I don't wanna completely trash your team but I'm glad they have their first round picks because there are huge question marks.

Can Atkinson be as impactful without Panarin getting all the attention from the opposition?
Can Bjorkstrand or Texier (or Bemstrom) climb into the top six and find a fit?
Can one of those goaltenders be a no.1?
Will the team still believe in Torts' message now 4 years in?

The defense is still very good but I think CBJ are gonna need a quiet re-tool over the next couple years to optimize their chances during Jones/PLD/ZW prime.

P.s. I love Josh Anderson

Atkinson has had 20+ goals in like 6 straight seasons???

Lots of guys get 20+ goals every year - I'm not saying he will all of the sudden be bad. The best teams rely on their stars. With Panarin gone, is Atkinson going to be able to carry the team?

Atkinson scored 36 before Panarin was acquired. It's silly to think that he won't continue to produce, although his assist totals might go down. He's a sure bet for 25+ goals and 50+ points. It's not like we're asking him to carry the load, there is plenty of depth on the team.

Bjorkstrand scored a 40-goal pace the second half of last season playing 3rd line minutes. He's going to get a chance to play consistently in the top-6. Texier is more of a question mark, but he showed glimpses of magic late in the year. He could be a dark horse candidate for the Calder.

Goaltending will be wait-and-see. I personally don't have much faith in Korpi. But even replacement level goaltending would be fine, as that projects us to be a mid-90s point team according to Sean Tierney's WAR model.

It's a good point about the depth - I guess I was underrating it a bit. Before the Panarin trade ('16-17), they had 12 guys with double digit goal totals. On paper, it just doesn't look as scary with Panarin gone. Optimistically though, someone will step into that ice time and excel.