Quote:
Originally Posted by belsarius
This is what gets me the most. I agree a top line capable RW is nice to have, but it wasn't the top 6 that caused last year's problems. 4 of the top 6 had career years, Backlund was just off and Frolik had an off year with injury issues.
The bottom 6 completely #### the bed when it came to adding to the offense, excepting a few weeks in December the third line was productive. The fourth line couldn't shoot its way out of a wet paper bag.
Moves to get that high profile RW is flashy but doesn't solve the depth problem. Getting these mid-bottom 6 guys who are productive at the NHL level is critical to success. The Golden Knights just showed the entire league what a team of "2nd liners" can accomplish. The core is good, its shoring up the support staff that I see as the major failure last year and bringing in guys like Ryan are just the moves that need to happen.
|
I think what most of us want to see is guys that actually belong in the bottom 6 who have been playing up the lineup like Frolik, Ferland and even Backlund get pushed down and we sign players who belong in the top 6. That would get the fanbase more excited and in my opinion would be more likely to succeed.
If we're all set with exciting upgrades in the top 6 and then we bring in someone like Ryan as a depth signing that's fine. Doesn't feel like it's playing out that way though. Seems like he's the primary target like Frolik and Brouwer were before him, and I expect him to get overpaid. Between Lindholm and Ryan coming in I am also concerned about eating into Jankowski's ice-time. Treliving is good at getting value at the high end but we overpay for the bottom half of the roster. This looks like a continuation of that trend.