I'll say it 'till the cows come home: opportunity cost. Bellows is whatever with injuries, and he won't be long for the team if he's been this bad. Tortorella effectively uses 2 lines with any consistent usage (in this day and age). Tippett is in that mix, while getting immensely valuable PP1 time. I truly don't need several seasons of such usage to know he's not a long term piece. But then again, I didn't trade Giroux for him. Meanwhile, along with Cates (who I think can be a piece, as depth!), he's sucking up usage with actual NHL players, while Frost and Allison effectively rot.
I'm okay with churning through players on a rebuilding team, but they're not churning. It's the same players, the same usage. And the churning is 30+ players, sub-replacements, and waivers.
Okay, but they're only 2nd worst in xGF%. Bottom 10 PP by every measure. Average on the PK.
Silver linings.