Same team as last year minus Johansson and same issues.
last years team finished second in the regular season and second in the playoffs right?
the way you put this it almost sounds like a huge critism… I would agree word for word with what you said, but to me its a huge plus.
Johansson was a very affordable and easy to acquire addition. it wont be difficult to find someone equal or even better this year.
but where im hoping this team would show more improvement this year is with the kids... and im seeing some good things.
McAvoy/carlo havent taken a step forward... but havent regressed
same can be said for Heinen and clifton
I think grzelyck has taken a small step forward
debrusk has some bad luck or his stats would be about where we can expect... his overall play seems less than ideal, but hes streaky. he will have a streak or two before the year is over I think
and then come the tweeners... and they have looked good imo
Bjork seems to have finally won an nhl job... maybe an injury could still upset the applecourt… but he has plugged a hole and is contributing well for an elc contract.
senyshyn has to have impressed even his harshest critics. he might still need time in ahl, but it is appearing he has an nhl future now
studnicka probably did anything any of us could have hoped for with his cup of tea
and federic is still a slow work in progress... but shows a willingness to improve.
vaakanainen looked to me like hes ready for nhl action.
these kids are all much closer to filling a hole in the nhl lineup then they were this time last year. so same team? maybe... but I think we are right on the cupse of some real improvements.
we were damn good this time last year... damn good this time two years ago... but I daresay we are every bit as good right now and close enough that we might just win it all if things bounce our way