Because the cap isn’t guaranteed to go up the next three years. Supposed to go up next season, as high as $82mil.
Because Kessel will be going UFA by the time we will likely have another crop of young talent. Kessel may go to retirement after his contract with us is done...which is right about when our window will likely close.
Because you either pay players like Jake, Murray, Schultz, Hornqvist, etc or let them walk / trade them or move one of Kessel and Letang. Fair enough.
The cap crunch will hit. Much like we moved Neal out for Hornqvist. I have no idea what this is supposed to mean. That trade had nothing to do with cap. Not to mention it was Horny (4.25) + Spaling (signed at $2mil) for Neal ($5mil).
Also, complacency with players. I’d rather get players that are fresh and hungry then a player that is getting paid. Play should always be based on merit. Not "freshness".
Obviously, you don’t give Kessel or Letang away. But if I’m their early to mid 30s you can move them for a well positioned 1st and a solid prospect you have to start entertaining it. I would absolutely entertain a 2/3/4 + 1st + prospect for Letang.
If you want to be competitive you have to build back up the prospect pool. We did it from 13-14 through 14-15. Yes and no. We got lucky with a lot of later picks and free agents - Rust, 3rd. Guentzel, 3rd. Kuhny, 4th. Wilson, 6th. Murray, 3rd. We always had that pool of late pick "talent". We just never knew about it because Bylsma refused to play them or give them the look. We are still replacing that similar talent pool as we speak. Just depends on who you get lucky on. I would like to get a higher pick and start looking at future centers.
