It does seem like Holland keys on players who want to be here. I am assuming thats why guys like Gagner, Cagguila, Sutter etc were targeted.
As far as age goes. I agree that I think we need to start injecting more youth in the line up. But I sometimes get the feeling that maybe its the core, that wants more veteran players added than the GM/Coach? I am not sure they have the patience to deal with rookie mistakes. Maybe I am wrong.
The core should be at the age (now) where bringing in a guys like Keith etc arent required to settle the waters.
Yeah I wonder a bit too. Its weird that even though McDrai are the best players on Earth they get nervous in the crux and want solid vet support around them. Its like always this feeling that the club doesn't have enough experience or playoff moxy.
But look at the tales of different teams. Pittsburgh and Caps got real old. They both won cups but somehow thought that age wasn't going to be a problem. The Kings, also having won 2 cups went a completely different way and discarded a lot of age, just got rid of it and hung onto what they felt were their key players for a youth injection. So that LA, during a rebuild is at least making playoffs and having a future. Pens and Caps are going to be dead in the water for a long time.
The last thing is nobody should look at the Caps or Pens roster and think that is even a legitimate plan of competing. They're holding onto all the names there in those markets just to sell tickets. Its a winning solution only at the gate. It took balls to do what the Kings did.
You look at a player like Jeff Carter. Really loved the player. I'm sure it hurt like hell for Kings to discard players like that, and Pens adding old Carter, but the Kings knew what plan they had, and really the Pens didn't anymore.