Quote:
Originally Posted by dammage79
I suppose it depends on what Sutter wants to do with this group.
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This is really the big X factor.
Sutter came back here for one thing, unfinished business to win the Stanley Cup for this city and franchise. That’s it. But, that’s a 2 to 3 season (max) window before he retires for good …I’d say 2.
Another offseason to build and mold the team how he wants, which is good. Potential cap space to use if losing a top player or two.
If those two top players stay, they’ll be forced to play an entire line from Stockton for cap reasons.
I trust Sutter implicitly. The guys who shut down in the playoffs, barring injury, you have to figure if they are in his plans or not.
They’ll be replacements for Richardson, Lewis and Zadorov and others, for better or worse, but again, Sutter has a goal here for the way the team needs to play and the players that need to have certain skill sets to play that role. Maybe more vets? I can see the same set of posters who want to gamble the teams future on magic untested beans and want to get Bedard etc rolling their eyes and preparing a sassy post, but Lucic Lewis and Ritchie were arguably the most consistent line in R1 and created energy and chances lines 2 and 3 didn’t.
The guys that feel the sting and embarrassment of losing to the Oilers won’t let that happen again if they are on the team next year, Sutter will make sure.