Post by Edward Thomas Swan on Jun 10, 2010 0:43:40 GMT -5
Today, Seals GM Edward Swan met with the media to to take questions going into the 1996-97 season.
Q: Last season, the Seals went out in the 1st round despite dominating the regular season. What step do you think the team has taken to take the next step.
Swan: We had and still have a very young team and we learned a lot from last year's experience. I think we all know now that the playoffs are a totally different season and should be treated as such.
Q: You talk of experience, but the team has lost Elynuik, Courtnall, Cirella and Bourque all to free agency and these were some of your most playoff savvy players. You've added Stevens and Ysebaert via free agency, but does that reall make up for losing all those names?
Swan: Stevens is 10x the person Bourque is. I believe with his leadership and voice in the locker room. He more than makes up for what Bourque leaves up.
Q: Do we sense bitterness to the whole Bourque talks?
Swan: He and his agent just didn't make any sense. He demanded Gretzky money and we offered what we felt was a fair contract for everyone involved and Bourque rejected it to test the market say (and I quote) "Mr. Bourque is a dman who scored over 100 points in the season, you're damn right we can get $5mil+ on the open market". And what does he do? Signed for LESS than what the Seals were offering him, with an inferior team! On top of all that, his agent has the balls to say he was treated unfairly. Maybe the agent and Mr. Bourque should stick to a game plan instead of making outrageous demands than not having the brains to go through with it. Mr. Bourque can burn in Hartford! We're more than happy with Stevens and what he brings to the table. And that's all I have to say about that.
Q: What are your expectations for this season?
Swan: The Cup and nothing less!
Q: Do you see any holes in your current roster that you would like plug?
Swan: Ideally we would like to add another top 4 defenseman, but we are content with Yushkevich in that role as well. But more blue line depth is definitely on our shopping list.
Q: You don't seem to have the same offensive depth you had last season, do you cans plan to address that with trading or do you have offers on the table still with other FAs?
Swan: We're happy with our forward core. Our young players will be making the next step and our bottom six will be tougher and more defensively aware.
Thank you for your time today everyone, see you during the season!
Q: Last season, the Seals went out in the 1st round despite dominating the regular season. What step do you think the team has taken to take the next step.
Swan: We had and still have a very young team and we learned a lot from last year's experience. I think we all know now that the playoffs are a totally different season and should be treated as such.
Q: You talk of experience, but the team has lost Elynuik, Courtnall, Cirella and Bourque all to free agency and these were some of your most playoff savvy players. You've added Stevens and Ysebaert via free agency, but does that reall make up for losing all those names?
Swan: Stevens is 10x the person Bourque is. I believe with his leadership and voice in the locker room. He more than makes up for what Bourque leaves up.
Q: Do we sense bitterness to the whole Bourque talks?
Swan: He and his agent just didn't make any sense. He demanded Gretzky money and we offered what we felt was a fair contract for everyone involved and Bourque rejected it to test the market say (and I quote) "Mr. Bourque is a dman who scored over 100 points in the season, you're damn right we can get $5mil+ on the open market". And what does he do? Signed for LESS than what the Seals were offering him, with an inferior team! On top of all that, his agent has the balls to say he was treated unfairly. Maybe the agent and Mr. Bourque should stick to a game plan instead of making outrageous demands than not having the brains to go through with it. Mr. Bourque can burn in Hartford! We're more than happy with Stevens and what he brings to the table. And that's all I have to say about that.
Q: What are your expectations for this season?
Swan: The Cup and nothing less!
Q: Do you see any holes in your current roster that you would like plug?
Swan: Ideally we would like to add another top 4 defenseman, but we are content with Yushkevich in that role as well. But more blue line depth is definitely on our shopping list.
Q: You don't seem to have the same offensive depth you had last season, do you cans plan to address that with trading or do you have offers on the table still with other FAs?
Swan: We're happy with our forward core. Our young players will be making the next step and our bottom six will be tougher and more defensively aware.
Thank you for your time today everyone, see you during the season!
