This NHL team can teach Arizona Cardinals ownership some lessons

Lesson #2 – Hire a general manager intent on building through the draft

Kevin Colbert is also not coming to the Arizona Cardinals, but the organization must find their own, personal Kevin Colbert. Who is Kevin Colbert? The architect behind many great Pittsburgh Steelers teams that he built predominantly through the draft. Because of this mentality, Colbert shares many similarities to Buffalo Sabres general manager, Kevyn Adams.

I recently wrote an article exploring a potential trade of star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. While such an article would raise eyebrows, we need to remember that Hopkins will be 31 next season and he isn’t getting any younger. 2023 will also be his 11th year in the NFL, and his production, sooner than later, is going to start fading.

Trading a blue chip 11-year veteran like Hopkins and/or other aging yet productive talent like Zach Ertz would let the Arizona Cardinals stockpile draft picks, something the Sabres were able to when they traded the likes of Sam Reinhart and Jack Eichel. Of course, they snagged a few high-end prospects too, like Peyton Krebs and Devon Levi.

Hiring a general manager with such a mentality would be counterintuitive in the short run. But long-term, the Cardinals would benefit since they would also have a coach and a coaching staff with experience and a proven record in developing younger talent.