Quote:
Originally Posted by powderjunkie
CBJ may be closer to winning than NJD - they managed 18 more pts than NJD despite Laine and Werenski missing a fair bit of time (though so did Hughes and Hamilton) and have never really bottomed out the way
Hughes/Hischier are more certain and further along than Sillinger/Johnson, but the rest of CBJ roster is in better shape:
Elvis locked up for 5 yrs vs. Blackwood or ???
Werenski > Hamilton
Gavrikov vs. Severson - both 1 yr from UFA
Boqvist/Bean vs. Luke Hughes/Ty Smith - probably give the edge to NJD, but all of these guys are big question marks.
Laine/Bjorkstrand/Jenner/Roslovic/Chinakhov/Texier/Bemstrom/etc
vs.
Bratt/Zacha?/Mercer/Sharangovich/Holtz/Boqvist/Foote/etc
CBJ has a better G and #1D. NJD probably has better 1-2C (of the future). The next 10 best players on each roster are a bit of a toss up - CBJ is more ready to compete now but maybe a lower ceiling for their youngest guys. NJD picks 2OA, CBJ picks 6 and 12.
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Columbus has never secured a top free agent. Ohio is the Winnipeg of the US they are not a desirable market. Laine likely wants out and they haven’t been able to keep any key free agents in the past.
You are blowing pure smoke if you think that Columbus is a real threat for Johnny