Not sold on the goaltending long term. And they need more forward depth.
But absolutely the core has cup potential. Johnny is the type of player who could absolutely win an Art Ross, they can always have one of Brodie Dougie or Gio on the ice, Backlund and Monahan are better right now than any centres who ever played with Jarome when he was here. Last but not least, Matthew Tkachuk - a player who might be able to lay claim to the title 'best LW on the team' in a few years. He could be the Hossa we're looking for.
They're close. They have nearly everything you want in a contending team, they just have a few dog#### contracts. Without dead Wideman money or paying Stajan $3.5M, Bouma, or Brouwer, that let's them buy the impact guys they need.
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