Savard Has Decided on How to deal with Hackett
Feb 5, 2002 14:27:01 GMT -5
Post by Johnny Verdun on Feb 5, 2002 14:27:01 GMT -5
In a piece in today's faceoff.com pages Michel Therrien basically said (and I'm paraphrasig here): "Of course Theo gets the start tonight because he gives us the best chance to win."
Not a great big deal. No revelation. The article goes on to point out that with the Olympic break and the relatively few and far between back to back games, Hackett is unlikely to start more than once or twice the rest of the way. Again, no big earth-shaker there. But it leads to the conclusion that Hackett is unlikely to be dealt by the deadline because he won't have had the opportunity to play himself back to form and to enhance his trade value. Given the importance of making the playoffs (from Savard's point of view) this perhaps regrettable but unavoidable. It's regrettable because the one reason for wanting Hackett here this late in the campaign was to have two first rate goaltenders going and to carry the team into the playoffs on their backs. That task is now squarely on Theo's shoulders since Therrien will stick with Theo unless he really falters. That is not really all that likely to happen.
So, Savard probably has to be resigned to getting little or nothing for Hackett and, what is more likely, not moving him at all before the off-season. Coming off the year he has had, with his stats, and with his salary, he will not garner all that much interest at all.
My questions are:
1. Is there any way this could've been avoided, what with the untimely injuries to Hackett?
2. With Mario back, with NJ getting on track, and with the Caps always capable in principle of putting 6 or 7 wins together, are the chances of making it to the post-season good enough to warrant this strategy?
3. Is a play-off appearance, no matter how brief, that important a factor in attracting the free agents who Savard might be targetting? He has specifically mentioned this as a part of the equation. Is he on the mark or off it?
4. Realistically, what does the future hold for Jeff Hackett? Is there anyway someone will pay any significant price to get him before training camp next year or, even better, before or at the draft?
Anybody who disagreed with my deep and well-reasoned assessment of the Lecavalier thing is going to be targeted and should not feel safe in parking lots, public restrooms or wide open spaces such as parks and pedestrian malls.....
Not a great big deal. No revelation. The article goes on to point out that with the Olympic break and the relatively few and far between back to back games, Hackett is unlikely to start more than once or twice the rest of the way. Again, no big earth-shaker there. But it leads to the conclusion that Hackett is unlikely to be dealt by the deadline because he won't have had the opportunity to play himself back to form and to enhance his trade value. Given the importance of making the playoffs (from Savard's point of view) this perhaps regrettable but unavoidable. It's regrettable because the one reason for wanting Hackett here this late in the campaign was to have two first rate goaltenders going and to carry the team into the playoffs on their backs. That task is now squarely on Theo's shoulders since Therrien will stick with Theo unless he really falters. That is not really all that likely to happen.
So, Savard probably has to be resigned to getting little or nothing for Hackett and, what is more likely, not moving him at all before the off-season. Coming off the year he has had, with his stats, and with his salary, he will not garner all that much interest at all.
My questions are:
1. Is there any way this could've been avoided, what with the untimely injuries to Hackett?
2. With Mario back, with NJ getting on track, and with the Caps always capable in principle of putting 6 or 7 wins together, are the chances of making it to the post-season good enough to warrant this strategy?
3. Is a play-off appearance, no matter how brief, that important a factor in attracting the free agents who Savard might be targetting? He has specifically mentioned this as a part of the equation. Is he on the mark or off it?
4. Realistically, what does the future hold for Jeff Hackett? Is there anyway someone will pay any significant price to get him before training camp next year or, even better, before or at the draft?
Anybody who disagreed with my deep and well-reasoned assessment of the Lecavalier thing is going to be targeted and should not feel safe in parking lots, public restrooms or wide open spaces such as parks and pedestrian malls.....
