We really have gotten so spoiled. In the past like... 20 years, we had Brad Richards put up a 66 point season. I don't think Drury, Gomez, Brassard or Stepan ever broke 60 points here (edit: forgot Gomez's first season he had 70). We acquired Drury and Richards at 31 years old.
Mika put up a 74 point season, followed it up with 75 in 56 games, had 50 in 56 last year, is averaging 88 points per 82 games over the past three seasons and, outside of his possible-Covid suckage for 27 games last year, has been playing at a 50+ goal, 100+ point pace the past two seasons. We have the opportunity to extend him at age 28 and we're unsure about it.
Panarin, Fox and picking #1 and 2 has messed with our heads. Zibanejad is the center we've waited for pretty much since 2000. An 8 year deal - as with most - will likely be rough in the final 3 seasons, but I'll worry about that 5 years from now. And I get that we have kids who need to be re-signed, but I would absolutely coerce Trouba and Kreider into waiving their clauses and do everything possible to move them, or buy them out, before I would let Zibanejad go. We have the wing and D depth to absorb their losses. Zibanejad is the best center we've had since I was like 10 years old, and he's just hit his prime.
