Joined: Aug. 2021
Posts: 4,372
Likes: 2,239
Holtz had a rough year last year, so I definitely want him to have plenty of time to cook and feel completely ready, physically and mentally, for the NHL. I have really high hopes for Mercer, but being a 3C out of the gate would be incredibly tough. I get he is solid defensively, but the NHL is two levels above where he was. No need to apply pressure to him. His time will come. I'm fine with Jankowski being the meat shield this year and taking the brunt of the issues...There just is no real 3C option on paper now we can trust, nor anyone really available in trade/free agency.
I'm just excited to see the steps the team can take to move forward after the moves they made.
I can live without the playoffs this year if I see real progress over going into 22-23 worried that we might have messed up anyone's development.