I don't, because in 4 years, we'll be free of a lot of the other handicapping cap hits, and with the cap going up and the number of other players getting those contracts, it won't look nearly as rough as the thought does now.
You're suggesting adding a franchise changing player via UFA? Regardless, in 4 years, most of the possible 'great young players' will be RFAs and cap space won't be an issue anyway. You can't have it both ways--either these guys aren't difference makers and cap isn't an issue, or they
are difference makers and you'd have to admit we're drafting and developing well. A lot of the naysayers on this forum seem to think both things are true, we suck at drafting and none of our young guys matter, but that we'll somehow be out of cap space for...things, I guess? The argument isn't adding up.
I agree that it depends heavily on what Kopitar is from here on out. I think
at worst he's an elite 2C, which is exactly why you keep him around for the term. Also agreed his deployment needs adjustment. I have faith TM has some thoughts.
The difference is people are taking the Kopitar and Doughty they saw last year and assuming the worst.
Buddy, if you wouldn't take a 32 year old Anze over a 27 year old Nelson...anyway I was thinking more about Anders Lee, can you imagine the haul they would have gotten from moving him? Yet they didn't trade their best value vet...
Anyway it sounds like you generally agree with the "keep the vets while you transition" philosophy. I know you point out you'd rather have several guys on mid-high deals than two on superstar deals but there's a big difference between veteran winning UFAs and young unproven RFAs. Don't you worry, they'll find themselves in cap purgatory before you can say "TORONTO" as well