After the last two losses along with the Barzal injury it was a nice little run but this team should trade Nelson and Palmieri. In the offseason/deadline I would also trade Dobson if they can get Elias Pettersson. If Nelson really wants to be here give it a run in free agency while letting him go play for a Cup elsewhere.
The team has problems staying healthy because they are getting older. Injuries hit this team differently because they don't really have the talent to bank points needed when they are fully healthy.
I am not really on the fire Lou bandwagon like many (indifferent on it) but he absolutely should be trading Nelson and Palmieri. That would get me on the bandwagon is he does not trade both of them at this point. Love the moves he has made on defense in Boqvist, Perunovich, and DeAngelo. It makes you think why the hell he does not do this in the offseason because he can still spot talent for cheap.
The grass is not always greener in regards to a new GM. I like Roy and think he can build something here as head coach. But they need to get more players who have skating abilities on the defensive end. Quick thinking players too (which Dobson is not).
Dobson it comes down to one question. Can he be the #1 anchor on your defensive side of the game to lead you to a Stanley Cup?The answer to that is no for me. He is soft defensively, not an elite skater offensively, not an elite puck mover either. He will put up a few more 60-70 point seasons but this is not 2010 anymore where that is impressive. Six other defenseman in the league scored more than him with 10 scoring 60+.
Trade Nelson for picks and prospects, trade Palmieri for picks, trade Dobson in a deal for Pettersson, try to sign Nelson and continue to add speed to the lineup. The team would be back to being good enough much quicker than anyone thinks. However, they NEED to trade Nelson and Palmieri.