To re-tool or not re-tool is a matter of degree and timing. Once the season is over, we'll decide who we're resigning, who we'll let go, and then who we'll try to bring in as FAs or trades, all designed to build off of this year and put us in a position next year where we're playing somebody in the 1st round of the playoffs again.
My only point is, don't give up on this year even though we're facing adversity. Lets discuss what Lavy can do to change the Game 3 flow. Who is the best line mate for Josi with Weber out? Should Bartley or Vol be the 6th d-man? Is breaking up Ribs and Neal working or should they be reunited? Would Fiala shake things up? What adjustments can Rinne make at this stage to offset the way the Hawks are shooting at him? What's the key to solving Darling? Shoot high? Get him moving?
This thing is not done. Looking forward to going home tonight to match a near must-win game in the playoffs in late April, followed by another huge home game on Thursday. This is GREAT STUFF.
No matter how well we re-tool, the best end result is exactly where we are now. In a playoff series with a chance to advance. No amount of pre-success down the stretch guarantees you success in the playoffs. Look at the Caps. The Isles limped in worse than us. The Caps were supposed to be built for the playoffs because of the great "re-tooling" they did. The mighty Blues, poster boys for "tooling" a playoff ready team, are exactly where we are right now.
As they say in that locker room scene from Mystery, Alaska: "We can beat these guys ....... they're not that good!"
Stay real-time and leave-it-all-out-there emotionally. If we win, it's euphoric. If we lose, it hurts and turns us temporary bitter. We're Pred fans, we can take it.