If this team is knocking at the door of a playoff spot, that shouldn't be ruled out. Probably why the infamous plan that only Geoff and MB know about, has never been revealed.
Yes. What plan ?
I think at best the plans have been free flowing to put it politely. I'm not against shifting direction a bit if opportunity knocks, but you need a master plan with everyone pulling in the same direction.
Years ago I thought there was a disconnect between MB and MT. MB went out and got guys like Sekac, Briere, PAP and Vanek, and while Sekac was a complete bust you cant say that MT tried to use these guys according to what they brought. As I have said, with Vanek, you dont put a top line winger on the 4th line when your team isnt scoring in a play off series, you hope the guy snaps out of it.
So the disconnectbeas MB seeing that skill was needed and MT not liking this type of player. So where us the plan in that ?
Of course MB goes all in with MT with the " mistake free" team and out goes PK and Eller.
Pens win the Cup with a bandaid D and here we go, PMDs not required.
We are also sizing up a bit at the drafts and looking for 2 way or defensive play and not so much on high end skill. Dont want those types here I guess.
Then all of a sudden we are all about speed , skill and quick thinking.
So rebuild, retouch ,re......on the fly etc. God knows.
I think at the beginning part of MBs belief was that he would have prospects develop into good players so that he could trade for any missing pieces. But the Cupboard was bare, and he just didnt get proactive about it until 2017.
Good things are flowing from filling the prospect pool and focusing on picking up young skilled players through trading of late round picks or swaps. Stick with this for now.