vic wrote:
it would be interesting to hear how you would run this team....
Let's start off with the Sedins, you've made it clear you would not have re signed them and either traded or let them walk as UFAs...tell me who you would have replaced them with...
Tough to say. Let's assume it's a going forward basis I would not have extended them and would either look to move them at this deadline (unlikely) or just let them walk as UFA"s. Not sure what the UFA crop looks like, but I would target guys like Callahan, Stastny and Downie depending on the price tag. Also, with the Sedins walking I would look into another Luongo trade and with Florida talking like they want to be a cap ceiling team I feel a deal could be made there.
I would look to move Edler, Hansen, and this years 1st round pick for Evander Kane. And I would look to move Ryan Kesler in a trade for someone like Ryan Johansen (perhaps in the offseason when he is a RFA). Bring in a young core group. Guys like Burrows and Higgins would still be here as we would need their leadership to bring these kids along.
Yes, this team would not do well next season at all, but the key is to try to get a top 3 draft pick in the 2015 draft where there are several highly rated picks (including generational talent Connor McDavid). If we miss out on McDavid there is still Matthew Barzal, Jack Eichel,
Next season both Horvat and Shinkaruk will get their feet wet. They won't be given top line roles, but 2nd/3rd line spots to get accustomed to the NHL. The following year they should be on the cusp of being able to step up, in addition with a player like McDavid/Barzal/Eichel who should all be in the NHL in their draft year will form an extremely good young nucleus, along with Evander Kane, Brendan Gaunce, and (hopefully) Zack Kassian.