Sorry no.
You pick a direction and that's the way you go. Either you're rebuilding or you're improving to make a run. I do not accept a GM doing absolutely nothing as his team stands at the edge of the playoffs with 9 million in cap space and glaring needs on the D.
Seriously... WHAT is the plan? What the **** are we doing?
Who said anything about "short term fix"? Make a trade. Get somebody who's under contract. Nobody is suggesting he had to go get rentals.
100% agree. Also we are not in a position as good as some fans think we are imo. Yes we look better than last year but there's lot of work to do. I like Domi and so far it's a very good trade but he looks like post cancer Koivu out there. As a 1st line center he is good enough to make us a bubble team but not good enough to bring a cup unless the rest of the team is elite+. All our hope is on JK and i'm still not sold on him to become an elite number 1 center (which he needs to be considering the rank he was drafted). We have a plan B in Poehling and Ylonen but more depth would certainly makes me more confident. And Even if Ylonen blossom I don't think he is close to be able to lead a team as a number 1 center. We are at least a good 3-4 seasons away from that.
On the wings we will need help. Yes the wingers group did well but it's not on paper a super strong group and at least one elite winger would be required. If Kok and Poehling reach their ceiling then moving Domi on the wing could resolve the issue but there's a lot of ifs here. Again if one (or two) of Poehling and Kok doesn't reach their ceiling and we have to keep Domi as a center then all our hope will be on Suzuki. I just don't see it in Drouin. He can be a good 50-60 points guy complementing a strong number 1 center but certainly not a guy you can rely on. Shaw because of is health history should not be relied on. That leaves Tatar and Gallagher which is kind of weak.
On the defense things look even worse. I mean if Romanov doesn't reach his ceiling we are in trouble specially if Brook is not comfortable on the left side. Lot of interesting prospects at defense but very few legit ones outside of Brook and Romanov.
This is a year where we had to tank. After the team lost 5 games in a row in November and was out of the playoffs and 17th in the league MB should have instantly sold his vets. Petry and Tatar were both on fire and should have been traded. Waiting for the deadline to act was a mistake. I called it back then and i sign today. Maybe we will do the playoffs. Maybe not. MB gambled and if he wins and makes the playoffs good on him. But if he doesn't then it's going to be an awful season for him. Houle territory season.
I'll wait and see what happen. But in my book there's a high probability that MB just missed the bus for a 2nd time. He had everything handed to him on a silver plate this season. Vets on fire with good value. A 5 games losing streak at the end of November following a bad season so nobody would have complained much had he sold the vets after that sequence. The next two drafts are supposed to be very good. The prospects pool is already good so adding to it could have made us a contender eventually. But nope MB preferred to add some scrubs fighting for their life to stay relevant as NHL players. His usual hope for the best everything is possible strategy.
I'll wait. Maybe MB will prove me wrong. Maybe we'll make the playoffs and get some good experience. Maybe all our kids will blossom. Maybe Panarin and Karlsson will both sign here this summer. Maybe, Maybe, Maybe ... but for now it doesn't look very good to me.
