I get that there are flaws and things that desperately need a fixing (PP, faceoff issues although FO percentages have been a bit better as of late) but to say this team “isn’t very good” is pretty ludacris. Maybe if we were 9-12-2 or 10-10-3 then I’d say, “this team isn’t very good” but, we’re not. We’re 15-8-1 and have 31 of a possible 48 points so far. Tied for 4th most points in the entire league.
Serious and logical question, what does this team need to do for you to change your thinking and suddenly start to say, “this team IS very good” ?
Establish an identity and keep it throughout the whole team. Are we a skill team? which I think this is what they want, then ditch players like Jenner and Dubinsky, they don't fit. If you want to go back to the 2013-14 jackets of grit and size then trade Panarin. He won't fit on a team like that. I'd say trade bjorkstrand too but he's willing to go to the corners so maybe he could stay.
Acquire a top 6 center. There currently isn't one on the roster and our best center might be a 19 year old. That's both a testiment to PLD's play, and an insult to the rest of the team.
Then of course the powerplay.
It's not far away, like I have said there is some good things here especially on D. But thinking a team this young and flawed can overcome the huge issues at center, on the scoreboard, with the identity, and on the special teams would just be negligent of facts. I understand being a fan and looking at it through CBJ goggles but a spade is a spade.
If bob wasn't playing at a Vezina pace, this team would be around where Carolina is.