It's not our offense that kept us from the playoffs.
Shea Weber- best season of career(29)
Roman Josi - first solid year after missing about a dozen games in the beginning(23)
Seth Jones- way too young to be playing in the NHL but will be a stud. Forced to play top pairing minutes from the start due to injuries (19)
Ryan Ellis - inexperienced, finally proved his worth and potential second half of season. Should have a great year next year. (23)
Matthias Elkholm- rough start, inexperienced. Just starting to prove his capabilities.(23)
Klein- solid but gone
Del zotto- just not as good as advertised yet. Still definitely worth resigning(23)
Victor Bartley- 7th defenseman at best on most teams(26)
Ages in parentheses
I don't care who is tending goal, that blue line is terribly inexperienced. We're on pace to give up 235 or more GA. That's what kept us out of the playoffs. It's not these kids' faults either. They were just too young and inexperienced at e start of the year. Our struggles in our own end is a major reason why the puck wasn't headed the opposite direction to find the back of the net. As always, it's not Trotz 's fault or really our forwards. Our scoring isn't as bad as advertised. The defense at the beginning of the year was, and that results in fewer chances on offense. If defense was based on potential, we'd be number one. However, we're still a year or two from having the best D in the league unless we panic and bring in some wide open coach who abandons the foundation of this team. Organizationally, we're probably just now recovering from the Suter which can be placed squarely on DP. I realize people want to see high scoring, but to change our culture and become a 240 GF team, we're going to need to be a bottom 3 team for a while( think how many years in a row the blues, avs, hawks blew arse). Or we could stay the path. We will be in the 220 gf range with this roster next year with no changes. Healthy josi and maturation of blue line will almost guarantee that. If we get our GA down .5 g/game. We're in the playoffs for many years to come. Add Statsny or a vanek and we're all the more dangerous. All it takes is a hot Rinne to advance in the playoffs.
- Vegas Trotzkies
Well said and true to the point. You're defense is young and promising and Trotz is a very good coach, if you add 2-3 more offensive players, you enter and become a top team.
