We just looked a little young and inexperienced this year.
Ryan and Spezza never clicked, Milan skated like someone coming off a lower body injury, and Karlsson's lengthy break from playing showed in some questionable decision making (particularly early in the season).
On the flip side, I do like the future of this team, basically in every position except a for three or four holes on the top two lines.
We were 26th in payroll. These are the teams with 5 million in cap space or less (with me rounding up Nashville's 4.96) with their league position as of right now underneath in bold.
(FLA-30 | NYI-29 | COL-28 | CAL-27 | OTT-26 | EDM-25 | BUF-24 | NSH-23 ).
(FLA-28 | NYI-27 | COL-6 | CAL-26 | OTT-22 | EDM-29 | BUF-30 | NSH-24)
The fact that we even have the chance to make the playoffs with a good push at the end here, and we have a talented enough team to do so, is impressive. I'm not giving up yet, we do have a goaltender tandem that has the potential to steal the games we need here down the stretch, but I also think this team is worth watching.
Also, if we take anything away from this season, where would we be with three additional 2-million dollar a year NHLers? A strong push here is incentive for Melynk to at least spend to the cap in one year deals for the future. Last season made him think you can just make the playoffs without spending cash, but hopefully he glances at my makeshift chart above and learns from it.
However, the smart money is on him asking "well what about Colorado?"