Yes I have been thinking of this too. If these young players don’t develop. The window closes again. This core may just not be good enough. And that includes nick. I think demidov and Hutson and fowler may be the first pieces in a new core. But that means another 5 years of building. I don’t see Suzuki ever leading this core to a cup. Never have. May have to start over again. Another 5 years.
im not that pesseismtic, everything changes with the additions of some star (superstar hopefully) prospects / players in Demidov, Hutson and perhaps this years 1OA pick (should be at least another top 5 pick at this rate). The current core then become part of the surrounding cast.
The core essentially is Demidov + Slaf + 2025 pick + Hutson + Fowler (+Reinbacher)
To me that should be good enough to compete for years to come when you factor in a surrounding cast of Suzuki, Caufield, Guhle, and whoever else from Dach, Newhook, Mailloux, Roy, Beck, etc are able to stand out.
But it does suck to see so many younger players suck ass in a very younger player friendly team. Crazy to think