Quoting: LoganOllivier
So essentially what you are saying is, if everything possible goes perfect, Edmonton is going to continue winning a tonne. And if the goaltending falls back to what it has been for all but 1 month last season, things are going to get dicey. These are the reasons why I have no faith in Edmonton. They are on a hot streak and when it levels out, things are going to turn south in a hurry.
I don't expect Edmonton to finish with 127 points (their current pace), if that's what you're asking. I think the goaltending will be average or slightly above for most of the season as Koskinen's numbers turned downhill when he was overworked, he likely won't be overworked this year unless Smith and Starrett sustain injuries that result in prolonged absences. THe bottom 6 have scored I think 2 goals, but if you look at last year these are guys that CAN score in this league, I think the goals will come, albeit not in great quantities. Last year:
Archibald: 12
Granlund: 12
Sheahan: 9
I don't expect these guys to be at zero all season.
Quoting: LoganOllivier
Its why I am harping so much that they need to continue their rebuild. Move out anyone that isn't going to be a long term piece, keep making smart draft picks and hope that the development of younger, faster, skilled players, will help them be an up an coming powerhouse in 3 seasons. The alternative will be short term solutions to extend this heater that will utlimately cost good long term pieces that will cause this club to once again falter.
As far as I can see Holland IS continuing the rebuild, which is why AGM's like this one are so unrealistic. The most important core pieces are locked up long-term and there are a host of kids developing in the minors and elsewhere. Edmonton has the 9th best farm system in the league and is the #1 team for 25-and-under talent, according to Corey Pronman. They will be a good team, and soon. The major pieces are in place, Holland now needs to fill in around them. And patiently develop the prospects, something Holland is known to be good at.
Quoting: LoganOllivier
As for the argument that McDavid isn't the type of leader to bail on a team, I just don't buy it. If management wastes 10 years of his career, I think he's going to want out and he'll have a NMC at that time which will massively lower his return and it will destroy the hearts of the fan base. I don't want to see that. Believe it or not, I'm on your side, I just keep my head and can see the forest through the trees.
This is totally off topic and I'm not going to get into a discussion of hypotheticals.
Quoting: LoganOllivier
The team has major problems and this hot start is masking them all.
I don't see too many major problems. The bottom-6 is, to me, well below league average, but bottom-6 guys are the easiest ones to acquire - not a major problem. I think you could take the best of the bottom pllayers and make a pretty good 4th line, but the 4th liners are being asked to play 3rd line and the "extras" are playing 4th line. Yes it's a problem, but not a major one. Goaltending isn't a problem at the moment, I don't think its an area of strength but this tandem should be able to provide league-average goaltending this year. Starrett should be ready to back up next year, and there are other good young goalies in the system - Rodrigue is the best junior age Canadian goalie (he's been named the starter for Team Canada at the upcoming WJC) and Konovalov is doing well in KHL as a 21-year-old.
The D is decent, if young, and there is some very high talent brewing in AHL and SHL. The future is here on D, and it's only going to get better when Broberg and Bouchard arrive - Samorukov, too. Forward depth (among prospects) needs enhancing, I could see Holland trading D prospects for F prospects. And of course he's trying to get another F prospect + pick out of Puljujarvi.
The immediate future looks a lot brighter than the immediate past.