I couldn't agree more, I've been preaching that on a daily basis for a long time now. I keep asking people if we keep JVR and co. and that costs a 1st and a few 2nd's, how much are we going to spend next year or the year after than etc. ? We'll be broke in no time. It's all about picking your spots, figuring when is as you said, our best chance is and the idea that our best chance is now when we have to face maybe the top 2 teams in the NHL in the 1st 2 rounds is just plain nutso. We could beat them sure but betting our future on it, no thanks.
Yeah. At the same time, you want to give every chance a try. If we can make cost-effective improvements to the team to neutralize some weak spot this year, then that might be worth it. Accelerating the time table also works, in the sense that we pay a large load of assets for a long-term piece that can help us right away.
You and I share the same position here. We want to maximize our chances over the larger picture. And bleeding assets has a high likely hood of gutting our chances towards the end of our window. At the same time, missed opportunities shouldn't be discounted. If we hurt our roster enough that we can't compete against the top teams this year, then that's quite a sizable bite out of our chances over the larger picture as well.
That's why we have to worry that if JVR goes, how will our depth scoring and PP fair? We already have issues with the latter, what if losing JVR makes the first unit lose their dynamic? I'm not sure we can replace what he does there.
It all comes down to value for me. If the return for JVR hover around a 1st plus something minor, then I might just keep him. If we get offered Fabbro, or some other high-end RHD prospect? It just might be worth the risk.
It's also about not only the quality of the pool, but also the stage it's in. Right now we are brimming with forward prospects that are ready to make an impact from now to maybe two seasons from now. We will not be able to utilize all of that, so it makes sense to use it.
Getting assets back is important. One thing I think we should consider is that instead of selling off pieces that might be hard to replace, we could sell surplus pieces we have no room for. Look at Korshkov/Grundström/Johnsson/Leivo for example. They'll be competing for one, maybe two spots. A team that wants NHL ready young talent might pay a very good pick for one of them. With good drafting, we can elongate the period where we have quality depth, instead of having a logjam and losing guys cheap because teams know they are waiver-eligible.
Just some thoughts. It's not an easy situation, this.