Quoting: Imagine874859
Okay but once we rebuild we will get those picks back. Tolvanen and Geekie have potential to be solid 2nd and 3rd liners for our future. POJ and Smith will be in the top 4. That goaltending Is just for 2 years. Schmaltz is a replacement for Guentzel as he will want close to 8 mil and almost turning 30. Compher, Rust, Zucker, Krug, Rakell, Rodrigues are all expendable in 2-3 years for picks and specs. But right now we arent rebuilding while the core is still in it. But still like what I've done here is made the team younger but still competitive for at least 2 years. Then we can start looking to get the younger pieces. Our trade assets wont go away just like that. There are other Pickerings in the world
I see what you are saying, but it's just not the route I'd go. Trading Guentzel for a 1st and an A+/A prospect who could slot into the lineup immediately and then replacing Guentzel through free agency I think is the best route. I know there won't be someone as good as Guentzel in fa but could still get a really good player who I'm sure would thrive playing with Crosby. I get using the 1st to replace him for someone not due for a long term deal, but doing that in a way that doesn't require giving up the 1st is preferable.
I just dont see any easy answer this offseason. Just watching the playoffs it's so apparent how far away we are from the other teams. Dallas, Boston, LA and other teams have an older core, but have tons and tons of youth in the lineup. Not 27 year olds from free agency, but players like Hintz, Robertson, Pasternak, McAvoy, Viilardi, Byfield, etc. But we have so many holes in the lineup and so many bad contracts. There's options I think are preferable to others, but I just do not see a way this team can become a contender this offseason. Your team is solid, but would it be enough to get past Jersey, New York, Carolina etc. I just dont see it with any ACGM on here including mine