Forwards generally peak around 24-26. Relying on 30+ year olds for FIVE of our top six slots was always risky, and we're locked into most of them long term.
Overall, we aren't 0-5 bad. We'll bounce back and end up being in the mushy middle. Our underlying numbers look a lot better than 0-5 shows, and the new guys will gel over time. I'm not panicked about this year because the reality is this was never a true contender, just more of of the same.
So agree with the first part for sure. For Trotz to say that players should be coming to win championships not retire... It's an interesting strategy.
Where I disagree with you is the idea panicked about the year: we all know this team is better than the worst team in the league. We know that.
I think myself, and you for that matter, advocated for a true rebuild and we started to see that at the start of the Trotz/Poile transition, because our team started looking like a retirement home.
I was all in on put the chips all on the table with the signings this off-season. Good, we committed to a direction which is win now. Trade the youth. Burn the boats. Whatever. Some people wanted a rebuild more, some people wanted a cup chasing team more.
What I don't think ANYONE condoned is mushy middle. That is the absolute worst outcome.
And I can't say this forcefully enough: if adding Skeji, Stammer and Marchy only got us to the mushy middle again ... Someone's faith in this teams core was very, very off. Like someone needs to be shown the door off.
We traded our best prospect to lock up our current starter, we committed roster spots to vets instead of letting our youth grow into them. How are the prospects supposed to get to NHL level if they never get the opportunities to?
If we are mushy middle and barely miss the playoffs/lose in the first round that just isn't acceptable for the investment this team has made. More of the same is not going grow the shrinking fanbase.