Agreed- Gallagher is a dinosaur curmudgeon and has his head stuck in the sand way too often. So no one of consequence.
TG rambles on about this to the point of just "STFU already, Tony". TG also maintains that our draft picks have been decent and therefore there should be more for Travis to work with. I call BS- anyone of consequence is already on the team- Horvat, Hutton, Stecher, Tryamkin (gone), Boeser
Shinkaruk?- had a solid 2015 in Utica and then regressed- couldn't cut it in the NHL.He is still looking like a bust in the Flames' system- good thing we shipped him out- and got a great return in Granlund.
Virtanen? Until he can play solidly the jury is out. If he comes to camp and is a contributor then maybe put that back onto Travis. He's only 21.
McCann? In the NHL too soon, and now gone and in the Florida system. Could be another Hodgson. But again- 21 Y.O.
Subban? Who is he besides PK's brother? He seems to be playing OK, but where do you put him in the Canuck's lineup? He will get his chance in camp- if he excels then again, kudos to Travis.
The roster could be dissected and arguments made that A) Travis has developed nobody and B) That most of the draft picks blew from the beginning and it just doesn't matter.
The whole point was not basing excitement on his player development history.
If that is the main/only criteria that he should be judged on then that's your opinion.
Is he the best choice? Fucked if I know. And the choice of a new coach doesn't really excite me anyway.
But at least he is a choice NOW- which to me is what management needed to do rather than drag this on forever, waiting for potential candidates from defeated play-off teams.
Are you actually defending Eakins based upon management decisions? The poor bastard looked like frightened fawn in the middle of the road on so many nights. NHL coaching fodder.
Would seem that organizational problems you speak of, while not exactly the same here, could also have conspired to reflect on Travis.
Proof will be in the pudding.
Overall, I'm not holding my breath on most fronts with this organization......