This place is classic. Fire Pete. Replace Lou. Trade everyone.
Your Vezina goaltender hasn't gotten his game together yet. He will - (although he'll never be the caliber that the Cory club believes him to be)
The kids are going to have bad nights.
This is a bridge year anyway. I said at the start that I would be surprised if they sneak in - Because of the kid Dmen, I'm actually more encouraged than in the offseason.
Best thing that can happen is Larsson and the kids get some time to grow into their skins, and we find out about JJ, Brunner, Boosh and Matteau.
Jagr and Elias likely aren't going anywhere, and Trav and Adam are the cornerstones up front. Cammy is the only bright spot - but I'm fine dealing him if we can get something back at the deadline - assuming he is on a 30-goal pace.
I have always thought Clowe to be done and Ryder to be way too streaky for this team. It would be great if either or both get hot. I won't hold my breath expecting anyone to accept them in a trade. Havlat is surprisingly on the shelf.
Gio is fine for the 4th line. Ruutu is fine too, but I'd rather see Matteau.
Zubs needs to be jettisoned despite my love for the guy. Same with Tootoo, same with Sal. Zids is ridiculously important to this team but if some team comes knocking, I'd deal him too, as he's becoming more expendable with every Gelinas/Severson minute on the ice. I'm fine with bringing Helgeson up if Zids is dealt or Sal becomes 7th dman.
Bridge year. Take our lumps now.
Cammy Trav Jagr
Brunner Elias Havlat
Matteau Henrique Boosh
Ruutu JJ Gio
Severson Greene
Merrill Larsson
Helgeson Gelinas
OR - just keep it all together, and maybe things will work out. Patrick Marleau said of us 'that team has a lot of firepower'. Really?