Viqsi
"that chick from Ohio"
We'd have a high-octane one-two punch at center in Duchene and PLD to go along with our one-two punch on the blueline in Jones and Werenski. And Atkinson still isn't going anywhere. And there's still some good secondary scorers like Anderson and Bjorkstrand. Korpisalo hasn't set the world on fire, but there's two other "right now" candidates right behind him in Merzlikins and Vehvilainen - and if they don't work out, there's also Tarasov. And that's assuming we don't get to actually do anything with the cap space left over from not signing the two Russians.I disagree. I just believe the price is too high. Even if they somehow get out of their division, I don't think they would have much chance against whoever comes out of the Atlantic.
And that only if they keep all of Panarin, Bob and Duchene as rentals for the run. Too steep of a price IMO.
That said. I think the worst case scenario might just be Duchene re-signing with them while Bob and Panarin walk. That has the potential to lock them into mediocrity for another 5+ years (while costing them yet another 1st).
Not good enough to consistently make the playoffs or even threaten to win a round and not bad enough to ever get enough talent through the draft realistically to change it.
That was always a risk once Panarin and Bob had their feet out of the door but I worry that re-signing Duchene would only make it worse.
Unless there really is some kind of doom curse on teams Duchene plays for, we're not in any real danger.