It's not even close. Ray Shero is so far in front of Ken Holland (and everyone else) that the discussion isn't even worth having. Here's what he does: he evaluates his team and determines whether they're Cup contenders, or not.
Ken Holland does the same. Even ground.
Shero, and Holland, annually determine that their teams have realistic title hopes.
Here's where the roads diverge. Holland "kicks tires"...yes, I'm sure that means "every tire". Got it.
And while Kenny's kicking? Shero's dealing. Think the Wings could have used Brenden Morrow? A little toughness with scoring touch, a veteran with fire up front? No? I'm sure you're right. Pittsburgh gave up a great prospect in Joe Morrow, plus more picks. A steep price.
They're closer to the Cup than we are, you're saying. Got that too.
But were they last year, or the year before? Because Kenny's done a lot of kicking and come away with some sore toes and nothing else.
Ray Shero landed Doug Murray today. Another great move. Big, tough d-man. Kenny got us Kyle Quincey last year. A huge move, comparatively speaking. And then he went out and brought us Carlo, who's played one game.
Since 2008, Ray Shero has not slept. Not a day. Marian Hossa, Bill Guerin, Steve Sullivan, James Neal, Kovalev, Adams, Kunitz, Vokoun, Gill, Dupuis, Satan. There's more.
Since 2008, Kenny Holland has signed Marian Hossa. 'Member that? Great signing. Good thing Hossa's agent called first. We might still be kicking that tire. Since then?
Not much. Lost a lot of talent and lost a lot of ground. Nick Lidstrom retires (suddenly, I'm sure) and what's been done? What effort has been made to compensate (not replace, just compensate)? Quincey, Carlo? Really?
Shero is in a constant improvement mode, consistently adding pieces because he feels his team is that close to winning. Big names are out there and Shero lands them. Every year. You think he's done? Think again. They've got prorated cap space to burn, just like we do.
Holland may feel this isn't the year to deal, that this team doesn't have a shot with or without Iginla, Boyle, Campbell, Yandle or whoever. So he'll sit tight. He sat tight last year, and the year before that. Helm will be his big deadline move and then get hurt again immediately after, if he's back at all this year. Either way, Tick Tock "likes his team", boy.
You know who else likes his team? Ray Shero likes his team. A lot. Every year. That bastard's working it. Dialing and dealing. Kenny's kicking tires and waiting for the summer.
Because that worked so well last year, right?
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