Worse team because the bar is high? I don't understand that. They may not duplicate last year's results in the standings, but that doesn't mean they're a worse team. Also, I think you're placing far too much importance on Armia, Mason, Hendricks and yes, even Enstrom. If you think those guys are a big loss you had better brace yourself going forward because I highly doubt we'll be able to keep all our young stars either. Eventually, team chemistry, the cap and ice-time and/or usage will force a personnel change that won't be comfortable for any of us. It's business, and a testament actually, to the Jets' draft and develop approach.
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Very good post here Robinson, and your right that "something will have to give" to keep all our young stars. Considering the tight Cap space, we're going to have future decisions on which stars we keep, and which ones we wave good bye too.
Personally I like the Pittsburgh Penguins dynamic, and I think we should somewhat model our team after them. They have chosen to stay "very strong" in scoring, not giving up any potent forwards, while having a middle of the road defense with no big stars, but guys that get the job done--stay at home defenseman, with a great Goaltender, in Murray.
If we are able to keep Laine, Scheiffle, Connor, Wheeler, Ehlers etc -- I believe it will come at the expense of depleting some of our high paid defenseman. This would mean that Buff, Trouba, Myers- would likely have to go-- at least one of them ?? Where we can not regress is in Goal -we must have a Grade A goaltender. I think we should go with "upper middle" type of defenseman down the road, like Myers, Morrow, Morrissey etc. and keep salaries in the $ 4-6 mil per year range-"no more."
This is the way I'd go if I was Chevy and the Jets--let's keep our high scoring forwards, and compromise a bit on the defenseman's salaries. You just cannot keep them all, and comply with the Cap conditions.