Quote:
Originally Posted by Textcritic
What constitutes a "solid team" in your mind? Is this a team that competes for the Stanley Cup, a perennial playoff team, or one that struggles to qualify from one year to the next? Do you see a solid team with this same core much beyond next season?
I disagree about the Sedins. I think that they do need to be +1.00 point/game players for the present iteration of the Canucks to be successful. This is because beyond that top line there is very little offensive support. The Canucks have always been a top-heavy offensive team, but were successful because of just how good the Sedins once were. They are declining now, and with that decline, there is no compensation from their depth players as the Canucks move forward. I suppose that efforts could be made to supplement the current group with better depth players in the bottom-nine, but I don't see it happening. There are simply too many upgrades that need to be made for this to occur.
I will say it again: The Canucks are probably better, and their players are better than they showed this season. But this does not mean they are a very good team. They have an ageing core and little offensive depth. This is a team that is probably in the mix for the playoffs next year, maybe the year after, but I don't believe there is an opening any longer for this group to make a meaningful push for a championship. If they are no where close now, and even further from this goal in the near future, then I would suggest that this is probably not a very "solid team" at all.
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I did not say they were a solid team, I said a solid team could still be built around that core. And a point per game for the Sedins makes them 70-80 pt guys (which I think is still possible for them for the next couple years with the proper supporting cast), not 100 pt guys (which is not).
and by 'a solid team', I am talking Minnesota solid, not Chicago solid
Look, I am not trying to suggest that the Canucks are an awesome team here. I am merely arguing that supporting a solid core is probably a better plan for them than tearing down the team.
Hard core fans like us talk about winning the cup or nothing. But for the vast majority of fans, it is about having a good team - winning games and making the playoffs. The business is entertainment, not a forum for arm-chair general managers.