I like your post, Comix. Like, what is the alternative?
Gaudreau is a UFA in a year, so you either have to sign him to an unpleasant extension (given age/training regimen/etc) or trade him anyhow. Tkachuk has to be qualified at 9 in a year, so you either have to sign him to an unpleasant extension (a Tkachuk is not giving you a break on the $$$) or he walks himself to UFA. Thus, trade or overpay. Monahan seems broken, so either you keep him as overpriced 2nd line C or trade him for whatever you can get. Giordano is almost done, though still good. Backlund is still good (I will assume and give him the benefit of the doubt) but expensive and on the downside, given age. This is just in terms of pure asset value without going into character issues, which this core seems to have aplenty...
Otherwise, you have a decent supporting cast, a goalie that may or may not be worth his contract (better get Clark), and nothing exciting in the pipeline, except maybe some more middle of roster type players.
Yeah, I guess you can squeeze out another run at a playoff spot next year, and then you have to turn the roster over because of contracts and age anyhow. You do have Sutter, but you have a huge job turning this into a Sutter roster.
The Comix way is the smart way (especially given building timing), but I fear that way is not for us...
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