I agree there are just too many questions. You need to find a capable backup goalie and before someone mentions Tovell. Your backup goalie is probably going to play 20 times a year or so. That's over 25% of your season and you would go with Tovell?? I can't see that happening especially if they wanted to make a run.
They lost Rafkin and Stevenson off D 2 guys that played close to 20 mins a night. I don't think anyone knows how Ladd will be returning from another injury. Maybe he can replace Stevenson but I don't think you're making a run with Ladd/Henault/Corcoran and filling in the blanks of the next 3.
If everyone returns up front for the most part it looks good but guys like Foudy and Cuylle would need to take huge jumps forward. We are talking like 80-90 point guys and for both of them that would be almost doubling their point totals.
If you wanted to make the case this past year would have been a better chance to make a run. They had a team that was playing a bit above their level and if they had made an addition or two that could help elevate this group.
I agree they played over their heads/overachieved in the first half of the year. The second half to say they underachieved would be an extremely generous way of describing how they played.
Even if Ladd simply replaces Stevenson if he's used the way Stevenson should have been he becomes a #6 D on the team.
Corcoran to this point is not a #1 D but has been used that way by default. They would need a true #1 to pair with him.
Henault is a 3/4 on his best days.
Robinson, if things are worked out is a 3/4 at this point.
The D still needs a makeover and while graduation accomplishes half of it where the additions come from will determine if they complete the job successfully.
Up front they need everyone back, improved and with improved consistency. They can't afford any passengers and everyone needs to be used properly. Obviously it's on the players to put the work in but it's up to the staff to use them right. There's a track record that doesn't show this staff will get it done.
I was thinking that Andree still had another year before his OA season. That being said, I don't think dumping any of our OAs is a good idea
If he wasn't an OA and Medina would be fine in the back up role it would have been a solid addition. Had they moved at least one, preferably two of the three current OAs they would have had the extra assets plus a couple of younger players to add Andree and upgrade on one of the others as well as added depth to backfill or make other deals.
Warm hands were more important apparently.
Spits have way too many ifs and buts at this stage to be honest. I imagine it will be difficult to fill the Import slots.....very difficult. Right now I wouldn't even try to hazard a guess as to what kind of team we end up with.
Agree, too many ifs and buts, across the league and particularly with Windsor. Imports could be tough slots to fill but it could be related more to financial will than society's current dilemma. Who they draft at that time will show this year's direction. A couple of 17 year olds and they will be building for the future. A couple of drafted 18 or 19 year olds and they will be hoping to do something this year.
The future of this team still revolves around the 02/03 groups at the moment IMO so a couple of 03 imports makes sense to me if they project well for the NHL draft but will still be here for at least two years.
The biggest questions though will be who's here to start the year and what they do at the deadline.
I'll say it now. This will be a 5th place team in the conference at the end of the year. They should be top 4 at the deadline but if they won't add then they need to move their graduating players to load up the following year which would drop them to 5th.
We'll see, first how the prospect of a season goes, if/when it starts etc and second who's back but if everyone is back, how they fill the holes and how the import draft goes there's potential for a very good season if warm hands and cold feet aren't the priority.
