[GranteedEV]

At the end of the day, Gaudreau was a UFA, and failing to sign a UFA is what it is. I do not blame Treliving for that.

I do blame Treliving for having only signed Gaudreau to a six year deal back when, because he was penny-pinching on his best player. Two more years of Gaudreau in his prime would have been a better window and his need to shave maybe 2M off the aav, which went to scrubs most years, was the bigger fault.

All I am concerned about at this point is the team direction on a whole. Lost an elite player - fine, it happens. Treadmill team for the next decade? Not fine. You need high-skill puck carriers at every position, and one may argue we have none at any outside of an aging Backlund (with only a question mark like a pre-shoulder injury Kylington flashing anywhere near the dynamicism you need from multiple players at multiple positions). And Backlund is a guy the fanbase never even gives credit to because we're well aware he doesn't have the level of skill that elite star players do.