J15
Registered User
- Mar 18, 2009
- 1,057
- 305
I think we desperately need to find an elite 1C. Unfortunately next year doesn't look to be a particularly deep draft for centers near the top, and I'm afraid we won't be a lottery team for the Wright/Savoie draft in 2022 or Bedard draft in 2023. I love Raymond but man we really got screwed by the lottery, Byfield or Stuzle would have fit the rebuild perfectly. I guess we pray for Barkov, or do something wild like trade our 2021 1st round for a 2022 1st with a team like Chicago, Montreal, Florida that will likely be worse in 2022 than 2021. Maximize odds at Wright/Savoie.Cup? I can see them being a playoff bubble team in 3 years, and wouldn't be shocked if we do make the playoffs in 22-23, but we have a lot of work to do to be mentioned as Cup contenders. There is no guarantee at all that all these nice prospects will even reach their NHL potential. IF (and this is a big IF) they all do reach their potential, then maybe in 5 years time we will be competing for the Cup, but hoping we are contenders in 3 years is just going to set you up to be disappointed.
2020-2021: Basement dwellers again, much improvement from last year and the team will be competitive, but there isn't enough here to escape the bottom 5 teams.
2021-2022: I think the team makes huge strides next season with an influx of rookies making the team full time from the start of the season. They will be fun to watch, and a competitive young team who will keep afloat, but ultimately won't be good enough to reach the playoffs.
2022-2023: Playoff Bubble team if all goes well. May get in, may not.
2023-2024: Playoff team, should be ready to make it by 23-24, but don't see us as true contenders yet.
2024-2025: Massive improvements, hopefully go on a run and make a bit of noise.
2025-2026: Cup Contenders.
This in my mind is also BEST CASE scenario, if all goes well I think this trajectory is possible.