I don’t think there is any question this team is now run like a company and that company needs to make money. Hextall was right to sit back and accumulate picks. They did great hitting on a ton of picks. They need to keep their picks and keep drafting well to keep things going into the next decade, but they need to start showing results to the people that matter this year. Part of why people gate working for corporations, but it’s results based. The goal pretty clearly this year is to win a series. That gets a lot easier winning the division or at least not being a wildcard. I think they aim to finish top 4 in the east and win a series, maybe 2 if you can dodge a powerhouse. All decisions will be off of that. If they think they can do it without frost, he’s not going to make it.
Don't think it has much to do with Comcast.
This is the 5th year of a successful rebuild, Hextall tried for Stastny, settled for JVR but still add a top six starter.
TK, Sanheim, Patrick and Lindblom are at the point where they can take major steps up.
It's just normal for expectations to be higher, Ron is no longer in asset accumulation mode where he accepts a lack of depth as the price to be paid to stockpile draft picks and prospects.
They're still a year to two years from being a serious contender, but they're improving, in a similar spot to Toronto last year, who garnered 105 points but still lost in the 1st rd.
