Speculation: If the Subban trade from Montreal to Edmonton occurred.

[tempest2i]

That's the point, CHI isn't afraid to pay their big guns top $ because they know that's who will be with them long term. Who cares if they rotating supporting cast every couple years are so.

Chicago can get away with that model because they've already shown they can win with their big money guys.

It's a totally different story paying a bunch of guys with no sustained success that sort of money and just assuming they'll begin winning cups together.

 

[Smartguy]

Draisaitl + 4th is fair for Subban.

This board always over values young players.

This exactly, all the rumored pieces in that deal are unproven players, even if klefbom was indeed apparently talked about he's unproven as well. Having Mcd on forward and subban on d, and filling in the rest with the cap in mind is still the best team Edmonton has iced in the last decade. Edmontons obsession with unproven talent is the reason there perennial bottom feeders. Put the eggs in the proven basket, subban, for once and watch what happens

 

[luki here]

They could've made it work by having 3 ~20 minute a game PMD heavy pairings.

Beaulieu Petry
Sergachev Markov
Emelin Pateryn

Get a 2nd pairing caliber two way/disciplined PMD type to rotate Sergachev/Emelin/Pateryn and it doesn't look that bad under the right system.

Looks like a lottery finish.

 

[luki here]

[NHL][/NHL]

I agree. This is under the assumption that Klefbom comes back and plays like before.

and stays healthy. A lot of iffs here...