Yes we made the playoffs last 2 seasons and even did well in those, but remember people : this is year 3 of the rebuild. We are not super contenders right now, just playoff contenders. Let's keep that in mind to have a bit of sense of reality in those threads
We never had the luxury of drafting super high like the Hawks, Pens or Oilers (even though they still suck) so it takes a bit of time.
Knee-jerk reaction if you're basing this off of one game, but I'll play along under the guise of this being a hypothetical scenario...
Teams can always use more depth at D, so I'll go with the top-4 D.
Well, same. Of course if we could add a quality 2nd pair D-man, we could maybe become a contender (if others are healthy and play relatively well). For example :
Methot-Karlsson
Tyutin-Wiercioch
Cowen-Phillips
Corvo
Solid defense.
Our problems right now are penalties, face-offs and shots allowed.
Imo 18-20 year old defensemen that will develop into 2-3-4 guys. not based off last game though i just think thats what we'll need in the long run.
You mean like Cowen, Wiercioch, Ceci and maybe Wikstrand
Wish we could have those guys
Another puck possession type defenseman in the mold of Players like: Nick Leddy, Vlasic, Rundblad and OEL.
I think we miss Gonchar out there. He really controlled the tempo back there and knew when to add pressure and when to peel back and take his time with it.
But Gonchar was slow, soft, uninterested, couldn't shoot the puck, couldn't defend, overpaid and over the hill... Basically, he sucks. Oh well, that's what I have "learned" reading this board from the time Gonchar was here.
One way or the other, people are bound to whine.