Navin R Slavin
Fifth line center
We either step up or lose.
I don't think this is true. Playoff experience matters, and this team keeps gaining that experience. We've got a lot of maturing offensive firepower just waiting for their next opportunity to step up when it counts.
At this point just take cap dumps for assets for the coming years / offseason...
I think this is true. This franchise is in a great long-term position because the new leadership team has consistently made near-optimal long term plays, and I'd like to see them continue to do that. Sure, they'd love to get a big deadline FA, but so would a lot of other teams who are "in the window".
And that's the thing: there are a dozen teams at any one time who think they are "in the window" and are willing to spend significant assets every year. And there always will be. Every year.
We're also beholden to NMCs at the TDL, and the fact is that some players want to come here (Brent Burns as a UFA) and some don't. It is what it is. The best way to build a long term winner is still building from within, especially if you are good at assessing young talent, which this org clearly is.
The trade deadline will always be frustrating for fans of this org. I think we glorify that 2006 trade for Recchi and Weight, and forget how lucky we were to get through, and frankly how little those guys moved the needle.
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