MisstheWhalers
Joined: Jan. 2019
Posts: 23,719
Likes: 12,398
First things first is FIRE Kevin Lowe!
Depends on McDavid's health to start the season, if he's good to go then they should try to acquire a top 6 winger and try to swing some deals to get some forward upgrades from teams that need to gain some cap space, Namestnikov for a pick+small/easy to bury cap dump makes too much sense.
Also think they should look at seeing what underperforming/need change of scenery guys like Goldobin, Ho-sang and Fabbri would cost to acquire, if not huge costs to get they could be great buy low acquisitions that could really pay off.
If McDavid isn't good to go to start the season and its expected that he'll miss significant time then I think they should tank and sell off any UFA'S for any return possible if there's any interest in them.
So far I haven't been impressed by Holland's work, I realize he didn't have much to work with but using what little cap space he had to work with on average/mediocre bottom 6 players isn't gonna improve this team much and waiting around for prospects to develop when you have the best player in the world is beyond stupid imo. I mean I hear all this talk about there's worry that he'll get fed up and request a trade, well isn't spinning your wheels and doing close to nothing to improve the lineup a sure way to make him want out? I'm not saying sell the farm for short term help cause that'd be terribly dumb and they have to draft and develop for long term success but one or two decent additions could make a huge difference, a team with McDavid stands a chance to be good with even just an okay supporting cast.
They can't go through another rebuild and they can't possibly be thinking: 'if we just add the next can't miss kid to the best player in the world then we'll be a good team', can they? this team and fanbase has got to be fed up and done with 'hope and next year thinking.
You've got the best player in the world, add a good piece or two, turn the page on the past and build from there.