It is a really tough spot to be in. The way the organization is positioned makes it tougher to go the full rebuild route than some think. This is a bottom 10 team this year they were a top 2 team 2 years ago with much of the same roster. All I am saying when I state this is it is tough to say the past will predict the future when you are a bubble team.
What I think will happen:
Retool around players that the organization believes are part of the core. I assume that is Tkachuk, Lindholm, Mangiapane, Dube, Hanifin, Valimaki, Andersson, Markstrom. I think vets like Backlund and Tanev will still be here during a retool. I think the only way the team loses Gio is through expansion but they won’t trade him.
It likely means a few larger deals around Gaudreau and Monahan. I think the only way Tkachuk goes is if he requests a move.
If the team truly wants to rebuild and start from scratch the players you look to move immediately shifts to Lindholm, Markstrom and Tkachuk. You want to take your time to cash in on all 3 of these assets to allow you to tank and truly suck. Why waste good cheap years of Lindholm if the team plans to suck for the remainder of his deal? They might as well fire Sutter as well since he likely has them playing too good to be in contention for the high pick
I don’t think the team decides to go down this path however. They will not take one bad year in a Covid season and decide to completely tear it down. I do think we see significant change and a team built to play the Sutter style game. The goal will be to have a hardworking, defensive team that will outwork the more skilled groups in the league. Sucks to not be one of the skilled groups especially because it seemed like this team was on that path.
As a season ticket holder of the team does decide to go through a tankbuild I will accept that and watch every game from the comfort of my couch and will not renew my tickets. I am not sure how others feel but I think the fact this team wants to avoid losing ticket holders they will be pushing to be a competitive team when fans are allowed back in.
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