I believe we need to answer one question. Are we at a talent deficiency or a coaching deficiency? Who really believes we're ready to make a serious run this year? Creasemaster was prior to last weekend. I have not seen anything posted by them since. Right now we have a goaltending crisis based on Kari gone to or at least trying to make the WJC roster for Finland. One or 2 players is not going to bring us to the promised land. Does anyone believe Letowski is even capable to win with a capable roster? I need to answer these questions myself before I worry about any trades involving youth. Remember St Louis went from worst to first with a coaching change. Do I think any OHL coach could lead this roster to the championship. No. We are not that great in either coaching or talent at this moment. We could easily be in 8-9th place in 1 month. We could also be battling for 1st. Which team are we?
As Rayzor said it's both.
As I mentioned earlier someone posted Windsor has three second lines, that makes for some good depth but they lack star power up front and are likely two forwards short of a true top line for a contending team. While others better positioned than Windsor have a true top line they're looking for top tier talent to fill out their second line. Even if Windsor could add the pieces up front they would have a top six that may be a step below what the likely contenders would have. Their strength would come from a third and fourth line that would both be above average so they would have the ability to roll four lines in the playoffs.
On D they likely need to D. A true number one and a solid shutdown/defensive D that can add a bit of offense. Corcoran has stepped up this year but on any contender he would likely be a middle pairing D. If you can add a top tier D they could probably get away with Corcoran being paired with him. Adding that solid second pairing D with experience and a bit of offense for the second pair shifts someone down a bit or likely Robinson moved in a deal to make the changes. Can Rafkin, Henault or Ladd step up and be that solid middle pairing D on a contender? That remains to be scene. They're all decent but not the most high end but like Corcoran if you could get the right fit it could work.
In goal they need a number one who has proven themselves a bit more than Piiroinen. Yes he's improved but he has a ways to go to be leading a team to a championship. Being an import though and becoming a back up becomes a wasted import slot that could be better used elsewhere.
Our OAs are OK. Boka and Purboo could be decent role players if they chose not to upgrade them but they would have to drop way down the line up. Stevenson would have to go. He was playing top minutes with Corcoran before his injury but he was a question mark to even make the team this year so it's a bit of a stretch, no matter how much he's improved to think he can go from fighting for a roster spot to a top pairing D in this league.
Since at least two of the OAs are out of the question in terms of upgrades the costs go up significantly to add either top 2000s or 2001s. Most top 2000s are already on contenders while the few remaining will be tough to get. Even tougher, the better options are the top 01s who would cost even more and while looking at Windsor's assets/draft picks they are lean when comparing what they have in assets compared to what they need for their roster when comparing those same two criteria to other likely contenders.
We are deficient in high end talent, decent depth and our coaching is as much of a question mark as it was two years ago. Letowski has made some improvements at times but when things get a bit tough then, as we saw yesterday he resorts to old habits. He along with the team in general has been better but so far he hasn't proven, like the team the ability to sustain and build on any success they've had this year. I'm not worried that they've lost three games in a row, it happens. My concern is how they've played losing those three games. Going back to old habits, players and coaches is not a good sign, it shows they are struggling to find a way out of tough times when things aren't going their way.
This is a good team that has played better than expected with a bright future if they manage things right. As is they're not a contender or even close to being one but they have a solid foundation for future success and the potential, if they get on a role to potentially pull off an upset in the playoffs in the right match up, a fifth versus fourth seed scenario.
The problem with standing pat or adding a bit this year is you are taking pieces away from the solid foundation they're building for next year and the year after.
