Ray Shero is the standard for General Managers not just in the NHL but in all major sports across the board. Shero continues to make good, solid decisions for the Pens organization. Paul Holmgren should start taking notes as he has the Flyers looking lost and desperate . Shero has been under a lot of pressure after four disappointing exits from the playoffs but instead of making drastic changes, he stuck to the plan and continues to show why he is so widely respected throughout the league. Paul Holmgren, on the other hand bought out two players in their 30’s with huge contracts (Briere and Bryzgalov) to sign two more mid 30 players to premium contracts (Streit and Lecavalier).
There has been speculation what the Pens would do with Kris Letang, the only viable option would be to resign this amazing talent to a long-term contract and that’s exactly what Shero did. (8yr/58mill.) Shero brings back Chris Kunitz for three years at 3.8 million a year, a pretty solid deal for a guy who lead the pens with 22 goals and second on the team with 52 points. The Pens solidified their first line by resigning, Pascal Dupuis. Dupuis, coming off a strong season with 20 goals and 38 points in a NHL shortened season, resigned for 4 years, 15 million. The Pens also signed one of the best shot-blocking defenseman in the NHL today in Rob Scuderi to a 4 year, 13.5 million dollar deal. Shero locked up the future in Letang and brought back three veterans at a discounted price because this team has one goal. To win.
Paul Holmgren has the Flyers organization in a tailspin. He made sensible decisions when he bought out Danny Briere and Ilya Bryzgalov, but then turned around and signed Mark Streit, 35 and Vinny Lecavalier, 33 to premier contracts. The Flyers gave Streit, an offensive minded defenseman a 4 year, 21 million dollar contract. One would believe that Streit won’t be playing for the Flyers at age 39. The real issue here is that the Flyers are loaded with offensive talent and really need a shut down defenseman. Streit will definitely help the power-play, but will be a liability playing against top players such as Crosby and Nash.
Vinny Lecavalier has been a solid player in the NHL for the past 14 years. The problem here is not what Vinny brings to the table as he is an immediate upgrade to any NHL team. The problem is Lecavalier’s contract, a 5 year, 22.5 million dollar deal. Lecavalier’s production has definitely dropped off the past few seasons which is why Tampa Bay bought him out in the first place. One would think that Holmgren would learn his lesson as he has been smoked in the past for signing players past their prime to long term, big money contracts. The Flyers signed two quality players but once again paid entirely too much for each of them while ignoring their most pressing need, their defense.
Two General Managers going In two completely different directions. Shero is “Good” and Holmgren is “Bad”.
Photo Credit: Flickr.com/Dan4th
