Quote:
Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina
I think next year is the bottom. Which isn’t a bad thing….its a good draft
|
Agreed - next year is the bottom.
It takes years to move out / replace all of the prior core (SJS took longer than the Flames did), it takes years to acquire new talent, and then it takes years for that talent to mature.
Once Coleman and Kadri are gone, the old core is largely eliminated (Huberdeau and Backlund aren't enough to affect anything).
With this year's draft and next year's draft (along with the acquisitions already made), the bulk of the talent acquisition will have been accomplished.
With those two items well in hand, the nose of the ship will be pointing upwards, even if the runway is still long.
25/26: painful
26/27: darkest for the on-ice product, but lots to be excited about
27/28: still lousy, but more exciting, and much of the new core will be on the ice
28/29: hopefully the rebuild has seeded well and the shape of the future is taking hold