I'm a proponent of the "we're doomed until the end of 2021-22, just let the bad contracts expire and do little else" theory, which I know not everyone is a fan of. Among other things, I think this helps create a medium term strategy that can be executed and then used as a building block for a contending team. Obviously one concern with this approach, among other concerns, is how does Horvat work into this as he might become a UFA before we become an actual high class playoff team. But....there's difficult trade offs no matter which direction we go...
So with that said, first off, I don't really have any thoughts on the coaching side of things. I'm skipping that. Second, I hire Vancouver's very own Computer Boys to help out and help find players, do contracts, etc.
Roster
- Pearson & Sutter go at the deadline
- I've switched to supporting keeping Virtanen at least until next season.
- Not much else for the rest of this season, really.
Expansion Draft
- Work to have our exposed players basically be the ones with bad contracts, and have one of them picked up, Sibsa style. So try to expose Eriksson, Roussell, Beagle, Myers & Holtby. Best case of course would be if Seattle turns out to be dumb and takes Myers, but they'll take one of the expiring contracts.
- Target a Defenceman that projects to be useful over the next handful of years and who can't be protected from a team and offer a pick. (ideally, one of the above gets picked up to help cover whatever the cap cost of this person is)
Draft and trade (if it happens this year)
- pick a hall of famer (duh)
- no trading of picks within the first 3 rounds to help get rid of contracts. Sorry, can't afford it.
- if holtby is picked up, just find a million dollar goalie for a year.
- no firm opinion on Pettersson's and Hughes' contracts at this stage
2021-22
- No desire for push for the playoffs. If we fluke into it 2020-21 style, ok yay, but if we crash and burn, meh.
- Hopefully Virtanen rebuilds some value a trade opportunity presents itself
- continue waiting it out, if a good opportunity presents itself, great, but just keep on walking through the mud.
- maybe some sucker actually takes one of the expiring contracts?
2022-23
- ????