Top 6 Spaling
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Filling in a top line center and a top 6 winger, along with two roster defensemen, is a pretty big makeover...
Filling in a top line center and a top 6 winger, along with two roster defensemen, is a pretty big makeover...
The problem is, Byrd, as it has long been, that the team is just not bad enough to tank and land the top-flight offensive talent we desperately need. The Jones year was an anomaly, and I would wager that had the season been a normal 82-game affair, we never would have been in the lottery to begin with, even considering the crippling injuries.
As is now, we would have to sell off far too many assets to truly go into a rebuild. Dump off Weber, Rinne, Fisher, Neal, don't bring back Ribeiro, Cullen, Goose, or Franson, and just go with the younger core and I bet we're still very hard-pressed to finish bottom 5.
Sad as it is to say, though, I do not see us as a legit contender during the Weber/Rinne window. I don't think there's any real shot we move either of those guys (or that we would get appropriate value in return), but I would much rather see us try to build a team around the Forsberg/Fiala/Josi/Jones/Ellis/Ekholm group than "go for it" now.
So you do not think we will be a "legit" contender during Weber's window? How can you possibly know that? Heck, we were pretty close to being a legit contender this year, and without injuries to 2 of our 3 most important players, we likely win this series against Chicago and would be in the final 8 this year. If we had some aging, over the hill roster I would agree, but to me, our window is opening, not closing.
We have one of the most talented defenses 1-6 in the entire league and have more up and coming skilled forwards than we have ever had. And it is now a pretty big if, but IF Rinne returns to his normal self, that is a pretty darn good nucleus going forward.
As has been discussed to death, we absolutely need an upgrade at Center- get that and we absolutely can be a legit contender.
I know we are all emotionally drained after that loss last night, but for the life of me I don't get the doom and gloom, need to rebuild thinking about the next few years.
I feel pretty good about the Preds future- am I the only one????????
and to all the people screaming we need a drastic makeover. we don't. we have many good pieces. but many of them are forced into roles they aren't best suited for.
ribs would make a really great second line center. fisher would make a really great 3rd line centerman. i look at our roster needs for next year and think;
forsberg-XXXX(trade/signing?)-neal
wilson-ribs-XXXX(fiala,vescey here?)
smith-fisher-XXXX(watson,sissons,arvdsson?)
XXXX(nystrom,bourque,salomaki?)-gaustad-beck
possibly two third pair dmen (if we trade an ellis or jones) and a backup goalie.
these few changes and just some reasonable development from the youngsters (not easy, but few), could turn us from a good 10th-15th type team (which is what we are really now), into an elite top 5 type team.
it's possible. i still have hope.
Everyone is forgetting Moses.. I would bet the plans for the guy to be in the top 6 with Fiala Neal and FF. So there are some pieces that are going to need to be moved out. Forward wise as well. there just not enough room for Wilson, Smith, Hook, Stalberg, Arvidson, along with a few more in Milwaukee. The issue yet again a boatload unproven guys. Will the right decisions be made? Will one get away that they should retain? Almost certain there will be disappointing situations.
There are just too many players in the mix to think there won't be a bit of turnover this off-season.Everyone is forgetting Moses.. I would bet the plans for the guy to be in the top 6 with Fiala Neal and FF. So there are some pieces that are going to need to be moved out. Forward wise as well. there just not enough room for Wilson, Smith, Hook, Stalberg, Arvidson, along with a few more in Milwaukee. The issue yet again a boatload unproven guys. Will the right decisions be made? Will one get away that they should retain? Almost certain there will be disappointing situations.
In a vacuum, I actually do think Draisaitl is a better fit, but don't think he's close enough to being ready for such a trade to benefit us during this window.Other than the fact that Edmonton generally makes sense as a trade partner I don't get the notion that Nugent-Hopkins needs to be acquired. We complain about our lack of size and we want a guy who clocks in at 190 pounds (depending on where you look)? Both RNH and Fisher are 6'1" and Fisher is 25 pounds heavier.
There are just too many players in the mix to think there won't be a bit of turnover this off-season.
Signed:
Forsberg
Nystrom
Stalberg
Goose
Neal
Moses
Probably re-signed:
Smith
Wilson
Fisher (if he doesn't retire after all)
Ribeiro
Iffy re-signing:
Jarnkrok
Beck
Bourque
Probably out:
Cullen
Santorelli
Potential prospects:
Fiala
Aberg
Salomaki
Arvidsson
Watson
Sissons
This doesn't include any possible free agent signings or trade acquisitions. Going to be an interesting off-season. We have some spots we definitely need to clear.
It's an opinion, I don't claim to have any supernatural knowledge one way or the other. I think the lack of top-end talent offensively is going to always have us at a disadvantage when it comes to the post-season, even with the additions of players like Forsberg and Fiala. With the window for Weber/Rinne being extremely small in comparison to the younger group, I would hate to see us waste young assets to "go for it now" only to come up short.
It's not that I feel down on the team or organization, I think we are going to be a very good team for the next several years, but I think that is about the ceiling of what we'll be, a good, not great team.
I don't disagree with you, I'm just wary of whether the talent develops well enough for us to really be a legit contender before Rinne and Weber are too far on the decline. If Poile tries to go about upgrading center this summer, I think he needs to be real careful about how he does it. Trading a piece like Ellis for a Joe Thornton, for instance, would be real counterproductive long-term, IMO.I hear ya, and just so we are clear, I respect your opinions.
As for lack of top end talent, IF we can get an upgrade and center (and I realize that is a big if)- but if we somehow are able to do that, with potential studs like Forsberg and Fiala to go along with guys like Smith and Wilson, that is some pretty good top end talent to me.
Again, I get that there are alot of ifs in there- we don't know how Fiala will develop, for example.
I am just saying its not like the cupboard is bare and we have no hope of having elite talent on offense for years to come
We played these clowns, in their house, while they are fully-healthy, without our Norris-caliber Dman and our most important F, and we played them virtually dead-even for 100 minutes. The sky is not falling, as disappointing as the results may be..
I hear ya, and just so we are clear, I respect your opinions.
As for lack of top end talent, IF we can get an upgrade and center (and I realize that is a big if)- but if we somehow are able to do that, with potential studs like Forsberg and Fiala to go along with guys like Smith and Wilson, that is some pretty good top end talent to me.
Again, I get that there are alot of ifs in there- we don't know how Fiala will develop, for example.
I am just saying its not like the cupboard is bare and we have no hope of having elite talent on offense for years to come
Exactly- its like everyone on here has completely forgotten, or is ignoring, the fact that we are missing quite possibly our 2 most important players (skaters, not goaltenders). And still have played a full strength Chicago Blackhawks to at worst a dead even series. That is pretty darn impressive in my book.
What if we had been healthy and Chicago was missing Kane and Keith??
I am pretty sure I remember a whole lot of people on here saying we would get blown out and swept in this series WITH Weber and Fisher. But even without them that still did not happen.
Yay the Preds didn't get swept!