[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by MarkGio

Perhaps. But Atlanta/Winnipeg have literally built their franchise around Chicagos cap victims. I think Chicago had "building" blocks they needed to legitimately analyze as to whether or not they should build around or trade for other forms of building blocks.

Here's another way to look at it. Imagine a franchise with the following players:

Byfuglien, Ladd, Niemi, Sharp, Saad, Frolik, Bolland, Versteeg, Oduya, Leddy, Stalberg, Kopecky and Campbell. I think a franchise with all those players could be a playoff team.

That's a team with terrible depth up front, decent defense, and okay goaltending. Not a playoff team.