I can't reiterate enough (mostly out of frustration, so forgive me). This team is going to struggle to get that extra goal for a point or two on a consistent enough basis. Lou missed the window, yet again, to improve the offense. This is a team with a strong D and G, add offense to that, and you likely have a team that can vie for a top-2 Metro spot. If cap space was/is the barrier, that's on him. He signed most of this roster (sans Bailey). He should have addressed the cap going into the draft to set himself up for 'hockey trades,' and more importantly, UFAs.
That could have been the route he took.
Maybe most GMs would have taken that route.
Lou is not most GMs. That we've learned.
He's got a lot of forwards here who A) had down years last season and B) are at that stage in their development where the next step has to come.
He decided to give this group another chance to do what they did three years in a row. In addition, some of those slumping forwards (namely Palmieri, Parise, Bailey, and Pageau) had MUCH better second halves to the season.
Now his neck is on the line that this gamble works. I think we all know that he surely was trying to add, but simply "failed" in doing so, likely because we were in a situation where the only guys teams were willing to take either weren't on the market or we'd be raked over the coals for 'em.
As you mentioned, that's ultimately on him to be in that situation.
But maybe this simply is the way to go, what with a new coach and a team that's built from the goaltender out.
I personally see this team etching out more 2-1, 3-2 style victories. In addition, if they rebound enough up front to average 3 goals a game, then there'll be plenty of wins this season.
But from the get-go, the bet is on the forward group rebounding and those who need to take a next step, well, taking that next step.
