barely playoffs

I honestly don't see how a team that didn't get better can actually compete with anyone already in top 8, let alone Buffalo and even PIT...possibly OTT or DET.

WSH should just focus on getting Ovi the record while tearing down to the studs for a post-Ovi world.

I think the org is going to have to come out of delusion this year and possibly next then they might be able to admit what you are talking about so they could be a marginal playoff team or we might see them have the same lack of success at this past year.

they will have the same lack of success if they come into the season with a worse team. they won’t resign sheary and shouldn’t sign orlov and they should and prob will get mantha off the team. sheary is horrible and should go anywhere but the caps. their d core is already set for next year and bringing back orlov doesn’t make sense for the future. they will bring in some young top 6 forwards and with the right moves will be a playoff team next year.

part of getting ovi the record means actually icing a competitive team that can help him score. The team also got career worst years (either due to poor form, injury, or both) from Kuzy, Backstrom, Wilson, and Mantha and completely imploded when their #1d was also out hurt for 2.5 months. They will continue trying to make the team as good as they possibly can be until the wheels fall off completely. It's what happened last year and when they did, they pivoted and sold. Its very reasonable to expect that they can challenge for hte playoffs again next year and if they can't, they'll sell again.

Also as a fan, I hate seeing them lose -- as nice as it is to have 8oa and sandin I absolutely would have rather made the playoffs even if they lost to boston in 5 or whatever. Sports are emotional, not just fully optimizing everything on a spreadsheet and the idea that if you aren't one of the top 5 teams in the league you should be rebuilding or not care about making the playoffs is anathema to that

This will look crazy but, I wouldn't trade LOC for Kuz 1 for 1.
LOC is so valuable in his mentorship of new players, recruitment of ncaa guys and his pk work is awesome. Plus he gets the boys nice threads at his family's menswear store.
Kuz is not a character fit for the Avs. sorry y'all