We have drafted more players than any team in the NHL over the last two years. We have kids competing for jobs straight out of camp and it would seem both Zadina and Rasmussen are going to see some time, Ras should be up all year. Our best player is now our young future captain. Holland has to come up with a plan with the defense and I know why people are concerned there. But he has been committed to a rebuild for the last couple years at least in terms of his actions. So much so I am confused why people are making attempts at that isn't what he is up to. He is trading for future assets and collecting a lot of them.
We are going to be really bad this year in my opinion. I think they all know it, they aren't going to put it that way. But, I doubt seriously guys like Devellano and Holland actually think this is going to be super competitive. Again the message even on a Vanek and Green are that they help the young kids score and gain confidence in the league. We will see, but he has followed through on a pretty big rebuild the last couple years and seems committed to it. Only thing I think would stop it immediately is a top 5 pick and Karlsson coming in Free Agency.
What has Holland done before a season went all to hell that screams rebuilding? Yeah, we've had a lot of picks the past few years because Holland sold after it became clear our seasons had gone to the dogs. You're not going to win me over with this argument that Holland is blowing over $80 million every year just to shelter the kids. He was hoping Zetterberg would be there this fall, and he signed Vanek and Green not to cushion the load for the kids, but to keep trying to push this club back to the playoffs.
When it became apparent Z was going to miss the season, I'm sure those expectations took a massive hit - at least partially because they have zero faith in their younger players. And now I'm sure their message is going to shift a bit. In the end, I don't think Holland has a choice, though. He screwed up the three or so years before missing the playoffs with how he handled the roster and contracts, the time he could have legitimately softened the hard rebuild we're going to have sit through now as we wait for the junk deals to come off the books and higher picks to accumulate.
Which is where I say we're going to have to wait and see how Holland manages it, because dreams are just dreams for a reason. At some point, blowing past the cap for any and all help he can find is going to result in a club that's not a tire fire, and when we could be using another top5 pick or two, we're going to be in the teens, with a club just decent enough to not draft high enough for the help it actually needs.