Last year can be an anomaly, no? They were a bottom end team last season is what matters not their top 10 metrics. Still are a bottom end team.
Not sure how anyone can watch these games and come away thinking they are in good shape going forward or that the future looks goods.
Because seasons are long and have ups and downs.
'
You'
re never as good as you think
you are when
you win; and
you'
re never as
bad as you feel when
you lose.'
One of the keys for a successful rebuild is staying on an even keel, don't get too excited with the team or players when things are going well or get too down when the team and players are struggling.
Colorado, after three years out of the playoffs, put up 112 points in 2013-14, then 90, 82, 48 before becoming a perennial playoff team.
Blackhawks were out of the POs for 4 years, then 96 points, followed by 79, 59, 61, 71, 88 and the rest is history.
Panthers missed the POs for 3 years, then put up 106 points, followed by 81, 96, 86 before their current run.
Point is progress isn't necessarily linear. If you're planning on being competitive in 3-4 years, there's no reason to worry about this season.