When the General Joins His Men in the Trenches

After what felt like 12th opportunity to fire a coach presiding over one of the worst stretches of play in franchise history, Randy Carlyle was finally fired for the second time in team history.

And instead of promoting an assistant in the interim or having a replacement ready, General Manager Bob Murray decided to take the reins himself behind the bench for the first time in his professional career.

It’s highly unlikely that this move is about contending. In fact, quite the opposite. The Athletic’s Eric Stephens thinks as much in his extensive piece covering the decision to relieve Carlyle of his duties and take them on himself; this paragraph in particular:

“Let’s call this for what it is.…