Batherson is already better than both Giroux and Palat

This is not only unnecessary but it handcuffs us immediately when signing Stützle and Pinto.
You've taken a team that is set up to compete for years and turned them into a one and done.

Yeah Shane Wright also is likely not going to be able to step in and be a #1 centre straight away. IMO he'll have a closer year 1 impact to Jack Hughes or Alexis Lafreniere which is to say not much. Would love to be wrong. Just don't see the speed there right now.

It's like an onion, but every layer is a bad move

Palat is not worth 5+ per. Pavelski is not worth 5 either.
Letang will stay in PIT for that cap hit.



I'm not even sure he should play in the NHL next year given the WJC performance. He did not look anything close to NHL ready.

Which leads to an interesting discussion about the merits of the CHL. He definitely shouldn't return to junior IMO. It would be a great option if he could play in the AHL if he looks like he needs it.

I agree completely. The CHL is not going to help him. But he shouldn't be at the NHL level IMO.
He's lost a lot of time on the ice due to covid. I think you can tell that looking at him play in WJC. He's been set back. He needs development. the CHL isn't a great place for that, especially if it's for 2 years.
But if you bring him in you get a byfield situation. Where he looks clueless at the NHL level but they don't have anywhere else to put him.

I think he's in a bad spot and that's all there is to it. He should have developed more but that was taken from him. So now, he's either stuck in a league where the level of play isn't high enough to help him, or he plays in the NHL and is probably above his head and could negatively impact his development.
He should be in the AHL. But that isn't an option.

No thank you. We have enough overpaid 3rd liners.

Well Logan Cooley is sitting right there 2nd with NHL readiness and an illustrious ability with the puck

I don't think this is a byfield stutzle argument.

Where LA clearly passed up on the better player for whatever reason.

I think Wright is the best player available. Not knocking Cooley, but if they pass up on Wright and he explodes what will every OTT fan think for the next 18 years.

I think Wright needs to develop. He needs to learn to play away from the puck. He needs to learn to keep his feet going as his being flat footed in WJC was evident. Standing and watching.
I think a lot of that was in lack of playing time. He is getting more of that now, but it's hard to make a year up before entering into the NHL. It just is.
Better to not ruin a young player. Be patient.
I wish I could say I had a real answer but there isn't one here. If you watched WJC you know what I'm talking about. It was a very unimpressive performance,
I don't think it's representative of what he'll be at say 23. But you have to develop to that point first. That is the issue then. Where to? The NHL ruins players if they aren't ready. We know this.
CHL isn't a great place to develop guys who are clearly too good for it. So what to do?