Just as player development isn't linear a rebuild most likely isn't linear. I'd give even odds to this team being better or worse than last year.
Again as Bingo's game write-ups have emphasized this year, the key importance is development not necessarily winning. You'd be hard pressed to say that this year is anything but an overwhelming success based from a development perspective. Backlund has arrived, Colborne obviously, Brodie, Wotherspoon, Granlund, Ramo/Ortio are all showing signs that they're NHL players. That's the key. We need to develop players then 3 years down the road we need to make acquisitions that gel these players into a team.
I think right now the people who are expressing caution aren't being "negative" but warning of exceeded expectations and the pressure to short-cut the treatment. Many "negative" posters just want to see the long-term success of the rebuild not be distracted by short-term satisficing.
|