The problem is that it doesn't signal rebuild to me, and it doesn't tell me management's vision of this team is really any different than it was in October.
See, this is a fabricated problem. The windmill you're chasing. Who are you talking to that says this is the big rebuild Bat-signal?
There were pages of groaning about Holland even trying to re-sign Smith. And I think most of us here think Holland is just going to plug in some UFA at $3-4 million on the blueline this summer anyway.
But we turned the page from one of the core that was failing and got future assets. So it's a step in the right direction, again, optimistically. There was a genuine worry Holland wasn't going to sell at all and try to keep the band together.
This is, if anything, a massive dissection of our
lowered expectations regarding a franchise spinning it's wheels in the mud.
Which is fair, but we also shouldn't be talking about this team rebuilding anywhere other than fantasy land, either. For as bad as this team has been this year, we're not exactly far off being in that area where there isn't a chance Holland is selling, and we're competing for that last bubble spot or two.
(taken from other thread, but good here)
I can only speak for myself, but I believe the rumbling you're hearing is one where it's been
forced upon Holland. You know, as in the team is so bad it's basically going to tank next year, too, despite his best efforts.
They'll get good draft picks this year. And next year probably get some great ones, too. Then in year 3 maybe you come out on the other side looking better despite never actually trying to gut the team. And it will be nice that Smith isn't plugging along sucking up close to $4 million dollars because in year 2 or 3 you might have space to chase a top pairing defender in a trade without having to do cap space gymnastics.
