For upgrading our defense next season we'll only be able to judge when we see what the resulting top 4 looks like. Moore is one of our top two now (for worse or for better) if we let him walk we'll have to slot in other players who result in an upgraded unit. Our Defense as a group is the big weakness of our team and we are not going anywhere, as a contender, unless we get more solid there.
And in goal. It's great the Kinkaid has been performing during the last month, but who knows what he will be in the long run. Is the current streak a climb to another plateau of play, or an anomaly at the moment? On that, Shero must wager the future of the club. Going forward we can't rely on Schneider except with someone else around whom we feel equally confident in starting 40 plus games if necessary.
Finally as to Severson, the big issue is give aways when he's the last man back, one on one, with a forward attacking him. He's insecure in those situations. Where a real first D man will simply wheel and keep the puck away from anybody who's pressuring him, Severson will panic and sometimes turn it over, almost without being forced. The issue looks to be mental as much as physical. It's actually something you can work on in the offseason. One on one possession of the puck with someone bearing down on you when you have room to skate if necessary. Drill at this from dawn to dusk.
