I raged all day but after listening to the Bowman presser I thought he was brutally honest in his assessment of the team
He is correct that Frederic can play with Leon imo, he will even push Hyman, and it would be at a 3C price. If Walman really is a good 3D for 3.5, It's two value contracts in key roles next season.
Jackson haphazardly gutted the roster, capped out, handed NMC's to the players we need to dump, and we have 3 valuable prospects left. That's what I got out of the presser. I mean Bowman essentially said they swung and missed on deadline day. It was a reality check, we want to talk about goaltending when the team has played well for 30% of the season
I agree.
I think the other reality here is the lack of energy and emotion which IMO is completely understandable considering they place all that high energy/high intensity hockey last spring and lost in game 7.
I clearly remember how gutted McDavid (and the entire core) was after that excrutiating loss.
That had to affect them emotionally this season and I believe it has.
I think another reality is that its very hard to assess a team when internally it is devoid of energy.
Essentially depleted. Players are then not playing to their potential...not providing an accurate picture of what they can do.
That is why I like the Jones and Frederic trades and also why I have been so bullish on about them.
I think that Bowman had exactly the right read on the room.
This team (once Frederic and Kane are in the lineup) now (potentially) has an energy player for every line.
It will also have a much better net front presence and more pushback against the heavier teams.
They now have more players who can generate that emotional spark this team obviously needs.
With the addition of Walman they have a player that fills a hole on D. He is a very good skater who can move the puck up ice very effectively. He can play boths sides which offers flexibility. He even throws open ice hits which is something this team hasnt had in years....that keeps opposing players honest.
He is even a shot blocking leader.
Lastly he is a solid point producer...all of that for a conditional first and a prospect that may not even play in the NHL and h even has another cheap year on his contract left.
Bowman did some good work here.
He gave up very little (he had very little to work with in terms of the teams prospects and draft picks) and IMO touched on some major areas that needed improvement.
