Joined: Feb. 2016
Posts: 325
Likes: 129
I actually think this is the direction we should take this summer. I don't think we will but I say actually try to add some effing talent with the cap space we can accumulate. I wouldn't move Cam, I'd rather try to move Silvy to free up that money. But Murph can free up some cap space I say absolutely go after guys like Hall and Landeskog (I prefer Nugent-Hopkins for that center spot). Comtois-Zegras-Terry should make a great second line next year. Hall-RNH-Rakell could be a killer first line. I want to believe we can fashion a quality third line out of Volkov, Steel, Lundestrom, Jones and a healthy Milano but that's a big ask. Grant and De-lo are as dependable fourth-liners as you can ask for, though I'm sure the pre-adolescents around here will disagree. Honestly, what harm is there in subtracting Rico, Silvy and potentially Shatty and replacing them with quality free agents? That wouldn't change anything about building for the future since whatever kids we're going to pick up won't be ready until these players' contract are at least halfway towards competition.
But as others have pointed out this won't happen because free agents don't sign here. This this assumption that Murray simply doesn't go after free agents but there's no way that's true. The probable truth is free agents simply don't want to come here. Be it the high state taxes, the relatively non-existent fanbase, the cost of living in Orange County, the state of the team itself, the crappy ice at Honda Center, who knows? But they don't, that's for sure. I'd love for the Samueli's to give Bob the green light to overpay to get them, especially if it's on shorter terms. I'm not holding my breath though.