Our Top 6 and Defence are better than last year. It boggles my mind how anyone can even argue otherwise. It's not even up for debate.
First the comment wasn’t about the top 6 maybe not being better. The comment was the top 6, using when Horvat and Pettersson were on the ice as a surrogate already performed well compared to the rest of the league. Additions while helpful are not likely to provide a stepwise improvement that is needed to propel the team forward. The issues up front last year stemmed mainly from an incredibly porous and unproductive bottom 6. Some names may change but ultimately see much of the same in those spots so I don’t expect massive improvement from that bottom 6.
Second, the blueline will be better in transition I said that. But I don’t really seem much improvement in terms of defensive coverage. Edler had a great year but he’d need to repeat that which I think is a tall task at his age.
Tanev is Tanev so he’ll be hurt half the year and his play has dropped year on year. Will it continue to drop?
Stecher...I’m not sure how much more room he has to grow. I suspect his play will be similar.
So by my count of those 3 your are more likely to have reduced play or similar play rather than improved play. Throw in Biega and you have 4 returnees who aren’t going to get better. So your improvements are coming from the additions.
Myers is not good in the defensive zone or against the rush. That’s not some unknown or opinion. That is the part of the game he struggles with. Yes better at moving the puck up the ice compared to last years folks but is that going to have a tangible difference. Maybe but unlikely to be at a level that has true impact in the standings.
Benn..he’s a #6 guy. Is he substantially better than a Biega? Doubtful. He’s also 32 years old such that decline and perhaps rapid decline is a very real possibility.
Hughes electrifying and talented but growing pains will be seen.
top 4 for the bulk of the year last year was pretty much Edler, Tanev, Stecher and Hutton. I think it’s highly probable that you are going to see a similar quality this year IMO. Sure Myers may be better than Hutton but is that going to be offset by Edler and Tanev decline? Or even his own decline? I wouldn’t bet against it.
The final pairing in terms of 5-on-5 time is likely to be Hughes and Benn. Benn isn’t an improvement on Biega IMO though it’s a fine contract. He’s a journeyman type guy like a whole host of others. Hell even Gudbranson in a 6/7 spot at that type of salary is fine. Hughes is an unknown yet. No question he’s electrifying but there is also a very real question if he’s going to have a hard time physically when he’s playing night after night after night.
Is it better...sure it’s likely better. Is it better enough to actually make a difference and allow the team to challenge for a playoff spot? I don’t think it is. I think it once again ends up as being a big reason why the team misses the playoffs and everyone acts shocked when that happens.