Rejoint: sept. 2018
Messages: 2,121
Mentions "j'aime": 1,805
I mean, the idea is there even if the values/targets are off. Trim the fat, add by subtracting in places, and commit to a core of guys Columbus believes in.
The biggest problem: this team is so young, that you're likely to get burned by trading guys like Chinakhov, Texier, Boqvist, and yes, even Laine. They're old enough to be NHLers, but not young enough to have that shroud of mystery potential that bumps up their value, and also not established enough to be extremely valuable NHLers. They're depth pieces that have shown glimpses of the ability to break out in the right situation, and that's a perfect storm of factors that leads to a team losing that trade.
I don't think the team needs to add significantly, or make a quantity-for-quality trade for an upgrade yet. Let the kids develop and guarantee them a roster spot once they prove they can at least beat out guys like Bean, Gudbranson, Gaunce, Meyer, etc. Trade one or two you don't see being part of the future, and commit to the kids.
Commit to these guys, please: Fantilli, Jiricek, Johnson, Sillinger, Chinakhov, Voronkov, Marchenko
Hold these guys obviously: Werenski, Gaudreau, Jenner, Gudbranson, Severson
Move these guys for the love of all things good: Elvis, Provorov
Give them a legit NHL chance: Greaves, Tarasov, Texier, Mateychuk, Nylander
Let them hold down the 4th line: Kuraly, Danforth, Olivier
Suddenly there's 13 forwards, 5 defensemen, and 2 goaltenders. No one under the age of 27 is playing 4th-line minutes or bottom-pair minutes. Sign some vets to plug the gaps in the short term, and just let the core develop, gain some chemistry, and have some certainty that they'll get a fair chance at an NHL position. And hope they can stay somewhat healthy.
The mystery here is Laine.