LoneFunyan
Proud of all the points
- Nov 11, 2015
- 483
- 598
How is that any different than the last 20 years though?
It's not - we've been on this hamster treadmill for 20 years. I think the only argument against saying we're in a rebuild is to ask when were we ever built?
Now I do think if we're going to acquire a true 1C it has to be via trade to a team against the cap or just wanting to rid itself of a long contract.
Almost by definition, a team wanting to get rid of a long contract is moving an underperforming player, so you're getting someone who is risky in some regard. And while we've heard over and over that cash strapped teams will be forced to do this or that, it rarely (and I'm only using "rarely" as a qualifier because I don't want to get trapped in the internet "Aha! You said never and I found one extraordinary situation therefore you are dumb and your point is dumb" phenomenon) comes to pass. When was the last time a team traded a top-flight player, at any position, simply because the cap forced their hand? Now extend that question to a center.
We see movement of lesser players due to cap all the time, but I just don't see a lot of trades that fit the bill of "good player we'd love to keep but can't because of cap". Flat cap may change things, sure, but I'm not betting on it.
I don't know, I just don't see any scenario where we acquire the type of player we need (a la Eichel) without creating at least a few roster holes and significant holes in the farm system and futures.
Honestly, though, I think any speculation about Eichel in regards to the CBJ is probably p***ing in the wind, because there are too many other teams that would be able to offer better packages.