Yes, we can. We just have to continue drafting well enough to surround them with some ELCs.
Sens fans are wild. We've been at rock bottom for the last 5 years. But the young players we've drafted have finally developed, we're paying them, plus we're adding other stars, and people are freaking out that it might be expensive in 3-4 years?
Just enjoy the next few seasons. Maybe we have some fun playoff runs.
Whatever happens after, it won't be much worse than what we just went through. We can always trade him for picks and prospects in 5 years, hope that those prospects develop into top 6 scorers, and then complain that we gave them too much money and term when they do. I hear the class of 2027 is deep.