We really don't need to add another forward as a result of Tex's absence; we've got quite a lot already. So, no need to pick up Rodrigues.

Yeah true I’m sure they’re fine with missing the playoffs again

Because clearly the one thing keeping us from making it to the playoffs is spending $3m on a position we can adequately cover for less than a third of that. Of course.

Considering he’d be your 5th-6th best forward that’s a good deal

Don't be absurd.

Gaudreau, Laine, Roslovic, Voracek then Rodrigues or Sillinger/Jenner. Jenner SEVERELY overplayed his abilities last year and will drop off hard next season

Jenner spent the bulk of his time between Voracek and Laine and is the favorite to start between Gaudreau and Laine; a repeat is not out of the question - and even if he doesn't repeat, his baseline is at worst equivalent. Sillinger is already better. Nyquist is already better. Bemstrom is comparable and likely to reach that next step given the ice time. Hell, Kuraly isn't that far off and he's our #4C. And Robinson isn't all that far behind.

Based on?

Shooting percentage, age and past seasons

Not a chance Nyquist is better same with Bemstrom, Kuraly and Robinson you just have absolutely no idea the type of player Rodrigues is

I mean... they shouldn't be trying to make the playoffs this coming season. There's no win-now pressure yet. This is a growth year to figure out what they've already got. Winger is not a position of need like RD was, so unless another star-caliber player falls in Jarmo's lap, he's not signing any other wingers. If Rodrigues was such a megastar, he'd have already been signed. You're getting weirdly defensive with your negging of the roster.

I’m just not a fan of the of moves this team made this off season other than Gaudreau of course but Gudbranson is a bottom pairing d man which hurts to see him getting a 4 x 4, I don’t like how they didn’t trade Korpisalo who’s been a really bad back up for years now and trading Bjorkstrand who’s their 4th best forward for pocket change but other than that the draft was very good so that’s a positive

Former fourth-line energy guy who late-bloomed and is now a reasonably capable defensively responsible secondary scoring source. I'll stand by my evaluations as written, thanks.

(Also, you're strawmaning. The latter three were mentioned as not far off, not better. The point there being that Rodrigues isn't enough of an upgrade to justify spending that much.)

We hate the Gudbranson deal, too. The term especially. But they signed it hours before Gaudreau, and probably just thought they were being used to drive up the price for the Islanders and Devils by Gaudreau's camp at the time. If they have any idea of Gaudreau's genuine interest, they probably do not do it, but the ink was on the paper by then. Korpisalo was a UFA they resigned to an extremely cheap show-me deal as a courtesy to try to reignite his career after two years of injuries and yes, suckage (also if he wasn't an FA, who would possibly trade for him? Come on, you don't get to call him garbage then hold it against them that they didn't trade him). And the Bjorkstrand deal makes sense in the context that it frees up five million sooner than trading Nyquist for the same package, nevermind that moving Nyquist would've cost us to accomplish. I loved Bjorkstrand, but I can understand the move as the best of a bad lot. I'd make the same choice if it's 2023 first + Nyquist or Bjorkstrand for some midround picks to move the same amount of money. I hope he lights it up in Seattle with Beniers and Wright.