I think my biggest problem with signing Brodie is because the team is mediocre and has been for so long. Make the playoffs and anything can happen, but this team was 50/50 on making the playoffs when the break occurred. It's not a great team. And signing Brodie pretty much keeps the team intact, Valimaki instead of Hamonic and...what other changes?
If the team is to improve in the immediate future, it won't be because Giordano becomes the next Bobby Orr. It won't be Gaudreau chasing Gretzky's goal-scoring record. We pretty much know what we got from most of our core's peak.
If the team is to improve, it will be from the young players (or outside help...). And while Dube can and should grow, maybe even Bennett finds consistency and stays playoff Bennett, the best chance of improvement is from the backend. It's Hanifin taking the next step, it's Andersson playing in the top 4, it's Valimaki making the team uninjured, Kylington...
I say go big or go home, rely on those young defense next year and take the cap-saving from not re-signing Brodie and get a forward to help them out there. It could go bad but it's better than being stuck where we are. Otherwise I just see a repeat of the same thing over and over again. Fighting for the playoffs and expecting a first round loss if we make it.
If Brodie is willing to sign another sweetheart deal, don't turn it down, but I don't want to be competing with other teams if he wants 'fair' value.
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