Quote:
Originally Posted by Textcritic
No. Bring back the same team and they will likely do much better in October and November 2017 than they did in October and November 2016. Bring the same team back, and we are likely to see improvements from key players like Gaudreau, Monahan, Bennett, Brodie and Elliott, which should more than compensate for likely steps back for Backlund and Tkachuk.
Bring the same team back, and they are almost certainly back in the playoffs, and likely challenging for the division.
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Respectfully disagree. Last year's team was incredibly healthy and made into the playoffs as a bottom seed. You bring back the same team and I'd be very worried about injuries, inconsistent goaltending and that bottom pairing on defense getting exposed. Giordano, Versteeg, Frolik, Stajan, Engelland are all guys who could take a step back in addition to those you mentioned.
Hockey is like any business IMO. If you're standing still, you're getting passed. No need to start over but I don't see this team as a contender with last year's lineup.