Went to the game last night....
I was trying to not think this, but never been more convinced this team needs a rebuild (Lou can call it whatever HE wants). I know a bunch of people just went into Anaphylactic Shock over just reading that word, but there's also another word people are going to need to digest...
Reality.
By the start of next season Lee, Horvat, Pelech, Palmieri, Pageau, Duclair, Cizikas, Reilly, Mayfield, DeAngelo, Pulock, and Sorokin will all be over 30 years old. They can't make the playoffs with these guys, and they're only going to get worse as all of these players are at their peak now, or have past it. What a terrible lineup this is and adding in Eiserman, Richie, Nelson, and any other prospect we have isn't going to move the needle past fringe playoff team.
The "juice" is out of this franchise right now and even the fans know it. Even out friends in the upper deck don't cheer that loud. The way to get it back it to inject this team with more, and better, youth than they have.
And for those out there that don't want to do a rebuild because it "guarantees nothing." That's cool. You're correct - You could rebuild for 20 years and have zero success.
But you know what is a guarantee...? Having zero success with us continuing down this path the GM has tried for literally years now.
I'd also bet that at some point in the next 2-4 years it's going to become apparent to everyone (except for the "never rebuild under any circumstances crowd" - Essentially Lou and anyone who thinks like him) that there's going to be no choice but to rebuild. The long-time core is going to age out to "Baileyville," there won't be enough (good) youth to make this team a contender (or even a playoff team), and the team will eventually suck to the point of a top 5 pick (if not several).
Look back the past 5 years and it's obvious to see where things are trending. The check is in the mail - That's for sure. People think a rebuild only wastes time, but there's no bigger waste of time than continuing to quintuple-down on a doomed path that is only going to lead to the same place we could start facing now.
Lou needs to go - That's obvious. But also fans need to face the hard truth here....No other GM could rescue this team from where he has *lead* us. \
Conversely it can be very exciting to draft top-end prospects and watch them grow in your organization. Did anyone else see the 1st game of Cale Makar in Denver? Fans we're legit psyched and you could feel it. He obviously was a key piece in what won them the Cup and makes them a contender each season right now.
We can have that too, but you have to embrace it - Not be afraid because it might not work. I want to be truly excited again watching this team, but right now they are just a drain on my wallet and soul.
For those of you that agree with this - I commend you. For those that don't - Respect. I just hope things don't have to get utterly embarrassing and terrible before ownership takes action. Because I want us all be excited - And we are on the opposite side of the earth from that right now.