Quoting: NHLfan10506
Are you playing to score or playing to win?
Playing to win. But looking at this team and looking at all teams that wins it takes both defensive and offensive depth to win. Getting rid of Marner and taking out 100 points without even an adequate replacement significantly hurts. Look at the blue jays in jays they trade away 5 of their consistent offensive performers for defense. Now they can't score any runs and need to hope pitching and defense can carry them but it only goes far. Ditto for the Islanders whom outside of barzal and horvat struggle to have any other good offensive performers. Carolina before this year all experts agreed that the reason the lose is not because of defense but because not enough offense. What did Carolina do they acquired Guentzel. Vegas has Eichel, barbashev, Reilly, marchessault, stone, Stephenson, karlsson all capable of 55+ points a year.
I never said we need another 100 points Marner but we need scoring depth to be improved if we get rid of Marner meaning a forward capable of 60-80 points. Marner is a forward that produces 95+. I am merely pointing out the fact that its defense, offense and goaltending that win in the playoffs. Colorado had Rantanen, MacKinnon, kadri, lehknonen, etc... when they won. Tampa Bay has Kucherov, stamkos, points, killorn,palat plus a 40+ point capable 3 rd line with Coleman, Goodrow, etc....