No, not with that defense.

I guess a cry for help is still noise. Martinez is not a top pair Dman.

They'd compete for a playoff spot but wouldn't get in. Having a full season of Vrana, adding a 2C in Trochek and replacing Blashill would make them much better. If Edvinsson has a Seider type season then it becomes possible. But don't expect Fabbri to be available until at least January.

They might be a bubble team, But it's very doubtful they get in.

They still aren't good enough get in, next year. But like the Sens and Sabres might make a break through in couple of years and have long run in the playoffs. That's too much $$$ and certainly much term for Trochek.

Probably not. Unless Holtby becomes a vezina canadaite. You still need to beat out the top 4 Atlantic and whatever WC team in metro so it's hard

I don't get the fascination with Holtby, guy can't stay healthy...

Goalie market is weak this year

I get that, but that doesn't mean reach... If one of the better/cheaper options don't materialize, just sign a random European goalie on a 1 year deal and hope to catch lighting in a bottle...

They'd slot in behind buffalo and ahead of ottawa

Buffalo sucks

It's too hard to predict how things are gonna turn out with some of these prospects. Will Berggren have a season similar to Raymond? Will Edvinsson have a similar season to Seider? Probably not. But if its anywhere close and if the team stays healthy they could be pretty exciting to watch.

I would still try to add another LD to the roster. Oesterle is pretty much a 7th man. Ideally, I think someone who can play a physical game like Zadorov or Chairot would be great for them.

We tore down our entire team, started 7 goalies- all of whom suck, had power, Quinn and peterka play a combined 12 games, had none of the players in the eichel trade for thr first 32 games....

.......and we still had more points than ottawa.

With a full season of tuch, Krebs, Quinn, power and peterka and even league average goaltending we will grow the margin between the 2 teams

You overachieved . We were missing 5 key guys in the lineup . Our 1st line is elite , yours isn’t . Tuch isn’t a 1st liner , neither is Skinner. Tage could be a one hit wonder , won’t hold my breath. Let him try and repeat it. Stutzle is better than any player you have

Well, those are certainly words

Words you cannot process cuz you’re extremely biased .

I stated my reasoning. I'm not saying buffalo is better than Tampa. I'm saying they are better than ottawa

Ask any Buffalo or ottawa fans and they will all tell you that Ottawa is further along in the rebuild . Ottawa has a top line , Buffalo is still scrapping

Buffalo was better than ottawa playing minor league goalies and not having the eichel return for half the year and not playing our top young players.

We will have all those players for a full season and likely a real goalie.

We were better than you without any of that.

I guess we will see how it goes