Quote:
Originally Posted by genetic_phreek
Interestingly awful. I don't see how a Hall/Cout combo is better than a Johnny/Mony combo. You're better off just shuffling the lines around with the current guys. Also I don't think Valimaki is playing bottom pairing. I just don't see how OEL will be an improvement to Gio other than younger and more money.
I have to politely disagree with that roster and it still looks mediocre.
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Hall-Cout doesn't have to better than Johnny-Mony (mony is still on the team.) It just has to perform better in the playoffs, and historically those players have done that.
What it does is increase our centre depth dramatically, with Tkachuk-Monahan-Lindholm good enough to be a #1B line, and Bennett-Backlund-Dube good enough to be a #2 line. 4th line is weak.
You nailed the the biggest improvement that OEL brings over gio: he's not aging out of the league and on a very clear downwards trajectory. You also didn't mention how vastly improved our goaltending would be. Kuemper is the real steal of the gio trade.