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tvp2003 · 06-11-2015, 06:31 AM

How many current players/prospects have a reasonable chance to be top six forwards (not pie in the sky):

Monahan
Gaudreau
Bennett
Poirier
Klimchuk
Ferland
Colborne

I didn't include guys like Bouma, Shore, Hunter Smith and Jankowski because they probably have 3rd line upside versus top 6 upside. You never know though.

With the top three guys penciled in, that leaves three spots. A reasonably priced vet (like Hudler) probably gets one, which leaves at least four guys fighting for two spots. Plus we have a boatload of draft picks this year who could be in the mix in a few years as well.

IMO the problem isn't pieces -- it's time for these guys to develop. Which is okay because this whole rebuild has been about looking long term. If in two years time nobody has developed into a top 6 player, you can think about overpaying for a UFA. But you don't acquire a guy like Kessel (or any high priced UFA forward) when that role (and associated cap space) can be filled with what you already have in a few years.

Acquiring Kessell would be extremely short sighted IMO and brings along long term cap pain, not to mention the loss in trade assets. No thanks.

06-11-2015, 06:31 AM	#324
tvp2003 Franchise Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Exp:	How many current players/prospects have a reasonable chance to be top six forwards (not pie in the sky): Monahan Gaudreau Bennett Poirier Klimchuk Ferland Colborne I didn't include guys like Bouma, Shore, Hunter Smith and Jankowski because they probably have 3rd line upside versus top 6 upside. You never know though. With the top three guys penciled in, that leaves three spots. A reasonably priced vet (like Hudler) probably gets one, which leaves at least four guys fighting for two spots. Plus we have a boatload of draft picks this year who could be in the mix in a few years as well. IMO the problem isn't pieces -- it's time for these guys to develop. Which is okay because this whole rebuild has been about looking long term. If in two years time nobody has developed into a top 6 player, you can think about overpaying for a UFA. But you don't acquire a guy like Kessel (or any high priced UFA forward) when that role (and associated cap space) can be filled with what you already have in a few years. Acquiring Kessell would be extremely short sighted IMO and brings along long term cap pain, not to mention the loss in trade assets. No thanks. Last edited by tvp2003; 06-11-2015 at 08:45 AM.