Post by columbusgm on Feb 9, 2011 12:08:25 GMT -7
Q: How do you, as the GM of the new champions, feel right now?
A: Amazing. Simply amazing. It's a wonderful experience, after all the hard work of the past 3 years, putting this team together...for it all to come together like that.
Q: Did you expect it to happen this year?
A: You always hope, but no, not at all. We struggled early on as some of our players got used to each other, and some of our younger players were getting used to the NHL. To be honest, I thought we had a better chance of winning next season, but this is how it worked out.
Q: And without home ice throughout the playoffs
A: Ya, we knew we had to take back home ice everytime, and we showed that. We lost game 1, but won game 2 in the first 3 series, then did the reverse in Boston. It meant that we had the advantage, though we wasted it with both Calgary and Boston, but ultimately triumphed in game 7.
Q: What were the keys to your success this season?
A: We have a great team, all around, but there are 3 things that I think really put us on top. Before the season, we signed Zdeno Chara to a 2 year deal. A lot of people said it was too much money, but we knew we had the cap space and we needed him badly, so we got him. And he was out best player throughout the year (8.15 rating both playoffs and regular season).
Secondly, we picked up Viktor Stalberg from Atlanta. Giving up Jordan Staal and Pierro-Zabotel were tough, they'd both been key players for us the past couple years, but we saw Viktor as the power forward we didn't have. He can shoot and he can hit, and was a perfect compliment to Derick Brassard and Marian Hossa.
Finally, nearing the trade deadline, we made one last move to give us some extra secondary scoring. Picking up Pavel Datsyuk, who then got 22pts in 16 games for us, plus another 20 in the playoffs, was essential. We gave up some good prospects, but adding Pavel really allowed us to spread out our scoring, giving Viktor the chance to play on a hit & grind line for most of the playoffs.
Q: How many players are left from when you took over?
A: Good question...well, Brassard and Vermette were there, as was Pahlsson. Oh, and Mason of course. Everyone else was brought in, though some (Savard, Lynch, Kubalik) were in the system when I arrived and were developed. The entire defense corps has changed since my arrival, with Chara and Bezina arriving as free agents, while Staal, Sanguinetti, Volchenkov and Bieksa were picked up in trades. Savard was in the system, but still with his junior team.
Q: What does the future hold?
A: Well the entire pro roster (22 players) is under contract for at least one more year, meaning we'll definitely take a run at the cup again. We do have some prospects we'll be trying to work into the pro team, namely Jon Merrill, but unfortunately there isn't too much room for change, so we'll probably have to trade some of our prospects in order to give them an opportunity to improve. It'd be wrong to keep a guy like Matt Calvert, John Albert or Jared Staal in the AHL forever, so we'll look for the best interests of the team and the players, and try to engineer moves for them, so they can breakthrough into the NHL.
Q: And the draft?
A: The draft has gone well, we're very pleased to have picked up Patrik Osipov, who has amazing potential. He'll have to work on his consistency, but look at a guy like Alexei Kovalev. In his prime, he was an amazing talent, despite his work ethic. We think Patrik can be that good, though we hope his work ethic improves. Nicklas Jensen and Adam Lowry are young, we'll give them plenty of time to develop, there's no need to rush them into the lineup, but we do see them have a place in Columbus some day.
Q: Were you aware that the Columbus Blue Jackets, through 8 seasons, had only made the playoffs once and were swept, prior to your arrival? And since you joined in 2009, you have got them into the playoffs each year? With a combined record of 27-23, 6 series wins and now one Stanley Cup?
A: Yes, yes I was.
A: Amazing. Simply amazing. It's a wonderful experience, after all the hard work of the past 3 years, putting this team together...for it all to come together like that.
Q: Did you expect it to happen this year?
A: You always hope, but no, not at all. We struggled early on as some of our players got used to each other, and some of our younger players were getting used to the NHL. To be honest, I thought we had a better chance of winning next season, but this is how it worked out.
Q: And without home ice throughout the playoffs
A: Ya, we knew we had to take back home ice everytime, and we showed that. We lost game 1, but won game 2 in the first 3 series, then did the reverse in Boston. It meant that we had the advantage, though we wasted it with both Calgary and Boston, but ultimately triumphed in game 7.
Q: What were the keys to your success this season?
A: We have a great team, all around, but there are 3 things that I think really put us on top. Before the season, we signed Zdeno Chara to a 2 year deal. A lot of people said it was too much money, but we knew we had the cap space and we needed him badly, so we got him. And he was out best player throughout the year (8.15 rating both playoffs and regular season).
Secondly, we picked up Viktor Stalberg from Atlanta. Giving up Jordan Staal and Pierro-Zabotel were tough, they'd both been key players for us the past couple years, but we saw Viktor as the power forward we didn't have. He can shoot and he can hit, and was a perfect compliment to Derick Brassard and Marian Hossa.
Finally, nearing the trade deadline, we made one last move to give us some extra secondary scoring. Picking up Pavel Datsyuk, who then got 22pts in 16 games for us, plus another 20 in the playoffs, was essential. We gave up some good prospects, but adding Pavel really allowed us to spread out our scoring, giving Viktor the chance to play on a hit & grind line for most of the playoffs.
Q: How many players are left from when you took over?
A: Good question...well, Brassard and Vermette were there, as was Pahlsson. Oh, and Mason of course. Everyone else was brought in, though some (Savard, Lynch, Kubalik) were in the system when I arrived and were developed. The entire defense corps has changed since my arrival, with Chara and Bezina arriving as free agents, while Staal, Sanguinetti, Volchenkov and Bieksa were picked up in trades. Savard was in the system, but still with his junior team.
Q: What does the future hold?
A: Well the entire pro roster (22 players) is under contract for at least one more year, meaning we'll definitely take a run at the cup again. We do have some prospects we'll be trying to work into the pro team, namely Jon Merrill, but unfortunately there isn't too much room for change, so we'll probably have to trade some of our prospects in order to give them an opportunity to improve. It'd be wrong to keep a guy like Matt Calvert, John Albert or Jared Staal in the AHL forever, so we'll look for the best interests of the team and the players, and try to engineer moves for them, so they can breakthrough into the NHL.
Q: And the draft?
A: The draft has gone well, we're very pleased to have picked up Patrik Osipov, who has amazing potential. He'll have to work on his consistency, but look at a guy like Alexei Kovalev. In his prime, he was an amazing talent, despite his work ethic. We think Patrik can be that good, though we hope his work ethic improves. Nicklas Jensen and Adam Lowry are young, we'll give them plenty of time to develop, there's no need to rush them into the lineup, but we do see them have a place in Columbus some day.
Q: Were you aware that the Columbus Blue Jackets, through 8 seasons, had only made the playoffs once and were swept, prior to your arrival? And since you joined in 2009, you have got them into the playoffs each year? With a combined record of 27-23, 6 series wins and now one Stanley Cup?
A: Yes, yes I was.