This offseason should be focused on replacing pricey UFAs with less expensive, equally as productive players. The core is here, for better or worse, and the next few seasons should be spent trying to make it work with what's here. Brown takes a one year prove-it deal to rebuild his value after his ACL tear, while Stalock and Shattenkirk are vets having solid years on awful teams. All of them have upside that can help take this group from a bubble team to a team firmly in playoff (but not championship) contention.
As for the lineup, I honestly wanted to trade Wahlstrom, just because he's been an offensive nonfactor this season and wasn't showing a ton of improvement before he got hurt. However, because of his injury and inability to play, his value is probably pretty low right now, so one more year as a make-or-break season (at least on Long Island) is probably the best path forward. Down the lineup, Clutterbuck's own injury issues this year and lack of effectiveness when he has been healthy should push him into a reserve role, especially with the emergence of Hudson Fasching. If Fasching isn't brought back (malpractice), I guess you can slot him back in or give Holmstrom or Dufour a chance to solidify their roles in the NHL. Holmstrom has very nice defensive metrics and has even looked nice at times on the top line (an opportunity he won't have when Barzal is back), but he has produced very little. Not sure what his future on the team looks like. He's not a bad 13th F option, but that's not great for his development. Dufour, meanwhile, is having a very nice rookie year with Bridgeport. His NHL upside is still a little unclear, but he's talented and should get an extended look at some point in 23-24.
This team isn't a contender, but it's pretty in-line with how they've conducted themselves in recent offseasons. Maybe this set of low-cost adds is the one that pulls us out of mediocrity.
Wahlstrom still ranks 5th in both offensive goals above replacement and 6th in overall GAR despite being out of the lineup the past two months. He’s a major shot generator and the isles score more goals with him when he’s on the ice
McDavid, Connor
250 000 $)
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