Quote:
Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina
I struggle to understand where the line is between a re-build and re-tool. But in my mind it is clear that you have to conclude that this re-build failed. And it largely failed because it's success hinged on progression of the core. And too many players failed to take another step and even regressed: Johnny, Monahan, Sam, Rittich, Jankowski, etc. You needed some of that group to find another level, and they didn't.
As others have stated, the series win over Vancouver, probably ended up being more of a curse as it motivated the franchise to try and open their contention window too early.
I would approach the off-season by trading Johnny and Monahan and seeing what type of returns you get. If it's picks then you are in a re-build. If there are roster players involved maybe it's a re-tool.
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I thought this last year and still think the same. Call it retool or rebuild. To me a rebuild would be a complete dismantling of virtually everything a la Ottawa. I don’t see that here as there are many pieces to a good puzzle. Still if you’re trading away 2 corner piece players of what should be a top six is that a retool or rebuild.
I don’t think you can trade even our best pieces for a top 1-6 draft pick. Just doesn’t really happen. So to get good value you need a good player back a top prospect and a pick.
I would say it’s a pretty deep retool and yes we have to expect to get worse before we get better.
I would be looking to build around our key younger players but keep the veterans that aren’t attracting great trade value at this time. I would also be bringing in a veteran coach. Still, I would hope that for a year or 2 we would be drafting high and loading up picks wherever I could.
The must keeps:
Tkachuk
Lindholm
Bennett
Rasmus
Valimaki
Dube
Giordano (only 2 years left, but for the right offer yes I would)
The I want more than I’m getting so probably I’m keeping:
Hanifin (young and worth more than I’m going to get)
Kilington (low trade value)
Lucic (not getting enough here, good leader)
Backlund (probably move later at a trade deadline)
The surprise, I’m bringing them back:
Talbot
Reider
Rinaldo
Gustafson (can I get him?)
ForborT
Brodie but does he even want to?
I would resign and sign any free agents I wanted before moving assets. Surprise, you signed here but I couple of players you thought would be here are not. This might include a Taylor Hall but not if a NMC was involved because my goal would be to convert signings to picks and prospects in 1-3 years.
Really, there are not that many high value pieces to move and rebuild from. Johnny, Monahan, and then we are adding the pieces to get the deals we want. Maybe Mangiapane or Kilington are the adds. 1st-4th round picks and top prospects are not.
So it’s a pretty deep retool but not a rebuild I’d say.