Hard not to be pleased with the free agency action so far.
I would say it's still a significant need to upgrade Ceci to push the team over the top, though I do like Stecher and I am pleasantly surprised by the emergence of Broberg.
The forward mix is very solid, especially since we don't really have anyone in the pipeline pushing.
How can you not like bringing back that entire 3rd line and putting Arvidsson and J. Skinner on top of that. Finally some actual skill options to play with Draisaitl.
The only thing I would have some concern over is we are slower overall and almost hand in hand there is some age and injury risk here.
Nuge, Arvidsson, Janmark are 31.
Hyman, Kane, Skinner are 32.
Henrique at 34, Ryan at 37, Perry at 40.
You have 2 forwards beyond McDrai under 30 (McLeod and Holloway).
Luckily, Jackson was smart enough not to go crazy on term with any of the deals. But some youth will be needed. We lose forechecking speed with the departure of Foegele and don't gain anyone back who fits that bill.
Foegele, for all his faults, ended up having some good moments here in the back half of his contract. He was a good element whenever added to the top 6, showing well with Drai and McDavid. I am hoping Holloway finds a way to fill the role and pot 15-20 allowing us to spread the wealth in the top 9. Foegele's departure is one of the reasons I would also find a way to hang on to McLeod who is a potential casualty from adding all these forwards. Need a couple players who can simply motor, win races, and suppress shots against. And there won't be a bunch of pressure on him to produce because we definitely added some goals here with Skinner and Arvidsson.
Holloway-McDavid-Hyman
Skinner-Draisaitl-Arvidsson
Nuge-Henrique-Brown
Janmark-McLeod-Perry
Kane/Ryan
Good work by Jackson. Takes some of the sting of G7 off (though I'll never fully heal until we lift Lord Stanley in the McDrai era). I hope we find a way to get Draisaitl and Bouchard extensions done before the summer is over. Would basically be a damn near perfect offseason.