I was watching some of the 2014 playoffs last night, and man we had a deep talented team that year. A 3rd line of Pouliot/Brass/Zucc. Step/Richards/Brass/Boyle down the middle. And Klein on the 3rd pair. Good team.
It made me really excited for what I think we have coming up starting next season. # 1 we have to add a legit # 2 C that can win faceoffs. I would almost goes as far as to say if Gorton doesn't he isn't fully doing his job. We have so many assets, he has to make a move to get a legit # 2 C. Deal one of the two first round picks. Block off Miller, Lundkvist, and Kravtsov from any deals. After that make a smart deal to add a # 2. Imagine the top 2 lines:
CK/Ziban/Buch
Pan/# 2 C/Kakko
Then you have to hope after things open up again there will be one non-cap impacting buyout allowed to offset the cap not increasing. We would buyout Hank saving us 8.5 against the cap. Then use a traditional buyout on Staal saving us another 2.1 against the cap (if we cannot deal him or he won't accept a deal). Gives us 10.6 mill of space.
Then you decide which player you need more between Strome and DeAngelo. On the surface the answer is DeAngelo, but I could make a case for Strome because we have more depth on D in the system AND you could say now is the time to deal DeAngelo off of the season he had. His value may never be higher. The flip side to that is the O DeAngelo provides on D is rare, and Strome's season may be overvalued because he played with Pan. I do think we can only keep one if we add a legit # 2 C though. And keeping Strome would give you a nice duo to start the 3rd line with Chytil. And the 4th line starts with the very nice duo of Lemieux and Howden.
On D you have Lindgren, Fox, and Trouba. Hopefully Hajek is ready. Maybe Rykov as well. It may be a transition year on D as you wait for Miller and Lundkvist, but overall the D picture looks strong.
The next steps taken by Gorton will be very interesting. I say adding a # 2 C, Strome vs. DeAngelo, and how to handle Hank/Staal are the big decisions this offseason that will hopefully finish off the team, and set us up for many years of success and cup runs. Curious to see what Gorton decides to do. Looking forward to seeing it play out.
