Some thoughts for STH to use:
The Canucks had an off year last year, but sports a declining core with few young high impact players coming from the pipelines. You can say all you want about contending, but we need to turn our goal differential around from -30 to about +50, which is a 80 goal swing. That is tall task that just isn't going to happen short of a miracle.
The 2015 NHL entry draft will feature one of the deepest draft of the decade, including generational super star talents this franchise never had such as McDavid and Eichel.
Since our ownership and management has repeatedly stated that winning the cup is the final goal, should we not consider moving some of our assets for future considerations such as 2015 1sts and have an off year? We keep our key veterans on board to shelter and mentor our prospects, and use this coming year to reload, finding someone to carry on the legacy that was passed down from Linden and Bure to Naslund and Bertuzzi to the Sedins and Luongo...
Which wouldn't be an issue had this franchise been able to locate and develop diamonds in the rough like Datsyuk, Zetterberg, and Giroux. "Drafting smart" and "money puck signings" is not an aswer that satsifies most fans, as it has yielded very little result for this franchise. Vancouver is a great city, but it has never been able to attract superstar talent via free agency. Our scouting and player development has also produced little results, creating the current predicament. Lastly, we have been unable to acquire any player of Bertuzzi or Luongo's ilk since those trades.
We are now at a crossroads, and most fans don't feel comfortable with this team taking the re-tool around our core in the form of the Calgary route circa 2008 and Toronto circa 2005, as it created an extended period of disappointment and poor results.
Almost all the cup winner in the cap era has top 5 picks in their core or has used top 5 picks to acquire core players.
This franchise wants a cup, not mediocrity and barely staying afloat between the 14th and 18th seed. Should this franchise not consider biting the bullet now rather than creating a pro-longed draught?