Jost is fine as a 4C that can serviceable play up if need be. What you lose with him vs Drury at 4C is better defensive play and faceoff acumen, which right now I think they’re really missing along with Necas’ entries on the PP. But to be fair, it’s not like they were doing that much with Necas on the PP after Xmas anyway.
I’d have no problem if they kept Jost around as a bottom 6’er. He’s cheap, versatile and experienced. Also, he’s a dime a dozen player, so easily replaceable too.
IMO, this was always a transitional year, not the year to go for it. However seems like the front office felt differently with their looming cap space and possibly getting a head start on signing the best UFA available in Rantanen. That’s backfired horribly so far. That trade probably goes down as the worst move they’ve made, with the Kotkankemi offer sheet and subsequent 8yr deal being 2nd worst.
The D is showing the cracks from losing Pesce and Skjei, but they’ve been able to bandaid the blueline with short term solutions, while banking on Nikishin as the long term solution. I think that bet pays off.
What they haven’t been able to do is put any sort of reasonable 2nd line together or find a player Svechnikov clicks with. To me, that has to be the goal this deadline and potentially in summer too. Jettison Kotkaniemi or finally realize he’s a bottom 6’er.
Also, suck it up, send Rantanen packing for the best offer a team gives you. I don’t care if that team is a direct rival, get all you can for him and move on. Its been a very small sample size, but it I’ve seen enough, I don’t want them to pay him $13M+ for the next 8yrs anymore. And if by some miracle he finally clicks and starts putting up points and re-signs, I’ll gladly eat my words, but I ain’t holding my breath.