Quotes from news releases rarely offer much insight or truth, but the one included on the Wild's release on the firing of Chuck Fletcher (or nonrenewal of his contract if you want the soft version) from owner Craig Leipold pretty much sums up the general manager's nine-year tenure. It reads, in part:
"Chuck and his staff built a winning culture and a perennial playoff team. For all of that I am grateful. I feel it is time for a new approach aimed at delivering a Stanley Cup to the deserving fans of the State of Hockey."
That was Fletcher. Some good, some bad. Teams that competed and reached the postseason each of the past six seasons but never showed that they were built for sustained postseason success.
To understand how we got from May of 2009, when Fletcher was hired, to Monday when he was let go, it's instructive to look at the best and worst moves he made.
Read Michael Rand's blog at startribune.com/randball. mrand@startribune.com
