Definitely an improved third line. The defense & tending still give me pause.

Exactly my thoughts, this offense is fine but the defense for sure needs work. Probably bump Bertuzzi to 2nd line and get a D instead of either Zucker or Barbashev

Who do you want to replace on the backend though? It's Smith's time now or never. I wouldn't mind replacing Ruhwedel with someone like Gudas. I think 3C is more important, and I would probably not sign AA and keep Zucker and Barb, maybe bump Nylander up to 3RW, Carter can player 4RW and focus on scoring. Snag a RD like Gudas if he doesn't get overpaid after this FLA run to steady Smith on the 3rd pair.

I like Smith, but Ruhwedel can’t be a regular in my book.

We need someone more mobile on D. Zucker Barbashev and Bertuzzi all have similar traits. Anthanasiou I think is very important cause we need speed. So one of those three I would replace with a D. Bertuzzi I'd say is best of the 3 so I'd keep him. My D ideally would look like this. Just need someone who can move the puck better. And as a luxury wouldn't hurt to have someone like Gudas either.

Pettersson-Letang
xxx-Smith
xxx-Petry

That's how I'd go into the offseason looking at our D. Some combo like Orlov and Gudas for the last 2 would be perfect. I'm choosing Smith over POJ, think his upside is higher. Our D was just a mess last year, too slow, no net front presence, awful D zone coverage, constant awful pinches.

I know Smith can play the right side, but I don't think Sully is a big fan of having Dmen on their off hand, which is why I think he's fit more for the 3rd line.

The bigger issue on D was inconsistency with who was on the ice. Letang, Petry, Petterson, Rutta all missed games. I know injuries happen, but that's 3 top 4men and a 3rd pairing guy all missing significant time.

Orlov is going to cost a pretty penny so I don't believe they'll be able to go after him.

Petts-Letang
POJ-Petry
Smith-Gudas

would be my ideal pairing going into next year considering Gudas is an FA and he's the only one to acquire. Could probably sign him if you can convince Carter to waive his no trade clause lol

I agree, and I don't think he would be. He'd probably rotate in and out with Friedman imo. Figure out who forms the best chemistry with Smith and let 'er rip.

Orlov apparently is looking for 4.5-5.5 mil, which was surprising to me. Could've seen him going for 7. Gustafson, Gostesbierre, or trading for someone are options. But I just think we desperately need more mobility in that position. Losing Matheson really hurt us bad. I think a Guentzel for Devon Towes trade is intriguing. POJ I don't mind and he's great on the right team, but I feel like we need more size on D. All the 4 teams remaining have either size or elite puck moving on D, so if we can build on identity on 1 of the 2 or even better have a mix of both.

Guentzel for Toews is an awful trade lol

I don't think so. They need a replacement for Landeskog, we need more mobility on D. Values are pretty even.

And by trading Guentzel you create a new, more important need in an elite goal scoring winger. The “mobility” needed is there if you move away from guys like Dumo and Rutta.

I see no reason to remove one of the best wingers in the game and Create a hole for a luxury of mobility at D.

Asset management. Guentzel will need a new contract next offseason. Likely 8 x 8. And we cannot afford to lose him for nothing, which we will if we do not trade him this offseason or at the deadline. Unless we re-sign him, which I doubt we do. That's no dig against Guentzel, he's my favorite player next to Crosby. But we can't hand out another long term deal to a player that will be almost 30 when the rebuild is 1-2 years away. I think someone like Bertuzzi would do perfectly fine on Crosby's wing. I'm sure we'd fine a replacement that would do fine with Crosby. Easier to find a top 6 winger than a true #1 D.

Yeah I disagree. I think that’s poor asset management.

How so? What is the best way to handle the Guentzel contract?

Sign him to a new contract. True rebuild in the eyes of the organization is likely 4-5 years away. Fans who think more realistically are probably right in that they likely are only competing for 1-2 more years for anything meaningful but I don't expect the org to feel that way, and then the twilight years will hit, but sign him to a new contract and when the time comes, trade him. Guentzel is a PPG player over the last 5 years.

You wont agree, and but you also won't change my opinion so I'll agree to disagree on that front.

Completely fine. Not always gonna see eye to eye with everyone on everything. I just think the rebuild is a lot sooner. I feel whether managements likes it or not we will fall so far out of the standings in 2-3 years to the point where they don't have a choice.