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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I've never given it a thought.
Both are very real.
Great season with some consistency that faded down the stretch somewhat and waned into the playoffs.
Good season.
Terrible series.