pretty sure that I follow you, and concede that you could very well be right: but as I see it, the ‘67s take a small step back this season then won’t be a serious contender until 2021-22 unless spending way more to contend memorial cup season than it would take this season. Likely the league’s best goalie/defence is already in place. Consider the odds of replacing a D of Ohotynuk, Bahl, Rippon, Hoff, (*Wilson - traded for OA F if you wish) as top 4-5 in one season. Consider what it cost Guelph for Phillips, Durzi, Gordeev, Hanley in one (buyer friendly imo) season. If Rossi as I suspect does not return, never mind next season.
Hypothetical roster next year if we make a few seller trades:
(OA) trade-Rossi-Quinn
Import Pick-Tolnai-Clarke
Beck/Johnston-Crete-Sirizzotti
4th line? - Draft picks from this and next draft
Rippon (OA)-TRADE
Belanger-Peric
Sawyer-Matier
Gill
Andree (OA)
Cranley
You have the return you get for Bahl which is not included on that chart. You have a 3rd OA spot open. Hoelscher is unsigned so he may be that 3rd OA. Maybe 50-50 chance. We wouldn’t necessarily lose Peric if it is understood Bahl is on the block with Hoefenmayer and that ice opens up accordingly.
We’d have a boatload of picks still to use as necessary to upgrade.
The defence obviously isn’t as strong but the foundation of a winning team is there plus additional assets that can be moved more easily next year than this year.
Hypothetically speaking, if we need to upgrade this year, we don’t have much to trade. We cannot trade any of the picks from this last draft other than Matier. Tolnai, Belanger, Quinn and Clarke are all supposed to be significant contributors. Peric will be gone well before the deadline, probably just for picks. That really only leaves Yule as the player to dangle at the deadline. We’d be in the exact same situation as last year trying to acquire players for picks because we won’t trade Matier. It is going to be really hard to make deadline deals this year.
I am not against going for it this year but if that is the plan, make all deals you can now. Don’t make silly trades on the status quo and see how the team is at Christmas.