JB*

In a move straight out of a rotisserie league, Dale Tallon told the Bruins to "look at his roster and let him know what they want" when offered Joe Thornton. Good job, jack:censure: !!!!

So says Bob Foltman of the Trib -

Quote:

<H1>Tallon misses chance at Thornton

Quote:

BY BOB FOLTMAN Published December 2, 2005 Blackhawks general manager Dale Tallon was talking Wednesday to his counterpart in Boston, Mike O'Connell, when O'Connell told him everyone on his roster was available. "Even Joe Thornton?" Tallon asked. O'Connell said yes, needing to shake up a Bruins team that has lost nine of 10 games and is 12th in the East. Tallon told O'Connell to look at his roster and junior prospects and let him know what interested him and Tallon set about putting together a proposal for the perennial All-Star, who is on pace for 32 goals and 117 points this season. Tallon never got a chance to discuss acquiring Thornton seriously because he was dealt a couple of hours later to San Jose for Marco Sturm, Brad Stuart and Wayne Primeau. Tallon said he was surprised O'Connell pulled the trigger so quickly and would have liked an opportunity to try to beat San Jose's offer. Tallon wasn't the only one left out of the loop. According to reports, many NHL GMs weren't aware Thornton, the No. 1 pick of the 1997 draft, was even available. Boston received three NHL players in return, and because the Hawks' best prospects are in juniors, it's possible O'Connell didn't see enough on the Hawks' current roster to make them serious bidders.

</H1>

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cruiser

The only reason Tallon got the job as GM is because he sucks up to Billy Wirtz. It's not about ability in the Hawks organization it's about loyalty and paying respects to the 'don', in this case Billy.

Dale is in way over his head and that's why Pully is still in charge. Some think the Hawks have a pretty good roster this year and it is improved in comparison with previous teams but they're still weak down the middle and have no depth in other positions. Their scouting sucks, their training sucks, their marketing sucks. It a systemic problem with the Hawks. The organization is decades behind the better teams and I'll say it again; until Billy Wirtz dies the Hawks will continue to be the worst run organization in pro sports.

Go_Cats

It must be pretty tough if you are playing for Boston and hear that your GM has all the players in the team open for trade. It makes you want to rethink a lot of things about the loyalties within the club.

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cruiser

There's no loyalty in pro sports. It's all about winning. The players are merely a commodity and anybody can get traded at any time (except after the deadline).

Now with the cap the higher paid players are most vulnerable. You better produce and deliver return on investment or it's time to bag your bags.

I always laugh when fans get upset that a player is holding out for more money. It's business first and loyalties second. Been that way since the beginning. These rich guys who own the teams didn't get rich by being nice and showing loyalty. The only loyalty they have is to the almighty buck.

KB in Kelowna

Agreed but what guys like Wirtz and Jacobs and before that Ballard failed to realize is you sometimes have to spend a buck to make a buck or two more.

Dale Talon was a broadcaster and in law of Pulford's, what business skills does he have, hockey talent evaluation, management skills? None, but to tightwad owners nepotism, cronyism and squeezing pennies until Lincoln's beard falls off is what matters.

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Jay to the ROC

Boston players should feel uncomfortable - that's the price of underachieving. Playing well = job security. Although now that Joe's been shipped out the rest of the players can feel a bit more secure since the Boston management won't want to add salt to the fan's wound's with Thornton's loss.

The problem is that you don't want to openly shop a big name like Thornton around because the fans and players will get upset. It's better to keep it quiet until a deal is reached. Afterall what if the deal falls through? Thornton and the fans will still be pissed, and it will add further distractions to an already struggling club.

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KB in Kelowna

Thornton is not the first big name to be traded and won't be the last waht is drawing the ire of fans of the Bruins and hockey in general, is that this is a pattern with Jacobs/Sinden regieme of trading away or allowing to leave via free agency their top players or key cogs ( like Mike Knuble) in their line up. Aside from the hosing of the Cancuks in the Neely deal, the majority of Bruins moves have the smell of salary dump lingering around them.

The same can be said for moves in Wirtz/Pulford adminstration of the Hawks.

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JB*

You don't dare imply there were salary dump implications in...

Ed Belfour for Ulf Dahlen, Michael Sykora and Chris Terreri
or
Doug Gilmour (with JP Dumont) for Michal Grosek (where the Hawks paid most of Gilmour's salary)
or
Alex Zhamnov (and a 4th) for Jim Vandermeer, Colin Fraser, 2nd rounder
or
Steve Sullivan for a 2nd and 4th...
or
Jeremy Roenick for Alexei PoS Zhamnov (and Craig Milles and a 1st... and yes, I know there was more to it then just cash)

gah. I am depressing myself.

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