The Zermanator
In Yzerman We Trust
- Jan 21, 2013
- 3,387
- 1,185
I think this upcoming offseason is huge. I honestly believe with the right moves we could be 90%+ through the rebuild.
There's two key things that need to happen in my mind:
1. We draft another high end centre. That shouldn't be too hard because there are several available at the top of the draft. Both the top two prospects in Hughes/Kakko seem to have the potential to be pivots. But can't bank on lottery luck. Fortunately there are several others just below them in Dach/Cozens and Turcotte/Suzuki tiers.
2. We sign Erik Karlsson. I can't imagine he doesn't at least test out free agency at this point since he's so close. We have to be in the race and I think we have a solid shot. We have tons of cap space opening up in the next few years and have a lot of young talent in the org. He would get paid and have a chance to be a leader on a young team that is just starting it's rise. We would potentially be able to use Lidstrom/Zetterberg/Alfredsson/Franzen etc to help sell him on the org and lure him here.
With those two things accomplished here is the core we are left with going forward:
Bertuzzi-Larkin-Mantha
AA-2019 1st-Zadina
Rasmussen-Veleno-?
?-?-?
Cholowski-Karlsson
McIsaac-Hronek
Lindstrom-?
3rd/4th line and 3rd pair spots are easy to fill, those players are readily available. We have guys like DK, Abby, Helm, etc to fill them for the next few years until those bad contracts expire right as the young guys start to get more expensive.
I think this team could be back to contending within 2-3 years. Thoughts?
EDIT: Should Karlsson fall through, there is also Trouba coming up the following offseason. Would prefer Karlsson but he would be a great option too and wouldn't really alter this projection since we're not gonna be great next year anyway, with or without Karlsson.
There's two key things that need to happen in my mind:
1. We draft another high end centre. That shouldn't be too hard because there are several available at the top of the draft. Both the top two prospects in Hughes/Kakko seem to have the potential to be pivots. But can't bank on lottery luck. Fortunately there are several others just below them in Dach/Cozens and Turcotte/Suzuki tiers.
2. We sign Erik Karlsson. I can't imagine he doesn't at least test out free agency at this point since he's so close. We have to be in the race and I think we have a solid shot. We have tons of cap space opening up in the next few years and have a lot of young talent in the org. He would get paid and have a chance to be a leader on a young team that is just starting it's rise. We would potentially be able to use Lidstrom/Zetterberg/Alfredsson/Franzen etc to help sell him on the org and lure him here.
With those two things accomplished here is the core we are left with going forward:
Bertuzzi-Larkin-Mantha
AA-2019 1st-Zadina
Rasmussen-Veleno-?
?-?-?
Cholowski-Karlsson
McIsaac-Hronek
Lindstrom-?
3rd/4th line and 3rd pair spots are easy to fill, those players are readily available. We have guys like DK, Abby, Helm, etc to fill them for the next few years until those bad contracts expire right as the young guys start to get more expensive.
I think this team could be back to contending within 2-3 years. Thoughts?
EDIT: Should Karlsson fall through, there is also Trouba coming up the following offseason. Would prefer Karlsson but he would be a great option too and wouldn't really alter this projection since we're not gonna be great next year anyway, with or without Karlsson.