So would 8.5 be too high for you? 10? Where is that line?
Weber is a RFA who says he wants to stay, then goes for a short term deal. He wants to see so called improvements and commitments while engaging in actions that make it impossible. Poile can't even consider spending like crazy on 1 July (not that it's likely he would) when his #1 signing priority is still unsigned.
There's plenty of blame for all here.
I look at what happened w/ Shea as, 'let's just kick the can down the road and see what the next CBA and trade deadline offers to improve the team'. I think by seeing what demeanor all parties involved had that all were on board w/ the process and seemed like adults about the whole thing...
The way that I see it, if they can add a 20-25 goal scorer that
excels on the power play at the deadline, the Preds should be a force come playoff time given their recent history. One more focus for the opposition should lead to many more openings for our current skill guys to score and not only that but for them not take such a beating as they tend to get late in the season which is normally our true downfall come playoff time. If we can have healthy bodies come playoff time, I seriously love our chances to break my checkbook for playoff tix late into May. I don't say this w/ kool-aid in my belly but thru the eyes of an ex-Blueser fan that was there when Scott Stevens was signed and lost in StL and Brett Hull was just a fat kid w/ a shot that changed hockey there for the next 20 years.
The Pred's have a top 5 development system and now have the coach that developed a lot of that talent on the bench in Nashville to continue their progress to play at the NHL w/ what they have learned. i liked what I saw from the kids at the end of last season and it seems like there are doors opening for them to excel w/ the departure of Sully, JP, Ward, and SOB.
I'm reasonably optimistic for our chances this season and ready to have the puck drop so we can squelch all of the Chicken Little-isms I've been seeing which is a popular pastime for many who frequented the old np.com boards
!!