Are we really concerned with the prospect pool rankings when the NHL roster is the 3rd youngest in the league?
Absolutely, I am. We are an incomplete NHL roster with limited cap room to fix things via free agency. On top of that, not only are the Hurricanes a better on-ice team than us right now but they have a better farm system as well.
My philosophy is 100% against the idea of "let's build a 'good enough,' team and then hope to ride the hot goaltender to a Cup." That's loser talk. That's what you got with Hank for a decade. We SHOULD be trying to build a powerhouse. We aren't going to be able to build a Pittsburgh-like dynasty because we lack a Malkin and a Crosby, but there are other templates that can get us there.
As I've said many times, we cut off the rebuild too early. We needed to push it another year or so, just one more deadline of selling and one more draft with high picks. We needed (need) to get like 2-3 more high end forwards, especially with Lias busting and Kravtsov bouncing.
Yes, we are very concerned with our prospect pool. Our forward depth is a flashing red warning sign that we aren't good enough long term to get over the hump.
And a 3 for 1 trade for a guy like JT Miller does greatly improve our depth over the next 2 years, especially when all 3 assets (Nils/Krav/1st) are either blocked or unrealistic to contribute in the near term.
I don't disagree with dealing a blocked player like Nils (even though I do dispute the nature of him being blocked, as I think Trouba doesn't see the end of his contract here which therefore opens a RD spot for Nils).
I disagree with the return being a year and a half rental. Or whatever term you want to use, if not rental. Miller would be gone in 2 playoff runs.
I like Arthur Staples' most recent article - the emergence of Lafreniere and the pending return of Kakko hopefully pushes them off the need for a top 6 rental and more to the realm of middle 6 cheaper options.
The next 2 seasons this team has a great chance to do serious damage in the playoffs. How many games do they have to go nose to nose with other contenders and win before we can trade a prospect or a pick? Because as of right now, Drury hasnt traded any of the fruits of the rebuild, despite how much you irrationally hate him.
We can trade prospects and picks, just not the top ones who fill future needs here, or who can be turned into pieces who do.
If VAN wont budge on their ask of Schneider, we move on and save Nils & the 1st rounder for the summer, when both absolutely will be traded. Kravtsov & the 2 2nd rounders will both surely be traded, for rentals or otherwise, and the writing is on the wall with Chytil as well.
Right, but as Staple suggests, this summer they move Nils and the first for a long term piece.
That's way more acceptable.
Three for ones are still bad ideas for us at this point though, unless we're getting a really, really attractive piece back.
The fans have also been plenty patient. Adding a veteran top 6 center does much more good than harm for this team. Othmann/Cuylle/Berard/Robertson are all still around. We'll survive a 3 for 1 trade.
Survive, yes. Thrive? Probably not if it's for rentals.
And this fan base has been the opposite of patient. It has never endured a full long term rebuild and didn't even have the patience to see this one through.
It loves it's long term mediocrity instead of building a championship team. Cuylle/Berard/Robertson are not enough to bring aboard needed young top 6 forwards.
