Kesler - Wrong on so many levels. The handicap Benning had being underplayed, Pretending that holding onto him until a better deal presented itself is a viable solution, just generally thinking you have a better handle of the internal affairs surrounding the situation and a better and more convenient resolution. Bullshit I say. Don't act like you know the situation was and what Benning could have done with Kes. You don't. End of story. Non-issue.
First Round Draft - URL to the site you linked doesn't work. I assume it makes an argument surrounding fancy stats, possession #'s, corsi %, hockey IQ, the same drum advance stats nerds like to always beat when dragging players through the mud. While I don't disagree that Ehlers and Nylander look right now to be better prospects I also think Virtanen is a good prospect in his own right, and accurately comparing while evaluating prospects when they're still in junior is a crapshoot and frankly a waste of time. Wait until they (all) have a body of work in a professional league before you start flinging mud here.
Garrison - "top 4 defenseman" .... "home-town discount" ..... You use these words, but I don't think you understand what they mean. Maybe your memories of what type of player Garrison was has escaped you while stewing over this long tirade but Garrison was no better than a bottom 4 guy who could move up during injuries. Something Sbisa (debate all you will about how well) currently already does at a lesser salary than Jason. Also really boggles me how home-town discount plays into your argument... In what world is 4. however million dollars a hometown discount for Garrison who essentially was the #5 guy on this team his entire tenure here who A) didn't play physical B) struggled making outlet passes C) did not excel in his own zone D) Was relatively ineffective on the powerplay (considering that's what we signed him to be, the bomb from the point on the PP). Ludicrous argument. Debate all you want about the return, (conveniently forgetting to mention the similar situation to Kesler where he would only waive his NTC to go to Florida or T-Bay) but to act like Garrison was head and shoulders above what we currently have is asinine.
Dorsett/Sbisa/Tanev - Can't argue here really since the contacts are a point I actually agree with and question, but it's not something that makes or breaks Bennings tenure for me. Maybe that's just preference, I don't know, but I can handle the signings even though I don't particularly like them.
Have to go to work now so I can't finish. I'll have to come revisit this later.