Quote:
Originally Posted by thymebalm
Ok. Time for a bold prediction from watching the pre-season and training camp.
We will not be as bad as everyone thinks.
I know that everyone thinks that there is no way that the team will be competitive and is a shoe-in for a top-5 pick. But I find that laughable.
I know we've been told all summer that without Iggy, Kipper and Bouw we are screwed, but I have to lovingly disagree.
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If a few things all occur, we could potentially finish around 10-12 last in the league. While some might pull their hair out and say that's the worst thing possible, because of how much we're relying on youth, it would mean that a number of players had excellent development years. Specifically, the following players would have to take significant forward steps in their development:
Brodie
Baertschi
Backlund
Horak (probably)
One of Knight or Monahan, or both, would also need to come in and make a positive impact. They don't need to be great but they need to be a net positive on the ice more games than not.
Ramo and/or Berra would have to be in the upper-half of goalies in terms of SVPCT and GAA.
Finally, the vets we're really counting on, like Glencross, Giordano, Wideman, Stajan, and Cammalleri all need to have "good" seasons. They don't need to play the lights out but they can't have an off year like Gio and Cammy did last year.
If ALL THIS happens, we will at least be in most games, and will win far more than others are expecting. Also, none of this, outside of Ramo/Berra outplaying expectations, is that much to expect.