- Jul 4, 2014
- 7,871
- 8,214
I don't think it is as bleak as some are making it out to be. We are absolutely a better team with Petro than without him, but I don't see this being a prolonged stretch of mediocrity unless we try to force things. If Petro walks and next season doesn't go the way you want, you trade Schwartz at the deadline for futures. Steen, Bozak, Schwartz and Gunnarsson will all come off the books for 2021-22.
One of the most important things to figure out either way next season is whether or not Kyrou is going to be a reliable Top 6 forward. Even with the losses of Petro, Steen, Schwartz and Bozak, you still have a D corps to build around of Parayko and Faulk on the right side and Dunn, Scandella, Mikkola and Perunovich on the left. You have ROR, Schenn, Thomas, Kyrou, Perron and Sanford as forwards to build around. You have a big question mark in Tarasenko, but you will have cap flexibility to add a premium forward or defenseman to that mix in the next 2-3 years along with (hopefully) some hits from the prospects and draft capital you've accumulated.
I don't feel like it gets talked about enough, but my biggest concern right now is the goaltending. If Binnington is more like Bubble Binny going forward than 2019 Binny, we don't have anyone to address that position immediately unless Husso pans out quickly. That means spending money on a free agent goalie crap shoot.
TL;DR - I think we've got what we need to quickly return to competing for a Cup even if Petro walks, or the young talent and future draft/prospect capital from selling a few pieces to quickly supplement the roster and get back there in 2-3 years.
One of the most important things to figure out either way next season is whether or not Kyrou is going to be a reliable Top 6 forward. Even with the losses of Petro, Steen, Schwartz and Bozak, you still have a D corps to build around of Parayko and Faulk on the right side and Dunn, Scandella, Mikkola and Perunovich on the left. You have ROR, Schenn, Thomas, Kyrou, Perron and Sanford as forwards to build around. You have a big question mark in Tarasenko, but you will have cap flexibility to add a premium forward or defenseman to that mix in the next 2-3 years along with (hopefully) some hits from the prospects and draft capital you've accumulated.
I don't feel like it gets talked about enough, but my biggest concern right now is the goaltending. If Binnington is more like Bubble Binny going forward than 2019 Binny, we don't have anyone to address that position immediately unless Husso pans out quickly. That means spending money on a free agent goalie crap shoot.
TL;DR - I think we've got what we need to quickly return to competing for a Cup even if Petro walks, or the young talent and future draft/prospect capital from selling a few pieces to quickly supplement the roster and get back there in 2-3 years.