Here's the problem:
Forester and O'Brien are ready to play. Frost is ready to play.
Flyers are locked in w/ Hayes and Patrick is a complete unknown. Now we also have Laughton long-term but hes adaptable...
So whose gonna get ice time?? Resign Couts and we have Couts and Haye locked up. Now we have like 4 qualified guys fighting for 3c ice time ?? Not good asset management
Similarly defense is already logjammed with 3-6 players and York is ready to play.
I'd love to keep peeps but we need ice time and roster spots not just cap space.
Voracek should be dealt to SEA even if it costs a 2nd. He's been here 10 seasons and we've won 2 playoff series with him here and his amazing 0.5ppg in the postseason. He's a nice guy but not someone we build around....Couts is someone we build around.
Foerster just injured his collarbone. He won't be in the NHL next year.
O'Brien still has not left college. He won't be in the NHL next season.
Frost we hope he is and that he has no setbacks with his shoulder.
Let's see who is even exposed in the ED first, then who is taken, before we start figuring out lines. And also, have we not learned that injuries WILL happen. You need more than just your starting 12 forwards.
Couts missed 10 games
Frost missed all season
Having EXTRA bodies is a must.
And the D is not log jammed.
Provy, Sanheim, Myers, Ghost, Braun, Hagg....signed for next year....then York. You need 7.....and Hagg should not be in the top 6.
And that's why I said let's wait until after the ED.....we could lost Ghost...or Braun. That changes what we do vs if a F is taken.
But this thread is about Nolan. He has said this is the most important offseason of his life. That sounds like a motivated guy who knows he was not near good enough. He will be dirt cheap to re-sign, let's see what he does with that training time and possibly reap the benefits of it next year.