Quote:
Originally Posted by Joborule
Makes you think what will be the next step in another disappointing season? Considering you have an all-star caliber goalie locked up - who's age means that he should be in his prime for at least a few more seasons - it is kinda foolish to do a rebuild. But it would be now several consecutive seasons that the core has failed.
A lot of blame could be placed on coaching since it's not like any of the past three have had strong resume to prove they are good caliber NHL coaches. So you could just change the coach alone to a proven one (haha, yeah right) to give it one last shot with the core largely intact. But I don't believe that the problems is primarily coaching. I think the core's ceiling is just too low to really amount to anything since it's lacking two high impact skaters that give the opposing teams fits every game.
With some core player contracts expiring within the next two seasons, you could try retooling by offloading those who aren't part of the long term plans, but then you're wasting years of Markstrom's peak since you're likely regressing rather than improving instantly. And if the retool option is selected, Treliving shouldn't be the GM to do it since he's the one that has built this underperforming roster.
I feel as a quick guess that if this season is once again a first round exit or no playoffs at all, that the most likely (or rather hopeful) change that will occur is bringing in a highly acclaimed coach to try to make one more attempt of generating spark with the core, before big changes with the core is taken.
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The obvious move is to re-shape the forwards. That's the thing that hasn't been done (with the roster, not getting into the coaching item).
I think the team has goaltending now solved for the next few years, and the blueline is solid.
But the forward group is the group that either takes a step this season (won't know until the post-season) or you have to change out some of those big names. There are major decisions coming with all 3 of Monahan, Gaudreau and Tkachuk the create a natural pinch point for that too.
I don't like the forward group. Haven't for a while.