Quote:
Originally Posted by Vinny01
One reason the heat has been turned up is the fact that over half the young core on the team is on their big money long term deals. Brodie is in the 2nd year of a 5 year contract that he signed out of his bridge deal. Hamilton is in the second year of a 6 year deal he signed out of his ELC. Monahan and Gaudreau are in the first year of their long term deals out of their ELC. Gio is on his stat player retirement contract, and Backlund is almost halfway through his deal that takes him to ufa status.
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Unfortunately just because the CBA dictates our young stars deserve star money doesn't mean they have fully developed into stars yet.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vinny01
That also doesn't include Brouwer and Frolik who were 2 high priced UFA signings that are made by teams that are looking st making the playoffs not rebuilding.
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I think that is flat out incorrect. In order to execute a successful rebuild you generally need a few high character, solid veterans to show your kids how to be pros, how to succeed despite the pressures to just party your life away, etc.
This is where EDM often went wrong. They got rid of all their good veterans, handed the team to the kids and went nowhere. Ideally you surround your youth with some veterans who can still contribute.
Adding Brouwer, Frolik and Engelland are exactly the types of moves that a good rebuilding team should make in order to surround their youngsters. So I think you are flat our wrong in your characterization there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vinny01
The expectation for the fanbase should be playoffs. The fact this is a cap team with most of the core outside of Tkachuk and Bennett on long term deals shows us this. I supported the long term deals for Monahan, Gaudreau, and Hamilton. In hindsight if all 3 were on bridge deals and the team didn't tradefor Elliott or signed Brouwer it would be easier to stomach this team still being in year 4 of a lengthy rebuild. The way this team is currently constructed fans should be hoping for and expecting a playoff team.
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Agreed. I think hoping for and expecting the playoffs is good for the mentality of our rebuilding team. However I think if we fail to make the playoffs this year it does not mean the rebuild is failing, it does not mean Treliving has to go.
Patience is required with a rebuilding team.