If we have the following top-9 forwards here next year :
Horvat
Boeser
Baertschi
Pettersson
Leipsic
Gagner
Sutter
Eriksson
Virtanen
plus Gaunce and Archibald looking like quality 3rd line types, plus Gaudette *maybe* ready to step in, where exactly is the room to keep trundling along with the Sedins? The only possible outcome is that young players who should be getting developmental minutes and offensive zone starts will be getting the shaft so that we can continue giving these two nearly-unplayable-at-ES fossils 75% o-zone starts for no real reason other than nostalgia. It's terrible management and roster planning for a team where we're at. And that's even before Benning signs some other forward(s) this summer.
If these players come back, they're doing so to the detriment of the team.
Leipsic has had a good start, but nothing more than what Kenins did down the stretch on Bo's wing in 2015. He could just as easily flame out in the same way. Gagner should be in the press box, not getting soft offensive minutes. Sutter has finally been used as he should be - in a pure defensive role. Really, really hope we don't go back to having him deployed >50% o-zone starts. I agree with you regarding Eriksson. JV has been promising recently, but can't be relied upon in any meaningful way to play top-6 minutes. A smart GM would trade Baertschi right now, and probably Goldobin and Granlund rather than just waiving them in September anyways.
Horvat, Boeser and Pettersson. Maybe Eriksson. Those are the actual offensively capable players on the team. I don't think the Sedins taking up o-zone starts is as detrimental as when we had Horvat primed for an offensive role but had Henrik and Bonino/Sutter in front of him getting those minutes. Pettersson should step into this lineup tomorrow and be at worst, the third best offensive player, with or without the Sedins here. If the Sedins are back, that should only squeeze Gagner and Goldobin/Granlund, who should be squeezed out anyways. And if Leipsic and Gaudette are the real deal - bench them. If they're back, I think it's a given that there are different expectations. They've already transitioned from being the offensive drivers just two years ago to playing third line minutes. Their minutes shouldn't be all that different from what Jagr was playing in Calgary.
It's not the opportunity cost of playing the Sedins taking chances away from young players that has me on the fence of whether or not they should be back; it's the idea that a bottom-3 finishing team could actually bring back the exact same roster as the previous year, plus one or two rookies, and not just expect the exact same result. I'm not against tanking as a result, but living in Edmonton and seeing the results of the Oilers, I'm against tanking as a process. I really think there's a need for optimism around a team. Hard for even the most optimistic players to look around and see 95% of the same guys being brought back and think things are going to be all that different.
So if it's for the sake of roster turnover, I'll begrudgingly admit that there's some validity to not bringing the Sedins back.
Of course, the counter point to that is the very real fear of Kane/Neal/Nash, who would legitimately present an opportunity cost for playing time, along with likely albatross contracts. And the disgusting thought of seeing the Sedins wearing Leafs or Flames jerseys.
