This year feels like 21/22 with next year set up for 22/23.
21/22: The, “Oh this is going better than we thought”. Early season pickups of Maillet and Christopoulos that didn’t really feel much different than picking up Thomas Johnston.
We moved Ladd & McDonald at the deadline mainly for picks and Currie, while grabbing that tough D Man in Perrott and goalie depth with Onuska for a 6th and conditional 4th.
22/23: We were the team to beat and went all in, acquiring Holmes, Harrison, Wright, and Dionicio. (And Aiden Castle but let’s forget about it). Sending out any valued 05’s, O Flaherty, Ride, Meidema…
I still think if we bought in Xhekaj in 21/22 it would’ve made the difference. Would’ve cost an extra second, fourth and a player than Perrott, but. Hindsight’s 20/20.
I just wonder if Bowlers looking at this year the same way as that less stretch and going, well rather than a slight buy, while we’re here… we should go for it.
The problem is, I don’t even know if there’s enough top D men in the league we could acquire that match up against London’s Dickinson/Bonk/Allen/Wooley.
I like our D group, but even wearing Spits colored glasses, it’s clear Mathurin/Christoforo/Woodall/Walton aren’t a match. And NHL teams view that the same.
We’re looking at 12 NHL Drafted players vs 3.
Tough to go all in when that’s your competition above you. And going out and grabbing a 1-2 D man, and another 2 elite forwards (which would cost everything we have), doesn’t put you in that much better of a spot you’re in right now.
Either way, it’ll be a fun deadline. The Eastern is wide open, the Western is the London show, with Kitchener/Windsor/Erie on the outside with a chance of “let’s pull off an upset”.
Merry Christmas! Let’s get this trade freeze over with lol