[Cali Panthers Fan]

I agree with about 90% of the OP in that this team looks like it's a really good player or two away from being a serious team. As it stands now, they're in that group of also-rans.

I don't believe this is their year, but there is a team to build on for next year.

Start in net and Markstrom seems to be the answer for at least the next 5 or 6 years. Perhaps Wolf will push for his job at some point, but that seems years away. I imagine Rittich or another solid backup goalie will be found to supplement our net for that period of time.

The defense corps seems to be set even with the decline of Giordano, which was expected at some point. Andersson, Hanifin, Valimaki are the young studs with Tanev likely being full value for the duration of his deal. Those guys are all locked up for 4 more years except for Valimaki who doesn't have enough bargaining power to get a significant raise on his current deal, but will likely be qualified and signed long term this year. There's your top 4 for the next 4-5 years. Cycle in whatever bottom pairing guys you need to, but you have Giordano for one more year who could easily still play bottom pairing minutes, and then Kylington and Mackey can probably fill out the bottom pair over their RFA eligibility.

Our defense is set. The question is, how good is it? I'm willing to believe that Hanifin is going to be a solid #2 d-man. Not flashy offensively, but has some skills and can supplement a quality offensive partner. I suspect that guy will be Andersson, but I'm not convinced of it yet. Then you have Valimaki-Tanev as a second pair who can play in all situations, with some offensive flair in Valimaki. Those are two rock-solid pairings who will eat minutes and play in all situations. Not spectacular, but will get the job done.

The real question is the forwards, and I guess it all depends on how you see this team constructed long-term. After next year, Johnny is UFA, the same year that Tkachuk is RFA. Who do you build around? The incredibly talented, but small and soft skilled player? Or do you build around the skilled but truculent Tkachuk, even though he has lots of baggage and doesn't put up the same points as Gaudreau. Neither player has been especially impressive in the playoffs, so the answer isn't clear to me. Can you keep both? Doubtful, but you never know. My gut says that Tkachuk is the guy to keep, and you could probably get a 1st round pick and a top prospect for Gaudreau at the very least.

I think you can keep Linholm and Monahan as your 1A/1B centers and build from there. You still have Backlund on the books for another 3 years after this one, and I'm sure he'll be a solid 3 center for the term of the deal. Zary seems like he will be an NHLer as well, but how good has yet to be determined, but I see him as a top 2 line winger. Ryan won't be renewed after this year, of that much I am certain.

Then you have the guys that project to be middle six wingers: Dube, Mangiapane, Pelletier. All good players, but not likely to be elite. I never worry about 4th liners because you can always fill that part of your lineup out easily with prospects, league minimum UFAs, and even PTOs if necessary. But you cannot win with Lucic on your 4th line making that kind of money, no matter how likable he is (and he is incredibly likable). I suspect the Flames buy out the last year of his deal if they can't get Seattle to take him once he waives his NMC. And the question of Bennett remains, and I don't know what to do with him. My gut says he's traded sometime this year or the off-season.

Anyway, in a year or so, the roster could look like this, and it might be like this for a while:

Tkachuk-Lindholm-Zary
Dube-Monahan-Pelletier
Mangiapane-Backlund-?
?-?-?

Hanifin-Andersson
Valimaki-Tanev
Giordano/Kylington-Mackey

Markstrom-Rittich/Backup UFA


When I look at that lineup, I see a good team, but I don't see a contender. However, if you can get a player of Gaudreau's level in return in a trade, you could see a much different team that could really contend. The problem is, I don't know how you really upgrade this roster without bottoming out for a season and getting another high end draft pick. c'est la vie.