We should be happy at the situation where so many of the younger players made it such a difficult task for management to have to send them back to the AHL, in spite of their exceptional performance during the preseason. In hindsight, it was probably a forgone conclusion that this would have to happen, when you consider the number of openings in the main core of our team. As has been mentioned, we're using the Detroit model.
I wouldn't take last night's game as an example of how we are going to perform during the season, as it will take a few games for the vets to get in the groove. We will still have a fair amount of scoring potential in players like Hudler, Giordano, Backlund, Stajan, along with some of the younger exceptional scoring talent in Monahan, JG, Bennett (for 9 games?) and Byron. Also, our goaltending, a reasonable defence, a few enforcers, along with good coaching will probably keep us fairly competitive.
IMO, all things considered, we should improve somewhat in the standing from last year. And with so many players on the edge of breaking into the NHL, our future looks great.
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