Before this past free agency period, despite what Jarmo says in public, this team was in the beginning of the second year of a complete rebuild. When free agency ended the CBJ added Gaudreau and Gudbranson. Adding a star player and a third pair defenseman doesn't all of a sudden end a rebuild when there were so many holes to begin with.
Who on the current roster are "locks" to be here in 3ish years barring unforseen circumstances?
Gaudreau, Laine, Jenner, Johnson, Sillinger, Werenski
That's it.
Anyone want to gamble on any of the rest being here? Maybe throw in a couple young guys that I'd personally like to see more of that haven't established themselves as NHL players yet:
Chinakhov, Foudy, Blankenburg
The rest of this roster we have seen and we know what these players have to offer. Some are aging vets that will eventually be gone or signed to lower salaries with reduced roles. The others are borderline NHL players, some better than others and some that could still improve, that can be replaced with similar players. Anyone want to put your money on what the worth of these players is to this team going forward?
And this hasn't even addressed the goalie position which has large question marks on it's own right now.
The young defensemen in the organization need to grow and catch up to the young forwards that are closer to consistent NHL service right now. The young forwards need to continue their individual growth as well. This will take a couple more years. And in the meantime the goalie situation needs to play itself out or they need to find their guy going forward.
Gaudreau sped up only one piece of this rebuild. Gudbranson didn't help it at all. This rebuild is far from completion. Keep your seat belts on.
