Let’s say Marner signs for 8 x 12.5.
Do you think there’s some unearthed potential with this group? 37.5mil for Matthews, Marner and Nylander - can that be a successful model in the playoffs?
I think this is why there’s so much pushback from the fanbase. Many of us don’t see it working long term, as we’ve seen what those 3 (+JT @ around 40m total) can and can’t do in the playoffs. It feels like signing up for 8 more years of the same letdown.
A lot of us feel that 12.5 can be used to bolster the roster in other areas.
With Mitch potentially re-signing, do you think there’s room for this core to improve and challenge for a cup?
Yes.
Other teams have kept their core and won.
I think hockey is a very random game and a bounce here or there can decide a game or series.
Barkov and Tkachuk were considered playoff no shows until recently and they had worse stats than our core.
Bobrovsky was the backup going into the playoffs the year before.
Past results to not always reflect future results.
Ovechkin was a loser and would never win until he did.
Since MacKinnon was drafted in Colorado their playoff record would make you think that he could never win a cup.
There lots of examples of this sort of thing.
I don't think them winning is ever likely, but I think that is the case for every team.
Whoever is favored to win next year likely won't.