People need to let this rebuild idea go, we don't need one. We need a retool that could be done this offseason.
The blue print for next season should look like this;
- Trade deadline. trade off all UFA's for picks, trade off any RFA's you don't plan on qualifying for picks.
- Draft day. Keep the 1st and 2nd, potentially trade picks in rounds 3 to 7 for a backup goalie and wingers for the bottom six.
-Buy out period. Buyout Spooner and Manning if they aren't traded by now.
- Free agency period. Try and sign 2 wingers for the top 6.
Only if the perfect player becomes available in a trade do we move any of our big assets, (JP, 2019 or 2020 1st, Jones, Benson, etc..)
It's not going to be easy but a good GM should be able to turn this all around in 1-2 off seasons. The problem is that we still have the same guys tht started this mess in charge behind the scenes.
We also need to accept Draisaitl as Mcdavid's permanent winger and just use him as a center when needed.
Next years lineup blueprint would look like this;
UFA signing-Mcdavid-Draisaitl
UFA signing-RNH-trade/UFA signing
Lucic-Trade-JP
Trade-Brodziak-Chaisson
Klefbom-Larsson
Nurse-Sekera or big trade acquisition
Sekera/Russel-Bouchard
It's a big list this offseason. We need 4 wingers, a 3C, an offensive RD and a reliable backup goalie.