Banned
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 24,997
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The worst part of all this for Buffalo fans is that even if they were able to make the moves above (which is highly doubtful) you are in the Atlantic next season. Even with the (on paper) improvements you still have Boston, Tampa, TO, Florida and Montreal all ahead of you. Is this roster good enough to pass 2 of those teams to ensure a wildcard spot? Montreal maybe, or maybe Florida as well but still just not as good as the top 3.
Honestly I don't know what I'd do if I was in charge. You don't want to waste having a guy like Eichel but the path to winning is so difficult. Can you convince him to look long term? Because the only reasonable path to even making the playoffs is thinking about 2-3 years down the line. Wait for one or both of Boston and Tampa to start declining and time your window to that point. Not long after Ottawa and possibly Detroit will be on the rise so it would be a short window and you still have TO who will still have Matthews, Marner and Nylander in their primes to contend with as well.
Or
Do you just blow it up, move everyone including Eichel and start over and plan for a long and methodical rebuild. Which the team hasn't really ever done. It's been the same thing in a 3 year cycle. Bottom out, draft high, make some minor improvements and jump the gun by adding a bunch of vets and disappoint before bottoming out again. They should have just been okay with losing for a few year, keep getting talented young players and wait to have a foundation to build up again. They have 2 pieces to that puzzle in Eichel and Dahlin but need a 2C and a lot more depth. Buying it in FA just doesn't work. They have proven it over and over