One of the most frustrating things about this season has been the absolutely infuriating lie/fallacy that success this year and properly developing and grooming our youth were mutually exclusive. If I have to read one more time or hear on the radio this bullcrap about we couldn't have Lee Stempniak or Frolik for 4x4 because chevy wanted a youth movement I'll pull my hair out. We have so much chaff on this roster there's plenty of room. Le sigh.
edit: has nothing to do with you specifically mort, just, a general thought brought about by your mentioning of pace and timing.
Yup. Agree with that. We could have had Copp and Ehlers as well as Frolik and Stemp. No doubt. Would only have been enough to hurt the tank though as it turned out. We probably still would have lead the league in penalties, or close. Our STs might have been a bit better. Our goaltending would still have sucked. So we end up in 9-12 lottery position.
Water under the bridge now though. In the end we will get a higher pick this year, 7th or better and more of the kids will get at least a little NHL time.
This has been a season from heck. Listless play, bad penalties, worse reffing, bad STs, more bad goaltending and now flu and injuries. But several kids have been bright spots. Our roster is falling into place to be much better next year. In spite of a lot of inexperience I think we will have the best lineup next year since Jets 1.0 left town. The crap may have accelerated the rebuild by a year, more or less, so will be a good thing in the long haul.
This year has given me some appreciation of what Edmonton and Toronto fans have gone through. Amazing that they have been able to stick with their teams so long without cracking up. Now that I think of it maybe they have cracked, some anyway.
