Having taken an hour to cool down...I think this was for the best. Obviously this team wasn’t going to go for the cup this year, and pick #15 this season is seriously equivalent to a top-10 in most other years. But most importantly, this HAS to force must-needed changes (right??).
Crosby, Malkin, and Letang are going nowhere. I still really like our top-4, and while they underperformed, we have a nice group of young-ish wingers for the next two-three years, which is our realistic window. A brand new coaching staff will surely galvanize them for next season. And we’ve got a lot of guys champing at the bit. I’m optimistic heading into next year!
Gone: McCann, Marleau, Sheary, Bjugstad, Schultz, Johnson, Murray
Zucker-Crosby-Poulin/Hornqvist
Guentzel-Malkin-Rust
Simon-Blueger-Hornqvist/Poulin
Lafferty-Rodrigues-Tanev
Dumoulin-Letang
Pettersson-Marino
POJ-Ruhwedel
Jarry
DeSmith
That already looks good without adding any UFAs whatsoever, with a bunch of cap space to do so!
And it looks even better with Lafreniere...