AtomicJets
Registered User
- Dec 20, 2014
- 347
- 896
I don't think you need the UFAs. Rather, being a destination allows you to skip a few steps. Think about how the NYR made a big deal about how they were rebuilding, going as far as writing a letter to their fans, then suddenly they got Panarin as a UFA and they weren't rebuilding anymore.So if you are not a destination market you don't have a chance?
I really don't think those UFAs are a required part of it.
I think you need some solid veteran players to help bring the kids along. They need to still be fairly young when you start out if they are still going to be good enough when your young draftees begin to arrive. I think you can supplement those players with UFAs. Just not the big name guys who choose their destinations.
In that case they also got Lafreniere and Kakko but they skipped the part where they suck for 3-5 years.
I'd also heard Benning was a big name on the trade market, sounded like the Habs were in on him too. I'm surprised the Leafs also got the picks.Have no idea what happened to Liljegren in TO but I guess Berube's didn't see a spot for him on there D.