Why is it either remain mediocre or Scott Gordon days for you guys?
I just don’t see Malkin wanting 5k fans in the building in year 1 or 2 of his village opening. That’s my driver behind ‘not the right time.’
I would prefer to see the Isles trade Barzal, which is going to alter how they play regular minutes, power play, 4/4, OT, etc. That trade will have an impact (say you swap for Tkachuk in OTT?). Continue to carve out the underperforming players. And if winning is that important, can Lambert and hire Queneville.
Sunset the 4th line this offseason. Look to move JGP mainly because JGP and Czikas are redundant once you move on Clutter and Martin.
If you want picks, then next season is when you can flip Palms and Nelson for 1sts and 2nds. Hold onto the first this year.
If rebuild/retool, the only players to keep around are Sorokin and Dobson.