1 year ago, we were 18 points better than NYI and 15 better than Carolina. We absolutely need to do everything in our power to be a 100 point team next year.
Two years ago the Islanders were 6 points better than us.
We overachieved last year, we were a thin team with questionable goal tending - and that's what we saw in the fall with Couts coming off the MCL and JVR and Elliott injured. Thin teams need good luck with injuries to compete.
Most NHL players don't reach their peak until 24 or so, a few outliers who are usually peak performers doesn't change that reality.
Ghost did at 24, Couts at 25. Along with Giroux and Voracek, theyv'e been our only reliable players, JVR is a scorer but otherwise limited
Provorov (22), Sanheim (22), Lindblom (22), Myers (21), TK (21), Patrick (20), Hart (20), Frost (19), Farabee (19), that's a nice core of talented young players with their best years ahead of them - but they've been inconsistent this season.
Rubtsov (21), Laberge (21), Ratcliffe (20), Allison (21), Laczynski (21), Cates (20), Kalynuk (21), Zamula (19), Ersson (19) etc. are in the pipeline.
Fletcher needs to be patient, but communicate better than Hextall. Temper expectations, playoffs and a competitive 1st rd should be the 2019-20 goal.
He has the assets to make good moves without mortgaging the future, from this year's 2nd and 3rd rd picks, lots of short-term cap room (to add veteran patches) and enough long-term room for one major FA signing.
Adding short-term veteran depth at forward and a top four veteran defensive oriented RHD to stabilize the young D would have a huge impact.
If we don't land Panarin or EK the offseason shouldn't be a failure. The right incremental moves could pay off.
