letsgrowcactus
Registered User
- Jan 21, 2017
- 4,725
- 4,934
I think they are if the support cast is good enough, if they're motivated and if all three are healthy.I think the question needs to be asked whether this core (Barkov, Huberdeau, Ekblad) really is good enough to contend. It doesn't matter how good the supporting pieces are if the core isn't good enough. We've heard for so long about their potential but we have yet to see results in the postseason. They may win individual awards and put up a lot of points but they don't consistently show the ability to elevate their play or the ability to take over games when games tighten up in March and April. Unfortunately, I think our only hope is that they figure it out because hockey in South Florida is unlikely to survive a third consecutive rebuild.
Barkov is the guy that worries me somewhat re: health. Seems like every other year he's battling some issue, usually not enough to keep him out of the lineup but still affecting his play. Last year was the first time in his NHL career that he played all 82 games - that's one out of seven seasons with no games missed.
Also, as much as I hated the signing, it would be nice if our highest paid guy bounced back big next year and we could say "our core of Barkov, Ekblad, Bobrovski and Huberdeau"...