Avs Fire Everyone in Sight

A day after the carnage at the Pepsi Center, I’m still a little surprised that Michel Goulet was fired, probably a situation where he was looking for a new role as GM and Pierre Lacroix wasn’t going to give it to him. That or Goulet was complicit in this entire fiasco of the last season, telling Lacroix that everything was fine and he had to pay for that with his job. Some think Goulet was tired of being the Dwight Schrute of hockey! I think he was the assistant to the general manager for a very long time. Kudos to the guys over at MHH for the Dwight Schrute references, funny stuff. I think that Goulet was tired of 10+ years of being Dwight and was pushing for a bigger role. Instead he got pushed out the door. All “Office” references are funny, period. And this one is already getting plenty of work.

I think the new “management structure” isn’t structurally very different from the old. But an accountant as the GM and a hockey guy as the asst. GM is actually ok with me. Let’s face it, with a salary cap and all its complexities, an accountant and some lawyers are essential.

It should not be a surprise that Eric Lacroix is back in the organ-i-zation. Nepotism: I guess it is what it is, as Bertuzzi would say. One thing for sure, you can’t blame Eric for bailing on the Coyotes! I know a lot of people are disappointed in the continuation of internal hires. I can’t disagree; we will just have to see how it all pans out.

Now that Greg Sherman is “in charge” here is what I expect from General Sherman:
-No sleep for the next month, work, work, work!! Your first day off is July 4th, until then I expect you to down a case of Red Bull a day!
-We need three coaches hired – Ok, Joe Sacco and Sylvain Lefebvre…no complaints so far. The talk of Crawford was probably just that, but I would have had trouble with that hire.
The General also needs to get working on free agents:
-Call Martin Biron and that Swedish goalie
-Make nice with Lappy and get him signed, this team will need that leadership
-Find a way to sign Sakic w/out bludgeoning what little cap room we have
Now, just a warning, you are bound to start getting a little sleep deprived and your judgment may be slightly impaired, so on about July 3rd or 4th, beware of a phone call from an agent wanting you to sign Skyler Erinnson, or Byler Aaronnsen or some such player. There will be mention of a temptingly low contract. It’s a trick. Don’t do it. Calmly hang up the phone.

On the goalie front, the Flyers are reportedly going to sign Ray Emery. I can't see Biron sticking around, as I mentioned before, the Avs should take a serious look at this guy.

Now, about the head coach. While the Sacco hiring is a bit anti-climactic after the Roy saga I'm willing to give the guy a chance. As I predicted, PL did not recycle an NHL guy and I am happy about that. Many people brought up names like Laviolette, Crawford and even Hartley. Sacco is well aware that he was second choice, at best. In his favor, the expectations are low. Ouch.

Keep in mind that much of the delay of getting this all done was due to Roy's protracted decision making process, probably Lacroix's health issues and the Nuggets run deep into the playoffs. Everyone is assuming the Avs didn't interview anyone else, but we don't really know that.


Posted by: From the Point