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FireBednarsSuccessor
You keep mentioning that we shouldn't be relying on youth to fill holes yet you want to get rid of our best minute muncher atm on defense. I know EJ has shown some decline but I'mnot convinced he'll drop of a cliff necessarily. I think he might remain a strong top 4 guy for quite a few more years. Just maybe we'll have to reduce responsibility to 2nd pair stay at home guy. Atleast as his primary responsibility.
It's largely that I'm just not looking forward to the last year or (more likely) two of his contract; when we'll be paying him 6M and (likely) just hoping that he can still make do in a mid-pairing role. I'm not saying he's expendable because of Makar / Girard / Zadorov / Meloche / Timmins & we can simply bank on the kids to replace him...just that I don't think it's wise for us to bank on him to fill that role for too much longer either.
It's similar to the point we've gotten to with Varly. I want Semyon gone now because he's not the solution anymore & he's just taking up minutes/capspace that could be used on testing what we do have...or on a real solution that is brought in from the outside. We're not at that point yet with EJ, but I expect that we will hit that point over the next 2-3 years.
Also; just because we convince EJ to waive his NMC & leave him exposed, doesn't mean Seattle will pick the then 33-year-old, who'll turn 34 during their inaugural season.