Quote:
Originally Posted by Enoch Root
If Gaudreau's contract situation affects his on-ice play, it will be in a positive way.
The goaltending will be better.
The team defense will be better.
There is no chance they give up 250 goals.
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Well, they might. I don't see a prime Kiprusoff, Quick, Nabokov, or Doughty on this team.
They really need Tanev to keep playing like an all-star and I'm not sure if that's feasible. Beyond that, it's pretty bleak. I like Markstrom but he still needs to show a lot after his 20-21 season.
I just don't know how you can say the team defence will be better after they lost one of the league's better defencemen. It's possible there's some value to be had with Zadorov — I really don't think there's any chance with Gudbranson — but I don't know if Darryl's system will be able to fill the holes in this defensive group. It's just not very good, and I think there's a chance it'll be the least talented one he's ever coached in the NHL.
And I just question whether Markstrom will be able to succeed with the heavy workload Darryl will undoubtedly give him. The insurance has some upside but still, Vladar and Werner have collectively played seven NHL games.
I suspect this team will have to outscore a lot of its problems, and I just don't know if they have the personnel to do it. That's not me trying to conjure up a hot take ... it's just what I see as being the reality with this roster.