Free agency is over. The time for a significant trade I believe to be past as well. Armstrong has made a valiant effort at trying to make this team better, but there really was just nothing out there that was going to make this team better while not emptying out our prospect depth, and draft picks.
I believe that all along the hope was to add John Tavares for dollars, and to make one or two moves in the trade department for scoring wingers. Once JT was out of the picture, things transitioned to the search for a top 6 Center, particularly ROR, but when the ask was too much the blues obviously moved along here. I think this was the right move.
ROR would not take this team from mediocrity to sudden contention in the same way that the addition of Tavares would have. Spending valuable assets to obtain him to continue in mediocrity would have been poor management of said assets. Were DA able to get him for a reasonable price then ROR would probably be a Blue today.
Obviously the events of today are not the optimal outcome we had all hoped for. Reality is that we are a better team than we were yesterday. Comparison to the teams makeup during different times of last season are certainly debatable in terms of whats a better lineup. However, I ask of yo, what would you have preferred to do? We signed the third best center, and one of the top 5 available wingers in free agency and from reactions you would think today was a complete failure. Oh and did I mention that thank god these guys are RHS!
This team may not be Stanley Cup caliber as it sits today. It may not even be playoff caliber. But no moves that were available change us into a Cup contender. They aren't glamorous moves, but they are smart and conscious additions that keep us competitive but do not prevent graduation of our prospects.
I can't say that I'm optimistic about this club going into the coming season, and I'm sure many aren't. There are a ton of question marks coming into training camp for sure. But the optimism about the future of our prospects has not changed since last season, in fact I'd argue that we should have even greater optimism about our top guys given their development over the last 12 months.
This new roster is as usual with DA a very versatile makeup. We have a ton of options for the makeup of the lineup on a day in and day out basis. Each player can play up and down the lineup at this point. I think that is a great thing to have with the youth movement.
I would argue the best approach to this season comes in two different scenarios.
1. We are a bubble team or out of the playoffs throughout the season, and come the deadline, are not in the playoffs.
- Be sellers at this point. Similar to this year, make the prudent move for futures to move roster players such as Sobotka, Berglund, Gunarsson, Bouwmeester. Obtain some draft picks, take on expiring cap dumps if necessary, but continue to fill up that cupboard of prospects. Play the kids down the stretch and let them take the reigns. Attempt to make the big splash again next offseason, loaded with futures ammo.
2. We are a playoff team, the rookies are impressing, and we look to be set to contend with the remaining teams in the west, within reason.
- Keep the roster the same, or push for a deadline acquisition of a forward with term who fills a need to be determined over the season. At this point I would consider moving defensive depth to augment ammo for this acquisition.
Going into the season with a roster of:
Schwartz Schenn Kyrou/Thompson
Fabbri Bozak Tarasenko
Steen Thomas Kyrou/Thompson
Three of Berglund, Barbashev, Jaskin, Sanford, Blais, Sundquist, Thorburn
Id even entertain
Schwartz Schenn Thomas
Fabbri Bozak Tarasenko
Steen Barbashev Perron
