But we have Donato and Bjork and Senyshyn and Frederic and JFK and they are all ready to step in and contribute right away, or so I have been told.
This is a one and a half line team with a good top 4 D that is woefully small, not physical at forward beyond Backes and Wagner and relying far too much on rookies improving and prospects being ready. Last years 112 points hurts this team in many ways, if they want to get all the suspect prospects playing time in the NHL they cannot expect to contend, unfortunately the core is getting older by the second and Rask, Krejci, Chara and Bergeron won't be anywhere near as effective in a year or tow as they are now or were last year. Krecji may have already become taken too many steps back to be a top end number two center.
To me it is still a tweener team too old to rebuild too many holes to contend.
They will struggle to make the playoffs if MacAvoy, DeBrusk or Carlo don't improve much less regress.