[Red]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

Pretty sure Gulutzan has a 3 year deal so his contract won't be up until 2019. I also disagree that we're skilled enough to go deep. We have 1 elite play maker, a lot of inconsistent finishers and plenty of grinders. People need to adjust their expectations. Just look at other teams that are expected to go deep and compare:


Pittsburgh: Crosby, Malkin, Kessel, Hornqvist, Guentzel and etc
Tampa: Kucherov, Stamkos, Point, Johnson, Palat, Namestnikov, Gourde & etc
Winnipeg: Wheeler, Scheifele, Ehlers, Laine, Little, Connor, Perreault and etc
Boston: Marchand, Bergeron, Pastrnak, Krejci, Spooner, Backes, Heinan & etc
Nashville: Forsberg, Arvidsson, Johansen, Turris, Fiala, Smith, Hartnell, Bonino and etc
Toronto: Matthews, Nylander, Marner, Vanriemsdyk, Kadri, Marleau, Bozak & etc


There's other teams, but I think everyone gets the point. Does anyone honestly think our forward group has anything on these teams? We still have a lot of young guys who still need to grow into high impact players, but aren't there yet or may not get there. But there's no question in my mind that we're not even close to being deep enough to go far. We're extremely top heavy and the stats and eye test prove that to me.

Most of these players listed were nobodies like our own group. It took team success and an opportunity to succeed to elevate their value. Who's to say that with a different coach Bennet wouldn't be a 20 G guy. Or Brodie isn't the NHLs envy. Or Gio is the top 3 d in Norris voting.

Or maybe they were at one point ?

Also I recall a bunch of teams that were stacked and did nothing. Can we forget the Rangers of late 90s or the Selane + Kariya Aves? We saw this year after year. Star players are only a part of the equation.