To be honest, I don't actually know who was available to be brought in as a top 6 LD. But I don't believe that is the best way to look at it. Just because you have a need, doesn't mean you have to overpay for it. Especially when the need for forwards was much greater. Debrincat, and Fiala would have been better investments in my opinion. They obviously cost more against the cap, but they are difference makers. Lou has tried to build a team filled with average players who don't move the needle much. He doesn't take big swings. Romanov, JGP, and Palmieri are all such examples.
Which brings me to the pivot you talk about. Coleman/Goodrow were cost controlled for two years providing elite level bottom 6 forwards. The team acquiring these players already had Stamkos, Kucherov, Hedman, Point, Vasilevsky, etc. Their need was cheap depth. They got that at a relatively low cost. Once FAs Goodrow got 3.4 and Coleman got 4.9. Lightning got those players when they were making ~1-2 mil. This was a team that understood what they were lacking and executed.
Isles don't function this way. It was clear to everyone except for Lou that they were lacking at least one top 6 forward. What'd they do? Traded for a defensive defenseman. I agree that guys like Parise and Fasching are good value. It makes the JGP overpay more palatable. However, the death by a thousand paper cuts model created by Lou makes it very difficult to build a powerhouse. We have a bubble team. Lou should've known that, but he chose not to do anything about it. And here we are.
Top-4 defensemen on the open market cost big money and are typically older in both years and wear and tear. That is how you pay $4+ million in AAV, on long-term deals, for players like Gudbranson.
Quality young defensemen rarely hit the market and you have to give to get. The Isles gave up the 14th overall pick and, if that pick develops into Romanov, it is probably a solid draft pick. The Isles also got a pick back and took Isaiah George, who is also a solid prospect and having a nice season in juniors. They added two pieces.
You admit you don't have a reasonable or viable solution to fill the LHD2 spot that Romanov was brought in for, who is now logging even bigger minutes with Pelech out. This team would be a disaster without both Pelech and Romanov. Far worse than they are right now.
And Debrincat wasn't going to cost the 14th OA but went for the 7th OA, the 39th OA and a third in 2023. The Isles couldn't match that with just the first rounder, it probably would have taken two firsts. You would pay two firsts and the contract Debrincat will probably be given (probably in the $8-9 million AAV range)? I wouldn't.
That 14th OA would have landed you a player like JT Miller, who has already worn out his welcome in Vancouver and they are dying to unload him now before the ink has even dried on his extension. He is also a world-class dbag apparently.
So, while the Isles still need that top forward, they filled a hole at a moderate cost, added a very good prospect and they have their 2023 first to use if another top forward comes along, ideally for a better fit than Miller.
The Isles have all of the pieces but one. Lou needs to get that sniper, but they have an elite goalie in Sorokin, a solid platoon mate in Varly, the defense is very good, they have 4 very good NHL centers and a top prospect in Raty, and they have lots of players that fit for depth.
If Lou can't get that elite forward, then it will be a big miss. But I like the rest of the team and the younger players developing in the system. Having one hole to fill should be doable, but we will see.
