This is the point I was trying to make in the GDT thread today. It's not like this need has appeared out of nowhere. We've known for over two years that we need a third solid D-man. (I would call it our #3, I think AP/Shatty can easily be #1/#2) Last year in the playoffs it became even more brutally obvious. I could understand going into last year we thought we could fill it internally with Cole/Cola or whatever, but halfway into that season, and ESPECIALLY going into this season, there is no excuse we didn't get something done.
Before anyone goes, oh no, I don't think there's anything we could have done, I want to point straight to Johnny Oduya. He makes Barret Jackman money and is a better overall player. He was acquired for a second and a third. You're telling me we couldn't have matched that deal? Wasn't there a whole bunch of talk at the trade deadline last year that we could take on salary if the right player became available? Since Oduya got traded to the Hawks, they've gone 31-2-7. He absolutely solidified their D-core, which has generally the same make-up as ours. (I would actually argue that Jackman/Polak/Cole would be superior to Leddy/Hjalmarsson/Rosival[whom we also passed on and has played very well this year])Clearly he's not the only reason they have had this historic start and all that, but even if you only look at last year the Hawks went 12-2-4 once he arrived.
I guess in short, I'm having trouble believing there's not a Johnny Oduya out there for us, even if we have to burn a first round pick to get him. He's the type of player we need, not an OEL or Kulikov, which also leads to my frustration, b/c I feel like it shouldn't be this hard (2 years running!) to identify and acquire a player like him.
A few final thoughts:
I'm wondering if some of the contract extensions aren't on the back of some of our players minds, especially AP. I just can't understand how someone who looked so amazing last year, whom I told everyone and their mother about using superlatives like potential future Hall of Famer, can be this average. He was burned twice today, once by making a bad decision on a rush that led to a goal 20-30 seconds later (already pointed out in GDT) and also on the PP goal from Jagr. He was completely guessing what Roy was doing behind the net and Roy made him look silly.
I also think that this road trip will spell the fate of our season. If we come out of this with a 4-0 or 3-1 record and we dominate games, I think we still have a chance. If we go 2-2 or worse and look flat, I think it's time to punt on the season. Let's get our RFAs signed up, let's identify who we want for next year to fill the holes we're going to have, let's make all the effort we can to make the playoffs, but really, let's make sure that next year we don't go into the season citing the same holes we have for the last 2-3 years.
