I'm perfectly fine with standing pat (to some extent). However, I just hope Hextall isn't overplaying his hand with the whole "Zucker, Pettersson and Matheson would only be moved in a hockey trade" stance. Maybe we just need to dump.
I like McGinn and I am more comfortable playing him on the third line than any of Tanev, Blueger or Aston-Reese. I HATE bringing back Rodrigues and especially Simon, only because this coach really likes them more than he should. I think Gaudreau was a better fit but he got more money, so I guess that is that.
I don't know what the plan/move is going to be but it certainly has my attention. I still think we should try to get Tarasenko. I would not have traded Jarry unless someone wanted him as a centerpiece to a big trade, which apparently is impossible after his postseason. So, keep him. If we can upgrade from DeSmith (who is much more of a true backup and what we need to partner with Jarry), cool. I wonder where Tuukka Rask will land now. I don't think he would come as a 1A so Jarry would have to be moved. I am fine with that. Money has to go out first, though.
Lastly, I really think we should bring in Zdeno Chara for a year. Checks a lot of the boxes on defense...penalty-killing savant, toughness for days, and perhaps most importantly for this fragile team right now, LEADERSHIP. It might stall Joseph's development a bit, but we always need depth. I don't see why we need guys like Ruhwedel and Riikola on the NHL team...send them to the AHL. Friedman might actually be decent in the Ceci role. But we do need someone who can lay someone flat on his ass, as someone else said earlier.
I like the idea of going with very young players and very old ones. I think those are two elements we could use on this team. Poulin, Zohorna, Hallander, Angello...let's see what they have. I certainly prefer seeing them in the lineup than Simon, Rodrigues, Aston-Reese and Lafferty. No question.
Can we make the playoffs, and does it all depend on Malkin's knee?
