFA forward Ruslan Fedotenko to a 1-year, $2.5 million contract.

Thursday, July 3 1:57PM Pittsburgh Penguins sign UFA forward Miroslav Satan to a 1-year, $3.5 million.

Saturday, July 5 7:30PM Pittsburgh Penguins sign UFA forward Matt Cooke to a 2-year, $2.4 million contract.

The second owner then focuses on a second offensive superstar, and makes him an offer so generous, that they are $3,000,000 higher than the next NHL offer. The owner chases the player's agent once again, expecting the player to sign.

Thursday, July 10 2:30PM Avangard-Omsk sign UFA forward Jaromir Jagr to a 2-year, $25 million contract.

The second owner was left holding the bag for an extremely young team. By the time the second owner had failed twice in his courtship, there was little left to sign, even in the form of grout for the young pieces on the roster.

Thursday, July 10 4:06PM Edmonton Oilers sign UFA forward Jason Strudwick to a 1-year, $650,000 contract.

Tuesday, September 30 11:13 AM The Edmonton Oilers claim defenceman Steve MacIntyre off of waivers from the Florida Panthers.

The first team had veteran experience throughout the roster, and was able to give time to the young players and have success late in the season after a coaching change. The second team was left without a buffer for the young pieces on the roster and a coach that had no ability to coach the pieces he had. The second team was overwhelmed throughout the season.

It may be that the gulf between veteran owner and rookie owner is as vast as the gulf between a playoff veteran player and a rookie in the NHL. It should be a lesson to the second owner to have field of vision in his dealings, rather than an obsessive tunnel vision for the bright and shiny things.

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I think it's a bit rich to blame the general manager's flaws on the owner. The second owner also spent all of his cap money. The second owner brought in veteran NHL players Lubo Visnovsky and Erik Cole. Did the second owner really refuse to allow the resigning of Marty Reasoner or a viable replacement? I mean, really? This stuff is on the GM.

Then there's the fact that if the regular seasons ended on February 7th the first owner is the one that misses the playoffs and the second owner is the one that wins the Stanley Cu... well... he makes the playoffs.

by Scott on Jun 16, 2009 9:36 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Did the second owner really refuse to allow the resigning of Marty Reasoner or a viable replacement? I mean, really? This stuff is on the GM.

The second owner had $9,000,000 in cap space tied up in his pursuit of Hossa, and then $7,000,000 tied up in his pursuit of Jagr, with no fallback plan.

The complete inability to find any serviceable parts was on the GM. Blocking the team from finding useful parts was on the owner.

Tunnel vision.

by Coach pb9617 on Jun 16, 2009 9:46 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

It wasn't the brilliant off-season where Pittsburgh separated themselves from the Oilers. Case in point the 3.5 million on Miro Satan who played only 65 games this year. Many of them on the 4th line and the rest in the pressbox and AHL. The Penguins were out of playoff contention until the owner traded for Guerin and Kunitz and Gonchar came back. At that point the team went on an incredible run.

The second owner traded Cole for a 2nd and O'Sullivan and decided to use Cogliano as his 3rd line center. The west was too strong this year and I thought most fans agreed at the time it wasn't the year to mortgage the future for a futile playoff push. Not to mention the lack of a Crosby or Malkin.

by Sean on Jun 16, 2009 11:24 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

But he didn't have that money tied up in Hossa or Jagr. The money had already been spent. If they'd signed either of the big ticket items they would have been moving salaries out because it would have put them over the cap. The backup plan was to keep Roloson and Moreau instead of trading them to make room for the big money guy.

by Scott on Jun 16, 2009 11:29 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

It wasn't the brilliant off-season where Pittsburgh separated themselves from the Oilers. Case in point the 3.5 million on Miro Satan who played only 65 games this year. Many of them on the 4th line and the rest in the pressbox and AHL. The Penguins were out of playoff contention until the owner traded for Guerin and Kunitz and Gonchar came back. At that point the team went on an incredible run.

You're getting lost in the details again.

And you're wrong on Satan. His numbers were fine and he and Letang were Therrien's scapegoats. His trip to the A was strictly a salary cap move.

by Coach pb9617 on Jun 16, 2009 12:20 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

by Coach pb9617 on Jun 16, 2009 12:21 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

And it completely tied the GMs hands.

How does this tie the GM's hands? Just before July 1st the GM executed two pretty major trades that drastically altered the makeup of the team (and added salary commitments). It seems to me that the GM tied the GM's hands, especially since it's very likely that the plan to target first Hossa and then Jagr was a decision made by the GM to make this team better.

by Scott on Jun 16, 2009 1:37 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

How does this tie the GM's hands?

Because he's already under the gun to move $9,000,000 in salary if Hossa signs. Do you think it's prudent to start adding more pieces [and salary] to the team at that point?

Just for fun, let's say he completely ignores what the owner is doing with Hossa and signs Cooke, Sauer and Adam Hall. That's $4,000,000 in cap dollars - he's going to have to move about $3,000,000 from the existing team. Then the owner lands Hossa for $9,000,000. Now he's got to move $12,000,000 from the existing team. An difficult job becomes impossible.

You honestly don't see how the owner doing what he did put the GM in an impossible position?

by Coach pb9617 on Jun 16, 2009 2:53 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

So did Katz say "go get Hossa" or did Katz say "what can I do to help the team get Hossa"?

Clearly your implying the former but from what I recall it was an organizational commitment - including getting Horcoff involved in the recruiting.

Satan's numbers were carried by a strong start to the season on Crosby's wing. That was until he was deemed better off in the p/b and then for cap reasons in the AHL. Blysma also sat Satan in game 6 and at least 5 other times during in the playoffs. Satan was second worst on either team in +- in the finals.

The Oilers also signed Gilbert, Stortini and Grebeshkov this summer. Either way, I just don't see the overwhelming case to bash Katz based on the facts your providing. This post or last.

by Sean on Jun 16, 2009 3:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I honestly think that it was the GM's plan. I don't think Katz was going behind Lowe's back with Hossa at all. I think Lowe wanted to bring in Hossa all along. And then when it didn't work Lowe wanted to bring in Jagr. When that ship sailed Lowe decided not to bring in more useful vets when several were still available (Jason Williams, Martin Gelinas, Marty Reasoner and others were all still free agents and of course the trade avenue was still viable). Yes, the plan had drawbacks but they weren't insurmountable. As for my evaluation of the plan, I remember disliking the pursuit of Hossa (too much money, too much term) and liking the pursuit of Jagr (putting money into Jagr for one or two seasons would have been ideal). I really didn't think that doing nothing after the two whiffs was wise.

Regardless, I do think the off-season moves are Lowe's responsibilities. Do you think Lowe was just a puppet for Katz? If so, why?

by Scott on Jun 16, 2009 3:54 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Does Kevin Lowe strike you as having advanced executive abilities? Does he have a strategic vision? Is he flexible and nimble? Can he deal effectively with ambiguity and change? Can he anticipate the unexpected and have a backup plan in place which he can execute swiftly? Does he surround himself with good people? Does he let his emotions get in the way of sound business decisions? Why MacT for so long when it was apparent he was just average? What about demanding Comrie return his bonus and if he didn't then there would be no trade to the Ducks for Corey Perry? If you can't get Hossa or Jagr is it also necessary to lose Glencross? Reasoner? Hejda? What about balance? If you have a Ferrari with cheap tires it will not be very competitive at the track and disaster could strike. Where was the checking centre? The faceoff man? The servicable right winger? Why did he say "Holy mackerel, we have alot of defencemen here"? Is his haltering manner of speech indicative of his brain patterns? Is Tambellini better? Is Katz?

by Ted on Jun 16, 2009 11:21 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Ted: Your drifting away from the Mario vs Katz discussion here but I'll bite. IMO the decision, whether by Katz or Lowe, to make Tambellini the GM was a good one. As many of your questions hinted at, Lowe seemed to lack direction as a manager (save for 2006). But I still feel his 6 cups and competitiveness is valuable to the organization.

Katz bought the Oilers about a year and a half ago. He hired Tambellini last August after the draft, after free agent day - many of the roster decisions were made. I think its fair to give the owners new hire at least one offseason before casting judgment. The common denominator in all of the Comrie, MacT, Hedja, Glencross complaints is Kevin Lowe - but its not his team any more.

The hires of Tambellini, Quinn and Renney indicate to me that Katz is trying to surround himself with a good staff. Give it some time.

by Sean on Jun 17, 2009 7:43 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

So did Katz say "go get Hossa" or did Katz say "what can I do to help the team get Hossa"?

There has been more than one piece written about the owner's desire to hit a home run.

by Coach pb9617 on Jun 17, 2009 11:33 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Regardless, I do think the off-season moves are Lowe's responsibilities. Do you think Lowe was just a puppet for Katz? If so, why?

I think it was a failed off-season because it was a team effort by a group of people that lacked clarity, focus and purpose and included and owner than had tunnel vision.

by Coach pb9617 on Jun 17, 2009 11:34 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Ted, this has nothing to do with Lowe.

by Coach pb9617 on Jun 17, 2009 11:35 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Sean: Thanks, I dig. My concern is whether Katz/Tambo have tunnel vision. I agree that Quinn/Renney seem to be brighter pennies. But will they have executive type input into the big decisions? I don't think Katz(and in my view he is involved)and Lowe/MacT were a good combo. I do think Katz/Tambo/Quinn/Renney will be alot better. I still think they need one more guy a la Bowman, Holland, Burke, Winter, Howson to bolster the management team. The Oilers are a business earning (and spending) well in excess of $100,000,000 a year. I think the days of giving the reins (as GMs) to former hockey players who have a grade 10-12 education may be over and in the case of the Oilers (if they want to be more than just mediocore) should be over. Maybe that's where Katz comes in. Compare KLowe/BSutter/JMartin/JFerguson/DRiseborough/BHull with guys like Burke/Nonis/Holland. Would the board of PCL appoint a carpenter to run the business? Sure a guy can learn on the job and if he's bright enough he may eventually be successful, but while he's learning the competition will get ahead and you have to play catchup. This is where the Oilers are now. The road to recovery will be long and painful. I hope that the team is at least entertaining and competitive. And that the millionaire players try.

by Ted on Jun 17, 2009 12:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Coach, I'm sorry if I'm off base, but I thought the topic was about management.

by Ted on Jun 17, 2009 12:22 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Sean: Thanks, I dig. My concern is whether Katz/Tambo have tunnel vision.

Mine too, hence the post. I don't think that Tambellini is guilty here, and I think the deadline proved that, unless he was just shot down by everyone in the search for a stud. I don't think he was. He flew under the radar and made a nice deal for O'Sullivan. The Kotalik deal was strange to me and made no sense at the time - it still doesn't as I'd rather have the pick. However, he wasn't swinging for the fences.

However, every time Katz is brought up, it's in relation to landing a stud. I have this eerie feeling that Katz is Ahab and Tambellini/Lowe is Ishmael.

by Coach pb9617 on Jun 17, 2009 12:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Coach, I'm sorry if I'm off base, but I thought the topic was about management.

Nah - fire away on Lowe, but his shortcomings have been hashed over so much that only Shawn Horcoff gets more ink in comments in the 'sphere.

by Coach pb9617 on Jun 17, 2009 12:24 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Coach, and "tunnel vision" and the ability to deal with change, risk and ambiguity.

by Ted on Jun 17, 2009 12:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Coach: Do you think going for a stud is the wrong approach? Or is this all to do with Katz being the puppet master because I think you build from the top down. Maybe I'm biased by the one year we had Pronger. Love the Ahab/Ishmael reference...

Ted: I agree, the Oilers could use another Scott Howson or Rich Olczyk. The NHL has changed and you have to have lawyers, economists, sports psychologists, capologists and business managers on your staff. But there will always be a need for people who have experience winning Stanley Cups. At each increased level of sports your brain becomes a more valuable asset. These guys aren't dummies. Kevin Lowe or Steve Yzerman bring a lot more to the table than their grade 11 education.

by Sean on Jun 17, 2009 3:00 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Coach: Do you think going for a stud is the wrong approach? Or is this all to do with Katz being the puppet master because I think you build from the top down. Maybe I'm biased by the one year we had Pronger.

I don't mind if you go after a stud, but when that's your only strategy, there are issues with your approach. It can wreck a team just as easily as it can build a team, there are plenty of examples out there. And, to be honest, Katz throwing $9,000,000 per at Hossa shows me he's crazy more than he's a good team builder.

If you are solely focused on landing a big name you have management issues, because you look like...

Love the Ahab/Ishmael reference...

Thanks.

by Coach pb9617 on Jun 17, 2009 4:04 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Katz offering 9 million to Hossa was like buying a house in 2007. It was inflated prices. Either way, I'm glad it didn't pan out.

As for Heatley, I'm not convinced he'll cover the bet so the asking price better not be high. But the Oilers more than most teams could use a 40 goal LW. They also cant afford any more under valued contracts.

I'd prefer JBo and moving Souray for a FW. Or Gaborik.

by Sean on Jun 17, 2009 7:14 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'd prefer JBo and moving Souray for a FW. Or Gaborik.

I just put a post up for such an discussion.

by Coach pb9617 on Jun 17, 2009 7:26 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

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