lets create some context here.
first, hank has perhaps 3 more elite years left. he wants a cup. deserves one. 3 years.
we are not gonna tear down or do much to last years roster. we have a few guys who are gone and a few spots to fill. we made it to the scf last year. we may well be only a few players away.
lets make this easy.
3 areas to address.
1. we cant score.
2. we have dmen who cant all get paid big bank
3. our free agents need to be resigned or let go.
richards is gone. he MUST be replaced. sure stepan and brass can play but they are both similar. neither are true scorers and neither are true elite first line centerman and neither have shown anything with nash.
solution. either stay with what we have and add miller to the mix as the 3c or add a player. do you add that player via trade or sign him to a deal and keep your players. i say add another center.
stasny adds what we need now. doesnt cost players and will give us that playmaking centerman to play with nash, take pp faceoffs and play 1st line minutes for the next 3 years as we make a push for the cup. stasny is a very solid 2 way guy who would flourish with kreider and nash.
there arent many other options. unlike ror, with staz its only money.
stralman must be resigned. staal must be moved. thats it. stralman has shown hes a perfect fit in this av system. hes a horse. hes healthy and he can be signed for a value contract. he wants to play here.
staal has value. but hes also one hit away from no value. right now healthy, he can bring back value and clear space. we are fortunate we are fairly deep defensively and with a top 6 of mcd, stral, girardi, klein, moore and say conor allen, we are still very strong. you deal from strength. adding a young forward or centerman to groom would be smart asset management while clearing space. staal will command a big number. we cant afford him.
dom moore and poo both need to return. boyle can walk. miller can take his minutes.
i see no other options other than some crazy trade that perhaps makes us young er and better but also removes a roster player from last years team that was very close.
score more goals. have a better powerplay and play the same av style defense without marc staal.
it can be done. and we can be back to the finals again without a major roster upheaval.
