Do you really think Dillon and Bones moves the team back that far? In a bubble I'd like to have kept Dillon, but at $4 M AAV he is being paid at the top of his veteran pay scale. But internally we have Samberg ready to move into the # 2 LHD position, and the team really needs to know what they have there as he is a pending RFA with Arb rights. He will be in a position to sign his long term contract and the organization needs to get that right. Heinola then needs an opportunity to step into the # 3 LHD role, assuming he beats out out Stanley, which I think is very likely.
At coach, to be honest I'm glad Bones has retired. He brought nice defensive structure to the team, but he is old school to a fault and was a block to the next wave of prospects taking on more important roles. At least at this point I remain optimistic the Arniel is much more open to this. I see us as a team, that might take a small step back in the regular season, but better positioned to compete in the playoffs, assuming internal growth by our young players.