Quote:
Originally Posted by GioforPM
Maybe. But the team finished second overall, and in non-fluky fashion (it wasn't at all like Hartley's miracle season). In fact, they did so with substandard goaltending out of Smith and a back hole in Neal.
So they had a bum series, and Mackinnon played out of his mind for a while. I'm not prepared to say the regular season was a mirage.
Do they have weak spots? Sure. But they also played a number of rookies plus Hanifin, the top line had a brand new guy on it, and Rittich was essentially a rookie starter as well. So I think they have some upward mobility just in the experience department. I also think Monahan, Gaudreau, Lindholm and Tkachuk have yet another gear to find.
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So the discussion started by saying I think the team would have been much better if the Zucker and Kadri trades that appeared to be fully complete did not fall through for the mystery reason with Zucker and the NTC with Kadri.
I did not say the team was bad but I liked the roster more with those players along with Lucic added and Frolik, Brodie, Jankowski, Neal removed. The comment came in that this was the second overall team in the league and still a great roster. I agree with that but the fact this team got slapped around by a team nearly 20pts below them in the standings is probably a reason they are not the consensus to repeat as a top 2 team in the west.
Further to that we have witnessed the following swings.
13/14: 77pts
14/15: 97pts
15/16: 77pts
16/17: 94pts
17/18: 84pts
18/19: 107pts
Based on the last 6 seasons this team is poised to take a step back. They won the west with no key injuries last year and tough to expect that to happen again. Adding another proven top 6 forward and top 2 line C would have really complimented the team and had them looking that much deeper and better heading into this season