[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by TheSquatch

I agree with a lot of this. The trades Tre tried to make were needed - Kadri's snarl, an upgrade on RW. Instead they got Lucic. But even that wouldn't have fixed this group. Again, this comes down not even to the love of winning, but that hatred, that total refusal to lose. Battle. These guys don't have a ton and these slow starts and the idea that the team is pretty great and the wins will just come... all part of this. As a group, there isn't enough fire. And the "fireless" guys like Jankowski can just bus it outta town in my opinion. Another Jooris, a guy who has just enough skill but not the fire to lock it down.

The idea that Kane outworked Gaudreau tonight should horrify us... and I mean, how old is Kane now, is he ten years older than Johnny? Feels like he should be. (It's 5, just checked, but he's on the other side of 30).

Mediocrity, stamped in up front with a couple exceptions, and luckily there are some nice young defensemen coming up or this whole thing would look utterly bleak. But the fix, the big turnaround? Gotta jettison some names that aren't carrying the mail they need to and reap some kind of harvest.

Regarding your point about gaudreau vs kane. My bet is he whimpers and his game goes down even further after the Allstar snub.