Some fans need to take a step back and relax. They expect the team to go from 77 points to cup contender in 4 years. I don't think the Hamonic trade necessarily signaled that Treliving thought we were a contender but more so was a move to help try and push the team forward while we still have our core together. He had 3 years on his deal at a low cap hit so I'm sure he saw the move as something that helped immediately and helped as the team grew together. If we miss this year whoever the Islanders pick likely isn't going to be an immediate help, maybe not for a while, and maybe never. The window didn't close this year I feel like it just started to open.
The team is still set up to be good moving forward. Gulutzan and his staff are likely gone. Stajan gone. Brouwer good chance bought out. We should have guys like Valimaki, Andersson, Dube, Mangiapane, etc all trying to make the team. Hopefully guys like Tkachuk, Jankowski, Bennett, etc are able to take a step forward. I'm sure Treliving will try and make a trade for some scoring depth. A top 6 winger is likely top of his list. With some injected youth and maybe a signing in the bottom 6 that should help the depth. Obviously not everything will pan out but I still see optimism with this team. A mid first round pick likely isn't going to decide the fate of this organization moving forward.
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