Ban Price trades
Joined: Oct. 2017
Posts: 6,482
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They aren't as bad as this season would have you figure. I won't excuse Chiarelli for his terrible value assessment in the past couple of years, he should be fired for that alone. However:
1. Draisaitl went out early this season with a concussion, and wasn't back to 100% until about a month ago. You can see it in his production.
2. Sekera and Klefbom haven't played near 100% all season. Sekera came back from ACL probably a little prematurely, and won't be back to full health until getting the chance to properly work out this summer. Klefbom's hand is probably busted, and needs to have some time off to come back at 100%.
3. Having Nuge out has dumpstered this team more than most people expected.
4. Larsson hasn't been in the proper headspace to be a top-4 dman this year; it probably has a lot to do with his dad's passing. I figure it may not have been as sudden as the organization let on, and it really took a toll on him.
5. Lucic has been snakebit. He needs an exorcism at this point.
A change in special teams staff / assistant coaches and having McLellan quit gifting Caggiula top-6 minutes when he hasn't warranted them will do this team a lot of good in the next season. Let Talbot and Lucic refocus their games over the summer, let everyone come back healthy. This team could at least contend for a wildcard spot (as is) when running at 100%. Moves made this summer by hopefully a new GM (Julien BrisBois please omg) should address the need even further.