Agreed.
Perhaps Phil saying no could turn out to be a blessing.
The reality is if he did have the cash, he should be pursuing. Edler, MoJo or Nyquist and thats about it, imo.
ETA: Trade wise, I'd mix it up/bounce ideas off the cap strapped teams if i were JR. Tampa, TOR and Vegas(who'd be ok trading some good players).
Miller
Palat
Killorn
Kapanen
Johnsson
Haula
Alot there to like.
The Minnesota deal would have given us very little cap relief - nowhere near enough to make us FA players - but it would have given us that little extra bit of cap that could have us getting involved with the trade targets you mention. That doesn't look like a blessing to me.
Or maybe his options were limited by Trouba and his willingness to sign a long term contract elsewhere? Wouldn't be the first time that's happened. He has 2 RFA seasons left before he's a UFA. So while he doesn't have total control, he has enough power to limit things.
And in addition while I don't think all that highly of Poink, he is an RD who over his NHL career (101 games), has played at a 32pt pace and is seen as a PMD. For someone who's 24 and who's only played 2 years of pro... there's definitely some potential there. And he's going to be cheap to sign. Odds are good that he signs for less than 3.5m a season over a year or two (I'd guess 2). That like with the Maatta deal holds some value in and of itself when you have expensive contracts to sign.
I don't think that deal reflected a "will sign long term" deal price at all. Probably could have beaten it with another offer for him as a one year rental. I think it means they really rate Pionk and we'll see if they're right.
I think anybody blaming anybody but Brassard and Brassards injuries for how that turned out is looking at it like a child.
Even as someone who was sceptical about the idea of paying a big amount of assets for a scoring 2C to be a do it all 3C, I think I'd mostly agree with this. I thought it mightn't work, I didn't think it'd get that bad.
Yzerman's running the show now. Can't imagine he'd be the type to take JJ on.
He did take Girardi tbf.
I will turn back to my uber positive self and agree with JR about one thing. Speed/puck pressure is equal. If you have speed but you are that annoying gnat on the puck buzzing all over, then your speed is worthless. So I think JR is figuring that out. Or at least he's saying the right things...
I'm going to take one cautiously optimistic step forward. Anyone with me?
Who are you and what did you do with Cole?
...
Ok, nah, I don't think that's gonna change my mind just yet. Saying the right things is worthless without doing the right things and he's got a long summer ahead of him there. And while it is a long summer, I think he's currently pointing at not solving the two biggest issues I have with the team, and that's a pretty unhappy scenario.