You really believe that?
- Lunaion

They will all receive a qualifying offer for the most part but it’s Adams fingerprints that will be all over those extensions. It will also be his decision if he wants to commit long term, bridge, or if they are on their way out the door via trade.

I don’t believe there is much of a gap that separates the “net impact” between a player like Monahan then a player like Bonino/Henrique/Strome that motivates me to move the 8th OA pick.

Unless Mangiapane and Valimaki are accompanying it (which I highly doubt).

Monahan has proven he can score, but has also proven he’s one of the worst defensive players in the entire league.

Also doesn’t help that I have been as noticeable as Monahan and Gaudreau in their last 8 playoff games and I’m watching their games from my couch. Not a good look.
- Pegullaville

I think this gets better, with a different role and under a good defensive coach.

I have a ton of faith in Cozens panning out eventually, but if they want to get an established center after the nightmare of the last two years I’m good with it.

We leveraged our cap space poorly. I consider it bad cap management. We also have a cap overrage and a draft pick shortage over the next 3 years. The cap is fairly tight as well. It's not a pretty situation
- Lunaion

We're missing later round picks. We have our 1sts and 2nds. I don't think the draft pick shortage point works. That's all. No argument otherwise.

I honestly thought Mojo was one of the smarter FA signings of that offseason, we just miscast him as a Center.

$4M might seem like a lot for middle 6 winger but looks a lot better then having Zuccarello or Nyqvist here for another 4 + years.
- Pegullaville

I've always said it: overpaying a player $10 million for one year is far, far better than overpaying a player for $4 million a year for 4 years, assuming neither player lives up to his value. The cap ramifications due far more damage long term in the 2nd scenario.

We leveraged our cap space poorly. I consider it bad cap management. We also have a cap overrage and a draft pick shortage over the next 3 years. The cap is fairly tight as well. It's not a pretty situation
- Lunaion

The bonus overages will be less of a hindrance to improving this team than The Golden Company was in the last battle during Game of Thrones.

I just don't see it that way. Most of the deadweight is already off the cap. The rest is moveable save Okposo and Skinner, who still can add value to this roster in the right position. This roster was always going to need to upgraded via trade. The FA pool isn't good enough to get this team over the hump, even if it had a roster of all rookie contracts. They have more than enough flexibility to make those trades. The question is competence, not dollars.
- buffalofan19

Obviously I'm not talking about dead weight. I'm talking about the benefit we got from leveraging our cap space the last few years. We shouldn't have a draft pick shortage and a cap penalty. We've already been mortgaging the future, and now we're talking about doing it even more.

I honestly thought Mojo was one of the smarter FA signings of that offseason, we just miscast him as a Center.

$4M might seem like a lot for middle 6 winger but looks a lot better then having Zuccarello or Nyqvist here for another 4 + years.
- Pegullaville

It becomes irrelevant if you aren’t good in the two years Johansson is here.

We need to stop kicking the can down the road and worrying about what our cap space will be in 2024.

All of us prefer trading lesser assets to 8. All of us would prefer it if UFA’s came here on short term team friendly deals. It’s just not reality.

We agree that this team needs to hit on picks to be an annual contender. My stance on that hasn’t changed.

But my god take a big step forward before we lose the 2nd or 3rd best player this franchise has ever had

We traded away assets that might not be all-stars, but could have been pieces to the puzzle that could have helped this team. We brought in players that probably wouldn't have had to be brought in because we traded away a lot of prospects and picks to speed up a rebuild that we weren't ready for yet.

What would be nice is if they could get a mid first for Risto and then package the mid first with something for Monahan.

What would be nice is if they could get a mid first for Risto and then package the mid first with something for Monahan.
- sbroads24

2017 was three years ago...

2017 was three years ago...
- buffalofan19

Part of me still thinks coaches/gm's will convince themselves they can make him a top 2 D man. Oh wait that's Ralph Krueger

We're missing later round picks. We have our 1sts and 2nds. I don't think the draft pick shortage point works. That's all. No argument otherwise.
- RhinoFan

2 3rds. JB was really bad at deadline moves. All these things add up.

We traded away assets that might not be all-stars, but could have been pieces to the puzzle that could have helped this team. We brought in players that probably wouldn't have had to be brought in because we traded away a lot of prospects and picks to speed up a rebuild that we weren't ready for yet.
- Buff36

I was a huge proponent of the patient route, building it right, yada yada...

All those picks/prospects dealt. Ugh.

Now we supposedly have Eichel on his last straw.

And a rookie GM.

God help us.

I was a huge proponent of the patient route, building it right, yada yada...

All those picks/prospects dealt. Ugh.

Now we supposedly have Eichel on his last straw.

And a rookie GM.

God help us.
- Powerslave

(frank) it. tear it down again now. I'm over it. 5 years from now is better than ten. whatever.

What would be nice is if they could get a mid first for Risto and then package the mid first with something for Monahan.
- sbroads24

Now that is something I’m cool with.

2 3rds. JB was really bad at deadline moves. All these things add up.
- Lunaion

Exactly, we're not missing much at all. Most likely neither pick turns into an NHL player, if they do one will be an bottom6 player. The chances one makes significant NHL impact is slim.

If we were missing 1sts and 2nds you'd be right. We aren't. No need to make things worse than they are, it's pretty piss poor rt now.

Exactly, we're not missing much at all. Most likely neither pick turns into an NHL player, if they do one will be an bottom6 player. The chances one makes significant NHL impact is slim.

If we were missing 1sts and 2nds you'd be right. We aren't. No need to make things worse than they are, it's pretty piss poor rt now.
- RhinoFan

I was just looking at CapFriendly, and wondering how we could possibly be this bad at developing bottom 6 forwards. All those missed and traded 2nd and 3rds add up.

I was just looking at CapFriendly, and wondering how we could possibly be this bad at developing bottom 6 forwards. All those missed and traded 2nd and 3rds add up.
- Lunaion

Look at the remaining teams

Kucherov
Cirelli
Point
Palat
Devon Toews
Hintz

All post first rounders

We never hit on them. Ever

I agree with this completely. Say what you want about Botts but Adams has the flexibility to do whatever he wants here for the most part.

Basically starting an expansion team with Eichel, Dahlin, Joker, Cozens, Skinner, Okposo, and Risto.

He has full autonomy on all RFA’s, UFA’s and the assets to trade.
- Pegullaville

I would not want to start an expansion team with the two in bold above taking up over $11M in cap hit.

I think this gets better, with a different role and under a good defensive coach.

I have a ton of faith in Cozens panning out eventually, but if they want to get an established center after the nightmare of the last two years I’m good with it.
- sbroads24

If? It's absolutely mandatory.

What would be nice is if they could get a mid first for Risto and then package the mid first with something for Monahan.
- sbroads24

I would rather keep the 1st round pick

I would not want to start an expansion team with the two in bold above taking up over $11M in cap hit.
- kingcong39

Unfortunately that’s the reality.

Look at the remaining teams

Kucherov
Cirelli
Point
Palat
Devon Toews
Hintz

All post first rounders

We never hit on them. Ever
- sbroads24

VO. I wouldn’t say ever.

I was a huge proponent of the patient route, building it right, yada yada...

All those picks/prospects dealt. Ugh.

Now we supposedly have Eichel on his last straw.

And a rookie GM.

God help us.
- Powerslave

Me too, I was very frustrated when a1st was being traded for a goalie, another 1st for Kane and Bogo, plus the prospects that went. Yes maybe they aren't all-stars but they could have been pieces that helped finish the puzzle. Maybe we don’t have Dahlin, but I believe we would have been in a better position know if we had just took it slow.

Look at the remaining teams

Kucherov
Cirelli
Point
Palat
Devon Toews
Hintz

All post first rounders

We never hit on them. Ever
- sbroads24

We could have, but we traded a lot of those picks away.