Joined: May 2019
Posts: 11,202
Likes: 5,207
The worst part of this loss is I don't even know the direction I want my team to go.
Last year I thought the D wasn't good enough, and I didn't think the team was tough enough. They were deep, but at the same time not very deep at all if that made sense.
They brought in Brodie and Bogosian to stabilize the D. They brought in the veteran leadership/depth with Spezza again, Simmonds, Foligno, Thornton (great leader even though he can't skate anymore), etc. This is a great D core. Great depth on paper. Best goaltending we've had since Matthews got here. Nothing
We've got 2 of the top 5 scorers, and two more top stars. Hyman has been producing like a great top line winger for 2 years. I know we had a 1st line quality center and 1st pair quality D down, but it's the Habs for crying out loud. hats off to them on the comeback, but come on.
I just don't know how they could have built the team much better. Like of course you can be Tampa, but this was pretty damn good. The excuse also used to be a young team taking Boston to 7. Last 2 have been Columbus and Montreal. 2 fringe playoff teams at best, no offense. I don't know what I want improved. Marner gone? Maybe, but he was top 5 in points. Do you let this be an impulsive reaction? Matthews was swarmed the whole time, they let Marner and Hyman take the dangerous looks and Price was simply better. Got stoned in the playoffs by three goalies in two years, but does that even matter?
Where do you go from here without either making irreversible decisions like trading a 23 year old *regular season* superstar? Just fill it out, different names but more or less the same team, and hope for a better result? The definition of insanity is proceeding with the same actions and expecting a different outcome, but what can Dubas even do that much better?
I guess you just hope for some better health and hope that free agents are dumb enough to sign here