Thank goodness you aren't our gm. Building a team with free agents is always a terrible idea. Also getting fleeced in every trade is a poor decision. Girgensons AAV is okay but not for that term I'll agree with that. I think he could be selected by Seattle though and we could always trade him after 1 season. It's not an unmovable contract

I hope you're joking. you realize girgensons was signed by the sabres. I didn't choose to sign him. his AAV is horrible...like terrible. I hope you paid attention to UFA signings. his was one, if not the highest of a 4th line player.

Second of all there were a lot of buyouts & released players this past year so a lot more options for UFAs that weren't available originally (Wennberg, Johnson)

we had a bunch of empty middle six spots...how do you fill them? I'd fill them with guys with great metrics including Jesper fast who is borderline 2 line caliber player on xG. who would help drive scoring on a 3rd line. Add a cheap 3rd line center who would help be a great 2 way center with good defensive metrics. TJ Brodie has always been very good & we need some top 4 defensemen & he is incredibly affordable. by the way he signed for that exact amount. Weegar is a top 4 defensemen who is getting paid like a 3rd pair. The trades are realistic trades. fleeced or not, your perspective of this team being bad is very off.

The only questionable move would be Toffoli but he showed last year in Vancouver that when he paired with the right players he can produce. Don't see how staal & skinner wouldn't help there. I built the forwards through free agency. Defense & goalie through trade. so technically this isn't a free agency team...its a build a team analytically & using metric. We really don't have a lot of trade bait players...idk what you think we'd get for montour or risto but I can say its not a first round or anyone like Ehlers without offering more.