Talbot replacing Smith and Lucic replacing Neal are close to a wash. Tkachuk will cost more, Hathaway is gone, and we are probably going to lose someone else as a cap casualty. So barring a fall deal we are taking a step back (at least on paper) this season.
That is disappointing. The team has real issues in the middle six and we still haven't added any stability in net. We are still a very good team, but we are also in a three year window and coming off a playoff meltdown. I was hoping Treliving was a bit more aggressive in taking a step forward.
That said, let's see if Rittich can take a step forward and how kids like Andersson and Dube factor in. Let's also hope our army of 'career seasons' don't regress too far. Finally, let's hope the team learned something from the late season meltdown. If that can all happen, perhaps we can take a step forward.
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